Facing the social challenges head on
IT IS POINTLESS we bury our heads in the sand or live in denial that St Vincent and the Grenadines is not sitting on a social volcano.Things are moving so fast in the opposite direction that it is difficult to keep up with the negative developments.
Not to ring an alarm bell or push the panic button, but much is brewing across our country as it relates to formation of non- conformist groupings filled by young men who are hell bent on deviating from socially accepted behaviours. Neither are these detrimental associations novel to the social landscape of the country, but the infiltration of foreign influences and copycatting must be viewed as threats deepening a more deep-rooted fear.
Anything that takes away the acceptable normal course of living from our young people negatively affects sports.
Hence, instead of channelling their energies into more rewarding and productive ways of life, the potentialities of our pregnant minds who possess untapped fertile sporting abilities fade into risk, and not reward.
As such, should the present situation be left unchecked it will affect the rest of the 2026 sporting calendar and beyond, as any mass gathering can erupt into violent chaos.
Unfortunately, there seems to be no discretionary time and place for acts of violence, and consideration for the possibilities of collateral damage.
And the fear factor of attending sporting events here in St Vincent and the Grenadines is being muttered by some as they through the abundance of caution, opt to stay at home or find an alternative means to pass their time.
These concerns are instructive and plausible as the fight for turf can escalate, leaving our policy makers, event planners and the local constabulary at sixes and sevens.
Steering our young people away from deviance into sports has to be multi-sectoral, whereby there must be an all-hands-on deck approach towards preventing the scourge from becoming a national one.
Therefore, government, schools and educators, the police, civil society, parents, and sporting bodies all must play a role.
This, as there is the sense of leaving it to the law enforcement agents to do it all, and the notion that our youths have the label of a “generation of vipers”, thus compounding the difficulties in plotting solutions to combat a growing scourge.
The current government, though, with all its administrative mechanisms must acknowledge that St Vincent and the Grenadines is heading into an abyss and must therefore formulate preventative plans before things get entirely out of control.
Already the configuration of the Ministry that twins Youth and Sports together, is a perfect marriage to address the issues confronting crime and violence especially among the youth population of the country. Critically needed are greater investments in sports and in our young people.
The various ministries of government are called upon to be collaborative by providing a strong safety net for students to pursue educational ventures and long – term development goals as alternatives, rather than peer influences.
An all-out effort is needed to address parenting, not as a side show or window dressing, but meaningful efforts to guide those who may not know better on how to raise their offspring.
And, taking it to the extreme, but pertinent, should be enacting a legislative framework that imposes penalties for delinquent parenting.
Sports, too, must be effectively positioned as a social vehicle that can drive engagements and mentorship, thereby rebuild communities and offering prospects of better ways of life and living, away from violence and criminality.
The choice is for all of us- to let the status quo further entrench itself and face dire consequences in the very near future, or take the bulls by the horn to rescue our youths.
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