Too Much Violence: USVI Shootings Near Preschool's 2

Too Much Violence: USVI Shootings Near Preschool's 

 

(photo credit to associated press) 

Since the beginning of school two weeks ago I'm sure most parents would agree that things have been hectic; settling back into routines, conforming to new ones, etc. So this weekend I decided to let my hair down and get back into my old routines of reading daily publications from groups and people with like interests, but I was a little taken aback by some articles I'd read with regards to the homicide of Jermaine 'Bird' Williams in the parking lot of his child's preschool, George's Christian Academy in Whim, Frederiksted after school. According to numerous reports by local and associated press this father was shot in the parking lot while awaiting his wife to sign out their child after school. Students and school personnel were evacuated to secure room where they called for help from emergency responders but it was to no avail for the violence had already taken this father of three's life. Local public and private agencies came together to aid in the evaluations of students and staff scorned by the incident as was indicated by those in the Office of Child Care and Regulatory Services, but the ignorant violence has not ended nor has the arrogance of our community turning a blind eye to what is unfortunately becoming regular and that is too much violence within and near our schools.  

In 2013 I wrote a blog post, Too Much Violence; USVI Shootings Near Preschools, which illustrated for those who were unaware the rising amount of violence not only in schools but near schools that house our early learners. Different reports of gunfire at various head starts in Bovoni and in Berg's Home caught the attention of many concerned citizens and parents who spoke with officials from the Dept. of Human Services and the Virgin Islands Police Dept. expressing their concerns for the safety of their children. After a vote parents and officials came to the decision to send students to other Head Starts within the community that weren't experiencing such troubles due to violence in the community. That same year a similar incident took place on St. Croix regarding another parent who was shot and in the parking lot of their child's school after dropping off and killed trying escape inside the preschool housing two employees and ten children, causing the center to close.  

Nonetheless, as disturbing as all of this is, the fear and pain spread by the incident in question news and internet sources have chosen to ignore the blatant disregard for the lives of children within our territory in or out of school and call on legislators for stricter policies and legislations to defend our children while in learning institutions they have taken to the more 'popular' trend of 'blaming the victims'. According to reports made, rather than highlighting the severity of the crime instead many have taken to reporting the death of a gangster and gunfire fights that have since emerged in alleged retribution acts, basically glorifying the tragedies taken place causing more danger for residents of our islands.  

I am no politician nor legislator and my opinions are solely my own but when will it be enough to not only ignore the arrogance of others and educate them for the better? What will it take to stop turning a blind eye, to stop promoting and glorifying violence and the things that attribute to it? We are all members of this community and we are all members of families, but most importantly we all went to school and it was once considered safe.  

The views expressed within the blog are solely those of Ms. Child Advocate and does not reflect on any of her affiliations. For more on the U.S Virgin Islands youths read How Was Your First Day Of School, Too Much Violence: USVI Shootings Near Preschools, and Violence And Abuse In School 

  

Children Are Dying

           For some of you this may hit a little closer to home than it does for me, but we all know that any blow of these circumstances can change anyone. There has been a recent rash of shootings and deaths within our territory, the U.S Virgin Islands, within the past two weeks. While there where no fatalities known to me of infants and toddlers, children are still dying. Regardless of their age, many teenagers, adolescents, and even college goer's are still children and we are loosing them to drugs, violence, and other spoils of poverty. I found out two days ago that a young man that I watched grow up died from fatal gun shot wounds. At first I questioned it, saying it seemed so highly unlikely. But then I saw condolences from the community and was too scared to offer my own, out of fear. What can you truly tell one who has lost a loved one? What could be said that wouldn't sound commercial or generic? what could you say to ease the pain? Throughout my tenure in this life I've meet this situation before, but it never gets better; one can never truly know the right words.

