Dear Editor,
For a prolonged period of time, the island has been saturated with discussions regarding the thoughtless behaviour of youngsters on motorbikes and scooters, who zoom in and out of the traffic whenever they feel the urge to do so.
The unfortunate result of this heedless conduct is that this excitement has caused several untimely deaths; which have left so many grieving families to deal with the burden of raising their children, without any or very little financial or psychological support.
Some critics say that the youngsters do not care; they feel that the road belongs to them and other motorists have to clear the way for them to display their stunts. These are valid conclusions, but are they accurate? Until we know the root cause of their behaviour, these explanations are just speculations.
What is really bothersome is that some people have asked for the authorities to just gun them down. This is outrageous! Would they harm their children in that manner? No! So, why is it okay to treat other people’s children that way? Yes, the bikers appear to be annoying and inconsiderate, but again, what is the root cause for their behaviour? Until the origin of their conduct is identified, the problem will continue.
Case in point: Do these youngsters behave any differently from some adults? No! How is it that some grown-ups can obey the traffic rules, while others don’t? Likewise, is it all young people who exhibit this type of behaviour, or just a few? So, the common element between adults and youngsters who disobey the traffic laws is this lack of respect for authority. Isn’t it?
Here’s the burning question: What has constituted or cultivated this defiance attitude against authority? Believe it or not, this behaviour originated elsewhere. This conduct is just a manifestation of a deeper or more serious situation that needs some attention. Is it not that our very first encounter with regard to respecting or disrespecting authority originated from the home?
This growing trend is being nurtured by their peers. So, how do the relevant authorities resolve this matter? Practically everything goes back to the home, but not entirely. Several other factors could be the cause of this tenacity. Issues like: How do they feel about this society that they live in? Are they working? Is their level of education comparable to their goals and aspirations? What are the opportunities for their success in the country that they call home?
As trivial as this may sound, maybe some of these riders are acting this way because it gives them comfort. It’s their narrow way of thinking on how to fill a void – an emptiness for not having a father figure to guide and nurture their thoughts and actions as they transition into teenage life and manhood. For some, not having a father figure in the home can create this vacuum that keeps pushing them to discover this resolution.
To get a more accurate picture of these riders’ behaviour, it would be prudent if Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling collaborates with the Traffic Department and invite the riders for a closed-door discussion, with security in place. No press. No recordings. Give them the freedom to speak, because only these riders can detail the real reasons for their behaviour. For some people, all that they desire is a listening ear.
This is a collaborated effort, so take this opportunity to foster this partnership. Hence, after the team has listened and make the necessary notes to move ahead, toss the ball back into their court and allow them to come up with solutions to curb their behaviour. To me, all of this disrespect for authority boils down to one major viewpoint, which is the lack of personal development.
Minister Tackling, if you could appoint a competent life coach to organize some educational workshops for these youngsters on self-improvement, this endeavor would change the landscape of our youth forever.
Joslyn Morton
