PM Gonsalves says no reason for violence or robbery

“There is absolutely no reason for any person in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to be violent toward another or to rob anyone.”
Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr. Ralph Gonsalves made the comment as he delivered his Independence Day speech at the military parade held at Victoria Park last Saturday.
Prime Minister Gonsalves said that despite the country’s immense progress in material and non-material terms, a small number of persons, mainly young males who are wholly unrepresentative of the nation’s young male population, have chosen a life of crime, especially violent crime.
“They have chosen to invest in low-end but dangerous gun violence and have become “armed entrepreneurs”, living illegally off the fat of the land, making absolutely no contribution to the country’s development, sucking from it, and preying on innocent law-abiding people of all walks of life,” the Prime Minister said.
Dr Gonsalves expressed concern that there are persons who should know better yet they make excuses for persons and their criminal conduct; some of which he described as “ridiculous” and “close to bizarre justification.”
“There are enough opportunities and support systems for anyone who considers himself or herself disadvantaged. Sensible people do not buy into this so-called “disadvantaged thesis” as the cause of crimes. It is important to note that most of the violent criminals are not truly disadvantaged; they are greedy and covetous; they refuse to work, and they take some selfish pleasure in using violence against other persons. Yet, we must seek to rehabilitate them even as the legal system addresses the appropriate punishments,” Prime Minister Gonsalves stated.
The Prime Minister and Minister of National Security said that the simple fact is that neither the society nor the economy commits the violent crime, but it is the individual and that is where the responsibility lies.