Villagers, who urge “less talk and more action,” believe attention needs to be given to the community and its young members in particular, warning about the danger that could be posed by idle minds. They also acknowledge the need for a better relationship between the police force and the community, but note that the police would have to show villagers the same respect.
Agricola became one of the ‘hot villages’ following the 2002 crime spree. It was also the hometown of late fugitives Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins and Jermaine ‘Skinny’ Charles. It was said that Charles, following his escape from custody last year from the Sparendaam Police station, returned to the village on several occasions. The duo was eventually shot dead by police. Recently, the Agricola Restoration Association (ARA) began working to help the community rebuild its image and has since received some assistance from public-spirited citizens.
One man, who was skeptical about talking, believing that nothing would be done, emphasised that more was needed for young people. “I serve the national service in this country and now I have nothing to do. But I am old. The youths [are] who I worried for,” he told Stabroek News in an interview.
The man felt the greatest need in his community was for a structured programme to reach out to youths, get them occupied and enable them to get employment in the future.
When asked about the perception of the village as a safe haven for criminals, the man alluded to the fact that there were some youngsters destined for trouble. “We know we have them in here and they are some coming up and we can’t give them breathing space, because they will come to look for me and you,” he said, “But we cannot ignore this, because it is with us and I think they need to come in and meet with parents, talk to them, encourage them. Then, they should meet with some youths separately; help them say what they need because it helps the entire society in the long run, not just Agricola.”
Pointing to the Evan Phillips playground, he said it once served as a place for recreation, but was now in a bad state, robbing the young people of a ground to exercise and play. As a result, he noted that when children played on the roadways, the villagers had no choice but to allow it. “People call this the worst village. But we are not the worst. Nothing is wrong with our community,” the man said, adding that it was still the government’s responsibility to ensure that certain facilities were up and running.
He pointed to the deplorable roads and questioned why it was that residents were being made to endure this. He pointed too to drains in the street which were done only recently but were already clogged due to substandard work. He added that the people in the community would do a far better job but would have to be respected for their hard work and paid accordingly.
He acknowledged that there was a sense of calm in the community at present, but said that the community needed continued attention. “You see, when the media take their eyes off and only report when something happens, it’s not fair. Government representatives need to come in too, do a needs-assessment and help us bring Agricola back,” he said.
Trust
Meanwhile, the man acknowledged that villagers were very tight lipped and were completely distrustful of the ranks of the police force. “People see the police as not to be trusted so they don’t say much. Sometimes, if someone makes a report to the station, people in here find out somehow and then you can be called all sorts of things,” he added.
Another resident, who got visibly angry as she spoke of the past actions of the police in the community, told Stabroek News that she believed that her hometown would have been better if there were a constant police presence. She pointed to the incident last month, when two city schools and the High Court were scorched in arson attempts and the subsequent actions by the police to line several sections of the village. She said many times the police had gone into the community and “disrespect and interrogate innocent people.”
“I am sure if the police get their tip-off they could do things better. De police got to done with this stupidness. They could do things properly. If they come fuh arrest somebody they don’t have to harass innocent people,” she said. The woman was adamant too that the police would get no cooperation if they continued to fail to pay the respect they should to citizens. Still, she suggested an outpost be set up.
The woman also acknowledged that there were many teens in the community who were idle and she agreed that something needed to be done. She said through the ARA a number of the villagers were trying to set up sport teams as well as a steel band to help occupy the idle minds.
“But their parents have to help too. The parents have a lot to do with the actions of their children. So that part have to be looked at from the parent side too,” she added.
She believed that with time the community would get better. “We just need to occupy the minds of our youth and help them to look at life and approach it better,” she emphasised.
A new breed
“It looks like things have calmed down, but taking too much attention off of the situation may not be good. Because after a calm is a storm and we cannot allow minds to go astray. Not paying attention could mean giving idleness a time to really get powerful,” another resident said. She was not optimistic about the restoration drive and stated that she is yet to see anything tangible from the group. “We are having another breed and brand of criminals coming up, and nothing is being done about it and we must arrest this situation… I don’t see the ARA doing nothing to deal with this,” she said.
The woman said she felt that the body would have come up with a different approach and a focused agenda to deal with the issue first. She also thought that it would have had a variety of people, including a teacher and nurse, to address specific needs. “So, I don’t see any real restoration.
What are we getting back? They say we are being stigmatised but is it stigma and what will we do to remove this?” she queried.
Another resident who seemed convinced that nothing would be done eventually put aside his disbelief and recommended too that “our young people need help, or we will lose them.” He recounted the days when many persons did “mischief’ and then “come in here to hide,” noting that the “police were like bugs but I am so happy to feel a little freer in my own community. But we got to get back how we were. Things must get brighter. We can’t make all our people leave and then we turn a ghost town,” he said.