        It would benefit us a society/community to come together in these situations and to prevent these situations from happening. While many efforts are being made in forms of marches and picketing to prevent violence and drug abuse, but we can't just say it we need show it too. Reliable drug abuse and violence programs need be implemented in nurturing environments to promote progression, this is something that is also lacking within our systems. Creating rehabilitation centers and learning institutions in stagnant, violent environments cannot possibly promote progression, as is the intent of these institutions.  To quote one of my favorite artists, 'if you speak about it then you should be about it not just preach about it all day'; we all have a part to play. 

        There are still many of whom deserve recognition for showing resilience toward the 'wave of oppression' and empowering others along the way. Many of those whose story is and will never be heard; it is a shame that only the 'bad' news gets the major headlines and publicity, yet we wonder why the up and coming generations see it fit to live their lives in the influentially negative  manners that they choose. Like all learning skills that develop over time these behaviors are facilitated, by society and its member; all of us, we are the oppressors for we allow it to happen and we promote it. We, members of society are the light that shines, whether on the good or the bad we choose and our choices have lead us to a dark future for our children. The time to promote, encourage, and uplift our children and ourselves as individuals and nations is here; the actions we take now will determine tomorrow and the way we choose to live the rest of our lives.

Too Much Violence; USVI Shootings Near Preschools

Over the past week our Daily News has had headlines that a journalist probably prays for, but our community is being left with the stains and pains of these actions. We have lost another child to a senseless killing; my condolences to the mother although what do you tell a mother after she loses her son? Unfortunately, its something that many of us have thought of time and time again; I am personally tired of having such thoughts. I'm tired of having to bear witness to yet another mother mourning and suffering for reasons unknown to her and others. For each time that we've heard of the lost of another young life, we've heard promises from our legislators and commissioner's promising to 'clean up the streets' and make our community safer. The truth is, the only people that can make the community safe again are the members of that community; they are the only ones who will truly care.

Since the beginning of this year there has been a number of violent incidents within close proximity or directly within the areas of Head Start Centers in the Virgin Islands.  On St. Thomas there was a shooting reported directly in front of the Bovoni Head Start Center and in February, three employees of the Berg's Home Head Start Center found their cars with bullet holes and a security guard at the Dept. of Human Services was shot while being robbed of his cellular phone. Patrols where increased within the area, as promised by the police, but that didn't stop the violence from escalating. On Tuesday, April 9, 2013, gunshots erupted outside the Bergs Home Head Start (once again), children where asked to lie on the ground for fifteen minutes to ensure safety from stray bullets. While many parents, came with an urgency to check on the well being of their children and to take them out of harms way, they where unable to do so. Police had engaged the suspect within a gunfight that ended up directly behind the Head Start, so the center was placed on lock down, another measure to ensure the safety of students. The following Friday, angry & concerned parents spoke with officials from the Dept. of Human Services and the Virgin Islands Police Dept. expressing their concerns for the safety of their children. After a vote parents and officials came to the decision to send students to other Head Starts within the community that weren't experiencing such troubles due to violence in the community. 

Now, just last Thursday, a parent became a victim after dropping of his child at Head Start in Est. Williams Delight, on St. Croix. When returning to his car the victim was approached by four men who asked for his chain, and when he hesitated, they shot him and took it from him. In an attempt to escape the father ran into the Head Start, but was pursued and shot again from his assailant within the Head Start Center housing two employees and ten students at the time. Because of the violent nature of the crime the center has been closed until further notice. Earlier this year a store keeper was shot two blocks from another Head Start on St. Croix; when will this blatant disregard for human life end? I don't think that the blame should lie solely on those committing the crimes either, for what are our elected officials for? If we cannot expect our children to be safe within the learning institutions of our society then where are they safe? And while I thank the Lord that no one was hurt physically in either of these situations, I still can't help but wonder the effects of these incidents psychologically on such young minds, and hope that (if affected at all) it is irreversible and not a life long threat. Early childhood learners are very impressionable and such events can have negative effects, socio-emotional and psychological, that may past adolescence. I hope that as a community we will, one day soon, be able to rise above the violent crimes that are rampant in today's society and elevate ourselves to a more civilized way of living and thinking to secure a brighter future for our children.