Our homes should be safe havens. We should not fear that while we sleep the stillness of the night would be shattered by the noise of our doors being kicked in, and before us would be boys, some clothed as men, threatening us with guns or knives. Like creditors there to collect what was loaned, Guyana’s thieves not only rob us of our possessions, but it seems they believe they are entitled to cause us suffering. Often, we are paralyzed by the fear and so they steal our peace of mind, causing restless nights, panic, and distrust of anyone who resembles them. These agents of chaos, whether on bicycles, motorcycles, cars or on foot, are too many.
It seems like nowhere is safe. Their actions have led to too many deaths. Like an army of devils, victims of a system that did not nurture or prepare them for life, Guyana’s thieves will live by the gun until they die by it.
We all are aware of the economic conditions in Guyana; that most people are underpaid, and the cost of living is high. Many are subject to a life of poverty when there is no tertiary education, a family that has the means to help them follow their dreams, the links to people whose influence can help them prosper or the determination to work hard and succeed by the sweat of their brows. But even some university graduates cannot find work suitable for their qualifications and in this network of political unpredictability, discrimination, and nepotism, the most qualified are not always the ones succeeding.
I understand that one might be frustrated when they look around their community and know that no one cares whether they live or die. When there are no programmes to foster the development of the youth in some communities or the institutions where they have access to education might not be considered a ‘top school’, hopelessness abounds. While if they believe in themselves and are determined to not fall victim to the traps of criminality, they can break the cycle of poverty by taking advantage of the opportunities that are available, they often think the road would be too long and hard to walk. For many, it is easier to pick up a gun or a knife and terrorize those who have a little of what they want instead of working a shift of eight to twelve hours. They believe it is easier to risk their lives for a few minutes.
We know that as the gap between the rich and the poor widens, the youth who have decided that a life of criminality is what they want will only become more desperate. The lure of wanting the finest things in life with pockets full of notes to splurge, imprisons them. When their neighbours can afford to drive luxury vehicles and they cannot even afford a bicycle, their eyes are wet and red with envy.
A friend’s house was broken into this week. As he related what happened, it pained and angered me. In a conversation with another friend, she stressed that there is no excuse for the mostly young men robbing people. She used the example of tomb builders and how they can make as much as $70,000 building one tomb but many of these young men who instead choose to steal will not see the value, pleasure, or reward in legally dirtying their hands. Many blue-collar jobs are lucrative, and people can live comfortably and create wealth.
We also discussed foreigners, like the Venezuelans, who are coming to Guyana to work. We see many of them with their hotdog stands, selling other small items and working in the stores.
We also discussed a time of ‘kick down the door’ banditry in the 1980s. My friend said that it was not until Hoyte ordered the execution of a ‘kick down the door’ bandit by hanging that it stopped.
But now in 2021 bandits are kicking down the door of Guyana’s people and taking their possessions. Something must be urgently done about the home invasions and street robberies. The people are tired, hurt, and afraid. Headlines proclaiming that crime has reduced do not comfort us when the reality of constantly living under the threat of being robbed is real. There must be those who can reach these young men who have chosen this life. We know that most of them will not listen to the politicians. Most of them also might not listen to their community leaders. In some instances, there are no community leaders. We must think about creating countrywide interventions to reach these young men. And it must be continuous. We must create a tribe of nation builders instead of allowing the tribe who are determined to kill, steal, and destroy to multiply. I am sure they are reformed offenders who would be willing to share their experiences with them. Find out who are their heroes so that they can positively influence them. I believe that if some of them were encouraged, supported, and equipped with the tools to create a life where they can make living wages and live comfortably, they would choose a different path. I am sure if someone pays attention to some of them and assures them that their births were not mistakes, and that they are worthy members of our society, that their lives matter and they are not destined for a life of criminality, they might listen. We know that even with various interventions there are those who will choose a life of crime, but at least we can greatly lessen the numbers if we launch a campaign to save our disadvantaged youth from such a life.
Parents, you have the responsibility to set an example for your children. When you know they are involved in criminal activities and you turn a blind eye or accept the spoils of their criminal activities, you should not expect society to mourn with you when they are killed. Even if they are not born into wealth or are being led to wealth, they must know that the true value of a person lies in their integrity, finding their purpose and the determination to be the best versions of themselves and positively contributing to the society.
We know that besides the thieves who will kick down our doors or snatch our bags in public, there are also those sitting in air-conditioned offices, so-called entrepreneurs and foreign investors who are also fattening themselves on the backs of the poor and robbing our country without mercy.
As the Christmas season approaches, we must be cognizant of our surroundings. The thieves also want to have a merry Christmas and will rob anyone they can. We should be able to walk the streets with ease and be comfortable and sure that when we go to sleep at night, we will not awake to someone invading our homes. Unfortunately, many of us must keep watch for the agents of chaos attack the rich and the poor without warning.
