From Caribbean360

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – National Security Minister Victor La Corbiniere has cited youth crime as one of two major challenges impacting on the island’s security.

“I am more and more concerned about what I feel to be a growing trend of more and more young people turning to crime,” La Corbiniere said in an interview, adding that his concern was no indication that older persons who commit crimes should be “forgotten.”

La Corbiniere, gave no figures, but said when a young person comes into the system as a criminal, invariably that youth has to be dealt with over a period of time because there is a high level of repeat offenders.

“What is of concern to me is what we need to do or are not doing in relation to trying to prevent these persons from coming into the system in the first place,” he said.

He noted that once youth enter the system they have to be dealt with, but as far as he was concerned it would be better from an economic and human resource standpoint if they do not.

La Corbiniere recalled that in the past a number of other ministries have had to deal with such issues, and his ministry has never been in the “forefront” of trying to address the social matters affecting the youth.

However La Corbiniere said” I have said to my ministry that it’s an area in which we need to be more actively involved, not to take away the responsibility from any other ministry but to complement what they are doing.”

The National Security Minister also said another challenge facing the Island’s national security is economic in nature.

“There’s always limited finance and resource capacity in any country and Saint Lucia as you know is going through a very difficult period where we all have to tighten our belts and cut back,” he observed.

Nevertheless La Corbiniere said that the challenge also provided “a bit of an opportunity”, as St Lucia has to become more creative in the use of its resources, and more careful about its priorities.

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