After the Lusignan massacre occurred, I did not sleep well for weeks. With only Annandale separating Buxton and Lusignan, the tragedy was too close to home. There is also something uniquely evil about the murder of children that leaves an imprint on one’s psyche. There were many nightmares and any sound outdoors in the stillness of the night would cause me to lie with eyes wide open, wondering if the shadows of killers would dance on the walls of my home. The many theories about why the lives of those people were taken did little to calm my fears.
But many of us pacify ourselves with the belief that most of the horrible crimes are not random. There is always some connection to the drug trade or some debt unpaid or some karma. And even though this might be true in some cases, many citizens who have no connections to the authors of the crimes are suffering from the acts of crazed, money-hungry and bloodthirsty men.
The Lusignan massacre was just one of the many events during a disturbing era in our country. Between 2002 and 2008, the sheer number of those killed by the violence disturbed the health of our society and I feared for our youth. How did the bloodshed affect the thinking of the children who saw the cold bodies of family and friends and strangers day after day? How many were counselled and how are they doing today?
Now, some of the fear I felt during that time has re-emerged. When the homes of people you know are broken into or when someone you know is shot and robbed, it cannot be ignored. This returned fear grips any lax in caution one might have and whispers “make sure you lock up the doors and gates at nights” and “be extra cautious when you walking on the road” and “make sure your vehicles are locked” and “look out for the boys on the motorcycles and the bicycles.” Any little sound outside late in the night is cause for concern as one wonders if men clothed in desperation and mischief have come too close. It is no way to live.
With vile intentions, they jump gates and break locks to bring distress to those who have often made many sacrifices to bask in the fruits of their labour. The desperate men often unleash rage bottled up from years of neglect, broken homes, a system that would have failed them, a cycle of terror and their unwillingness to elevate themselves beyond the tale that tells them “a criminal is who you are ” or “get the money anyway you can.”
While traveling a few weeks ago, I heard a song by Jamaican dancehall artiste Alkaline that spoke about money being his fantasy and how that money would afford him the opportunities to buy the house and car and treat family and friends. There is no shame in wanting money or wanting to live a good life. I do not believe that suffering and living in poverty should be a way of life. But I could not help but think about the many young men who want it all but are not patient or willing to put in the honest work that is necessary—they would hurt whoever they must in order to succeed and often their satisfaction is short lived as they splurge on unnecessary material possessions and fetes until they must do it all over again.The screams of unsuspecting victims, whether day or night, often do not sway the offenders who demand the pieces of gold and the green money. And, many times, the families and friends of these offenders do not question gifts they may receive from them, even though there might be suspicions, although some may just be in denial.
How many times have we seen incidences of young men labelled bandits being killed or incarcerated and relatives testifying that, “He was a good church boy.”
Currently, on one hand, we are being told that there has been a reduction in crime, but, on the other hand, our newspapers, our television and radio broadcasts, our social media and the experiences of relatives and friends tell of the distress that many are facing.
Though the statistics might show that indeed there is a reduction in certain kind of crimes, simply repeating this over and over again does not comfort those who have been affected. It does not bring back those who have died and it certainly does not calm or ease the fears of those who are worried about being targeted.
We have also heard that much of the crime is being organized. I have to wonder: by whom, for whom and where is the evidence of this? And, if the authors of the narrative know who is organizing such crime, why not bring them to the light? Or is it not that easy?
Who is organizing the crime when a young lady’s belongings are snatched or a young man has a gun pointed to his head and is told to hand over all the cash he has? Who is instructing those who carry out heinous crimes that result in the loss of lives?
While often offenders who cannot hide are either incarcerated or, in some cases, killed, we know that some of the biggest criminals never see the light of justice. They are often disguised as decent and honest citizens.
It is an injustice to the Guyanese people to try to soothe our fears with mere words. Though there have been some actions to quell the situation, people will not be able to rest until drastic changes are seen. We must no longer have to lie in our beds at night, eyes wide open, terrified that a noise at the gate or at the door or the dogs barking would signal that they would have come.
We should not have to worry that some money-hungry rogue would take us for all we have when we simply walk the streets. There has to be a holistic approach in the fight to make our country safer. What are the family backgrounds of the perpetrators? What kind of education did they receive? Did the system cater to their specific needs? What systems can be put in place to deter them from a life of crime? How do we make sure that people can actually live on what they earn?
Parents have to start teaching their children the value of life and to walk away from situations where they are tempted to do harm to others. When children are affected by unfortunate events they must be given the help that is necessary. The basic integrity instilled from young should cause pause and questions when faced with the temptation to do wrong.
No society will ever be free or crime and some folks will choose to be so involved regardless of options. We must be assured that everything possible is being done to keep us all safe and fear free. Words, however, are not enough.
