Criminals Need A Refuge

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Javon Liburd/BVI Platinum News
Ms. Esmie Potter. Spoke at the RVIPF community meeting in Long Look. January 16th

(PLTM) - In a very emotional plea, elder of the community of Long Look, Esmie Potter said most of the young men engaged in criminal activities on the streets do so because they do not have anywhere else to go or anyone to turn to.

Speaking at last evening's, January 16 community meeting in the Long Look village, organised by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, Ms. Potter noted that a vital solution to combating the occurrences of criminal offenses is to create refuge for these young men.

“These criminals need a refuge, they need to know people love them and care for them. They are out there associating with the wrong crowd because they don’t know they have a safe place to go to.”

She continued, “Parents reconcile with your children, they need you. They are out there with the wrong crowds and the people who protect them today will turn a gun on them tomorrow.”

In a plea to the parents and the churches of the community, she encouraged them to not give up on the youths, no matter how wayward they are.

“Many of these young people pass through our [church] doors and we have not been able to influence them in the right way. To the parents, many of the criminals still live in our homes; they are our children who we gave up on them too soon and when they are at that stage where they needed our help most, we gave up on them.”

Ms. Potter added, “We did not help them to live in such a way to have enough self-esteem to know that their lives are worthwhile, so they catch anything that come along. They go to the streets looking for food, shelter and somebody to listen to them.”

Reiterating that a refuge is the first step in getting these young men off the streets and in safe homes among their families, Ms. Potter noted, “The police will not be able to do it unless we realize we have a responsibility. Many of us as parents who give up on our teenagers when they are going wrong, we need to reconcile with our children. They need to know that there are people out there who still care for them. There are many prodigal sons out there. Many of these young men wish they had somebody to go to. You [parents] are responsible for your child."

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