Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
R. Rose
April 9, 2013

Let’s not be swamped by the malaise

It has been quite a while now since my column last appeared, or at least so it seems to me. This has been on account of the disruptions to the publication of the Midweek edition, due to shortened work weeks, occasioned by a number of holidays. It has caused several readers, not clear about the situation, to inquire whether I had ceased writing the column. By way of explanation, it is important to know that when SEARCHLIGHT took the initiative to publish the second edition, I willingly volunteered to shift from the Weekend to the Midweek edition, (after all, somebody had to make the jump), it is just that when we have shortened weeks, the Midweek, and my column with it, is affected.{{more}}

Having got that out of the way, though a lot of issues have been swirling around in the society, my continuing big disappointment is our approach to them. There is a definite deficiency in the level of public debate, with the emphasis seeming to be on the finger-pointing, rumour-mongering “whodunnit”, rather than any deep analysis and attempt to solve our problems.

Take the deeply disturbing trend of police officers having to be arrested and charged with all kinds of criminal offences as an example. This says volumes about our society, the recruitment process for police officers, and the state of the Police Force itself. Sadly, instead of a collective examination of what is leading to this deplorable state of affairs, police-bashing is the more popular response. That is but a reflection on the general response to our social and economic challenges.

Clearly, there is much that is going awry in our society. But we are not unique in this. The shame and the disgrace swirling around the Police Force as a result of the actions of a minority are not confined to St Vincent and the Grenadines. Those of our citizens who try to keep abreast with what is going on even in neighbouring countries will know that there are a lot of similarities, in some cases far worse occurrences, around the Caribbean. That is no excuse for what is happening here, or no reason to be complacent, but it is a symptom of a deeper malaise which is swamping our region.

That malaise is also manifested in the aberrant social behaviour of some of our young people. The scandals surrounding the anti-social activities around the Inter-Schools Sports and the Easter boat-ride to Bequia are by now well broadcast and the self-righteous among us will no doubt be casting our own “holy” stones. But for all the outrage expressed, we have yet to try, collectively, to get to the bottom of all of this, attempt to analyse what is happening to our society, and embark on the long hard road of redemption.

At the same time, it is vital that we not lose our sense of balance. Our media is skewed towards highlighting our defects, with our successes and achievements very often on the bottom shelf. One can therefore get the impression that it is all hell and damnation, total gloom and doom. Yet there is also the positive, but if these are not given prominence, what models would our young people follow?

We talk a lot about young people, but do not do enough to involve them in a meaningful way in national development. We are having a big national debate on acclaiming National Heroes, but where is this in the school calendar? How are we helping to inculcate and advance a sense of national consciousness in our young people when they are not even on the periphery of our debate?

We are not ever going to get it right unless we tackle our problems at the source, set aside the salacious gossiping, and begin the search for lasting solutions to our problems.

Renwick Rose is a

community activist

and social com-mentator.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Villa woman in  hospital after being stabbed over 20 times
    Front Page
    Villa woman in hospital after being stabbed over 20 times
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Police are said to be carrying out investigations into the stabbing of Rafia Sardine, a 20-year-old female of Villa. Reports are that Sardine, a FLOW ...
    RSVGPF most hacked of gov’t agencies
    Front Page
    RSVGPF most hacked of gov’t agencies
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    In St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), an analysis has found that the most hacked government entity was the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Polic...
    Event staged locally to mark Africa/ Caricom Day
    Front Page
    Event staged locally to mark Africa/ Caricom Day
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Leaders of Governments and institutions from countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the continent of Africa, gathered at the weekend for ...
    PM, proud of his constituents
    Front Page
    PM, proud of his constituents
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is proud of the persons in his constituency who continue to aim for higher education. Dr Gonsalves is the parliame...
    Van conductor to be sentenced for beating pregnant ex-girlfriend
    Front Page
    Van conductor to be sentenced for beating pregnant ex-girlfriend
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    A van conductor, who beat his five- months pregnant ex-girlfriend after she refused to get back with him, has been remanded pending sentencing. Onez J...
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    To the haunting timeless reggae melody of Jimmy Cliff’s classic ‘Journey’, Curtis King, who was selected as the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (...
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    News
    King selected again for the ULP in West St George
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    To the haunting timeless reggae melody of Jimmy Cliff’s classic ‘Journey’, Curtis King, who was selected as the candidate for the Unity Labour Party (...
    Steel wielding Lowman’s Hill man to be sentenced tomorrow
    From the Courts, News
    Steel wielding Lowman’s Hill man to be sentenced tomorrow
    Webmaster 
    September 9, 2025
    A Lowman’s Hill man who struck another villager in his head with a piece of steel will know his fate tomorrow, September 10, 2025. Kevin Roberts, 25, ...
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    News
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Climate Change Resilience Network (CCRN) in collaboration with the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM) recently embarked on a disaster preparedness initia...
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    News
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, is to obtain three more Heamodialysis machines as part of the revolution in the healthcare secto...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok