‘We outnumber gangsters’

A joint effort between the St James Police Youth Club, the US Embassy and other groups saw young people, youth groups and other residents Diego Martin join together for a peace march, sport caravan and peace concert yesterday.

The event was a joint effort of the youth club, the embassy, the Diego Martin Regional Corporation, Building TT Foundation and The Citizen Security Programme. Those participating in the march began assembling at 9 am. The sport caravan and peace concert took place at Patna Recreation Ground, Diego Martin.

Commissioner Gary Griffith was scheduled to make a special appearance, although he was not seen at the march nor at the start of the sport caravan.

Opposition senators Wade Mark and Khadijah Ameen and temporary government senator Harvey Borris participated in yesterday’s peace march.

Derrick Sharbodie, the founder and manager of the St James Youth Club said to Newsday yesterday, “Twenty-three per cent of serious crimes are committed among young people in Western Division alone, between the ages of 15-24. That is madness.”

He added that police were not in the business of just arresting and charging people and bringing them before the court but that their role “is also to be proactive, to be mentors and to stretch out our hands to these young people who are lost.”

The peace march processed along the Diego Martin Main Road with its participants interacting with residents along the way. Sharbodie said over 20 youth organisations participated in the march.

Sharbodie said the march was symbolic of gangs being outnumbered.

“We outnumber the gangsters...and every march that is done is to indicate that we are going to take back the community in a unique and technical way.”

He said the march’s mantra was join a club, not a gang.

“We are no longer talking about fight against crime. We are talking about peace, reconciliation and talking about teaching young people to be peace makers.”

Sharbodie said, in doing that, TT’s young people would have a culture of peace.

“They would learn to forgive; they would learn to say you’re my brother instead of this hate.

“We are fighting this hate with peace, love and a statement.”

The young participants, he added, were making a statement that Diego Martin did not belong to the gangs or gunmen but rather to “decent, respectful, law-abiding young people.”

Sharbodie said the group was not there to fight but rather to embrace young people and give them a new hope, “channel their direction in a positive way.”

He added that TT’s youth was crying out for help. “All that gun and that gangster, it is a statement they are making. They are lost and they don’t have love...,” Sharbodie said.

The sport caravan started when the procession got to Patna Recreation Ground. The event also saw performances by spoken word group, 2 Cents Movement.

Assistant commissioner of police Patsy Joseph, addressed the attendees on Griffith’s behalf, urging parents not to lose hope.

“We cannot afford to give up. When you feel you reach the edge that is the time to take a deep breath and start again.

"We have to stay supporting our young people if this country is to survive all of the ills we are seeing now.”