Dear Editor,
The month of July has been one of the most violent of recent history where gun violence is concerned. Within a short period of time, there were four shootings within a 72-hour period in the first week of the month.
On July 17, another incident of gun violence took place where the wife of a party leader was gunned down. This is a very disturbing event that has occurred which is currently under investigation. The country’s peace of mind has been shaken to the core.
Gun violence is a scourge that threatens the fundamental right to life. Firearms can cause devastating injuries and have a lasting impact on mental and physical health.
There have been a number of gun violence incidents since the beginning of the year. There is a great concern within the community about these incidents which seemingly are becoming a weekly occurrence and are very concerning.
The St. Maarten Police Force KPSM have increased search and controls of vehicles in order to take away any weapons found during those controls. On several occasions they have been successful.
What measures or “basic tools” as a community, as a society can take to deal with gun violence overall?
Some “basic home-grown tools”/community/family/guardian-based intervention measures that can be taken that have been promoted are: Discourage name-calling and teasing. These can easily get out of hand, moving all too quickly from “just words” to fists, knives, and even firearms. Teach children that bullying is wrong and take their fears about bullies seriously.
Show children how to settle arguments or solve problems without using words or actions that hurt others. Set the example by the way you handle everyday conflicts in the family, at work, and in the neighborhood. Don’t forget that common courtesies like “please”, “thank you” and “excuse me” help ease tensions that can lead to violence.
Stick with friends and family who steer clear of violence and drugs. And encourage your children to do the same. Research shows use of alcohol and other drugs is closely linked with violence, including the use of guns and other weapons.
Take a hard look at what you, your family, and your friends watch and listen to for entertainment – from action movies and cop shows to video games and music lyrics. How do the characters solve problems? Do they make firearms and other violence appear exciting, funny, or glamorous? Are the real-life consequences of violence for victims and families clear? Talk about what each of you liked and didn’t like.
It’s going back to basics as a community in order to truly tackle gun violence within our society. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child, and the country has reached the point of where we have to take a look in the mirror before it’s too late.
We have to look at the educational system and re-invent ourselves where this is concerned. An educational system is the foundation of any country.
Gun violence is a threat to us all. St. Maarten is not the only country facing this phenomenon. We just have to look across the channel to Anguilla which is in the same boat, but many of our brothers and sisters within the Caribbean Basin are also being confronted with gun violence within their communities.
St. Maarten’s economy is tourism-based, and safety and security are one of the key tenets for the travel industry. The country can ill afford being branded a “dangerous country” as a travel advisory.
The country is already facing an advisory about the electricity crisis by institutions from key tourism markets. The Caribbean Region as a whole as one of the key tourism destinations is suffering from the negative fallout of Hurricane Beryl’s damage that stretches around the basin from Yucatan, Mexico, in the west, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Barbados in the east.
St. Maarten needs a community-oriented approach in order to beat gun violence.
Roddy Heyliger
