By Nixon Dickenson
In this week’s article in the series Voices from the Streets, I would like to share a conversation with four well-known gentlemen, Mr. Ferguson Williams, Mr. Walter Thomas, Mr. Lindsay Butterfield and Mr. Kuff McCartney.
The views presented by each gentleman provided simple and relevant solutions to addressing crime in our country. These community activists shared their various positions on the challenges currently facing our islands and the role of the community in counteracting gun violence among young men. The passion for the country was evident in the voices of each individual as was the hope for a brighter future for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Mr. Lindsay Butterfield shared his views on the need to keep the culture of these islands alive. He shared that he was blessed to be able to travel the world representing the Department of Culture, and he was able to develop an appreciation for the knowledge gained through travelling.
He was able to see these countries bring their culture alive through music and other entrepreneurial skills. Mr. Butterfield believes that it is vital that opportunities are provided for the youths to develop national pride, despite their ethnic background. He stressed that once an individual is residing in the country, they should seek to build the cultural values of the country and be held accountable for behaviour that does not align with the values of the country.
One of the stories he shared was his experience of learning to cook outdoors. He said that this skill remained with him throughout his adult life and he was able to pass it on to his children.
These skills teach young people to think outside the box and develop an appreciation for simple values that teach lifelong lessons. Mr. Ferguson Williams shared that he believed morals and values were lessons that are now lacking in our youths.
Incorporating values that stray from traditional norms, especially in dress codes, has helped lead our young men down a path of moral decay. He stressed that boys should be taught from an early that a gentleman should not wear his trousers below his waist exposing their underwear.
He also shared that dressing appropriately for a job interview or in the workplace is still a value aligned with good character. He believes that society has become too liberal that value systems seem unappreciated, yet the absence of these systems has led to trouble for our communities. Mr. Williams expressed that we can never get tired of speaking to a young person headed for trouble because we never know the positive impact our words will have on the individual.
Mr. Walter Thomas expressed that employment remains a pressing concern for many young men. He shared that various methods must be tried to ensure that skilled workers can obtain contracts and equal opportunities for every Turks and Caicos Islander.
He expressed that instilling values in our young people will always be important, but when a man is hungry, he does what is necessary to survive. This is why he feels that community involvement is important in addressing crime. Mr. Kuff McCartney shared that the youths are longing for more involvement of persons in the community with the resources to help them.
He expressed that youth outreach programs should not be based on who you are and the community you are coming from but should be geared towards providing support for the most vulnerable among us. He expressed that sports development is an area that can make a big difference with the help of community partners willing to invest in making a difference in the life of a young person.
He also made an appeal to fathers to spend more time with their children, especially their boys, as there were so many other negative influences vying for their attention. Each man's contribution highlighted valuable life lessons that, if implemented, can help reduce the violence that continues to stain our streets.
I left the conversation encouraged that the answer to crime will come as long as we keep our voices going.
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