Saint Lucia will host a Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) conference addressing crime and violence in the Caribbean.
The conference will run from April 25-27, 2024.
CARPHA’s 68th annual health research conference’s theme is: ‘Violence in the Caribbean – A Public Health Issue’.
The organization’s Executive Director, Dr. Joy St. John, noted that crime and violence devastate governments, businesses, communities, schools, families, and livelihoods worldwide.
“The Caribbean has not been able to escape the scourge,” St. John wrote on CARPHA’s official website.
She observed the need to halt the erosion of the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) development potential by managing the current crisis in a ‘uniquely Caribbean way’ and preventing it from worsening despite limited financial and technical resources.
CARICOM Heads of Government met in Trinidad and Tobago from April 17 – 18, 2023, to address crime and violence as a public health issue.
The Heads declared that the ‘epidemic’ of crime and violence in the region, fueled by illegal guns and drugs, was a threat to democracy.
And they outlined several measures to address the problem.
The measures included overhauling criminal justice and strengthening regional forensic capabilities.
In addition, the Heads agreed to promote anti-crime education and awareness campaigns.
Dr. St. John noted that the CARICOM Heads’ declaration after the Trinidad and Tobago conference last year provided the region with a blueprint for coordinated whole-of-society action.
She observed that managing crime and violence as a public health issue demonstrated commitment to exploring all avenues of prevention.
I wonder what they gonna discuss how to get away with crime!!
Let’s hope the opposition joins in the March against crime…The March will visit symbolic locations in the North and south of the island …The March will include secular ,civic,community political and citizen groups.
It would be heartening to know what is on their agenda for that conference.
@ IS. I know what’s on our agenda. Arrest illegal gun owners and release them on bail. Then wait for 2 more years before a court trial is called. Meantime, they are back doing the same stuff that got them arrested. Authorities can’t lose with such a brilliant strategy. It takes a serious brainpower to conceive such a plan. Pure brilliance.
Well that’s a bit of irony for you.
A conference in St. Lucia at this time is most appropriate, but still a little late; one couldn’t pick a better place to voice their concerns about crime in the (B.W.I.) Caribbean than right here. This tiny Island Which cannot feed itself, cannot pay its way out of constant debt but have to borrow money, after traveling far afield around the globe cup in hand for development funds, regarded a laughing-stock by many.
Is the infestation of crime in St. Lucia the reason for lack of job availability? I doubt; I believe the criminality is mostly the reason of organized criminals, determined to ‘Steal, Kill & destroy’ rather than work. I remember the P.M. being very anxious to quickly accept the job of Councilor & Director for crime prevention in the Caribbean, I thought then ‘what the hell is he getting himself in’ not having a clue what that entails; a couple years later, apart from Trinidad and Jamaica, St. Lucia is the worse Island for crime in the B.W.I. – absolutely not at all his fault – but partly the way the Law Courts is structured. Can anyone or any Political Party do anything to correct the system? absolutely not; the criminals know it. They all say, NO HANGING for fear of cutting of funds from ‘Big brother’. So what do you think will come out of this Conference? NADA.
@ the fox, I totally agree with you. But to simplify things the PM needed to give up those portfolio as he is causing more damages to his people as a whole, it does not represent St. Lucians who are here living but all those who living elsewhere. Of course, those abroad if or when questioned will obviously place the blunt of the causes on who is leading but in the same breath it is a shame for one PM to carry out all these portfolios’ duties. Is he looking to break a record or something? He doesn’t know when to say NO? Is he placing his people interest first? Above all is he fit for the job in general? How will he be able to phantom an excuse for his homeland crime level. I firmly believed he will be copy and pasting his narrative he planned to read to the public. It’s a shame downright ashamed and abuse of power. 1 man holding so many portfolios, its better we develop or implement our own monarchy system.
Criminals hosting and talking bout crime. A whole conference for that. Well i more think it’s a ploy to get pd for attending conferences. There’s something called per diem. If u eh know what that is ask Kenson. I might be wrong but I am willing to bet that in 2.5 yrs no minster has travelled more than Kenson in our 45 yrs of independence. What’s more ridiculous there ignorant fools that would applaud or gv the govt points for hosting this. Are these leaders saying that they clueless so they wanna brainstorm in one room. ANYWAYS. AM NOT FOOLED.
Anonymous, when are you going to comment on the root of the problem you know your cousin is part of? That is the cocaine.
ONLY THREE DAYS TO FIND A SOLUTION WOW GOOD LUCK. ST LUCIAS CRIME HAS GONE TOO FAR , NOTHING CAN CHANGE THAT MESS. THE GOV. THE COURT SYSTEM ARE JOKERS.
THE MONEY THAT WILL WILL BE SPENT ON THAT NONSENSE PUT IT TO BETTER USE, LIKE PAY INCREASE, THE MINIMUM WAGE IS GARBAGE.
while we are hosting there is gun crime happening right under his nose