In response to a surge in youth-related crimes, Antigua and Barbuda recently implemented a curfew for individuals under 18, restricting outdoor activity from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The move is intended to stop loitering and youth involvement in crime and will hold parents accountable with fines of up to XCD 5,000 if their children violate the curfew.
This curfew however has ignited significant debate on its effectiveness and constitutionality as other Caribbean nations, like Saint Lucia, grapple with similar issues.
Among those criticising the measure is Rahym R. Augustin-Joseph, a Law Student at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Faculty of Law and a political commentator.
He thinks the policy is “an overly punitive and nonsensical approach,” arguing that it penalises many young people for the actions of a few.
Augustin-Joseph questions the constitutionality of the curfew, specifically whether it infringes upon “freedoms relating to movement” and whether it can be justified as “necessary and proportional” to the goal of reducing crime.
In his view, policies like the curfew could backfire, possibly driving youth crime into daytime hours or leading young people to avoid positive social interactions for fear of criminalisation. “I think it is trying to create policy for a small subsection of ‘truant’ youth by potentially penalizing harmless association by many others among the age group,” Augustin-Joseph told St. Lucia Times.
He also warns that the curfew may represent a “flawed and underutilisation of police resources and skills,” suggesting instead that these resources could support initiatives like police clubs to build relationships with young people and guide them away from crime.
The President of Saint Lucia’s National Principals Association (NPA) Neal Fontenelle, had noted the value in curfews under certain conditions.
Fontenelle acknowledged the challenges posed by youth crime and proposed that curfews might serve as a “last-resort measure if other strategies fail.”
He even suggested an earlier curfew start time, such as 7 or 8 p.m., which he believes could serve as a stronger deterrent.
Augustin-Joseph however maintains that imposing curfews misses the root causes of youth crime, particularly for young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds who often face limited access to resources.
He argues, “What needs to happen in my mind, is the empowerment of young people through targeted social and economic enfranchisement, which can turn them away from a life of crime and make crime less attractive.”
In addition, Augustin-Joseph suggested that empowering parents, through “massive parental support, education, assistance, and empowerment,” would have a more lasting positive effect than simply restricting young people’s movements or placing added burdens on families already facing economic hardship.
From a policy perspective, he also highlights the inconsistency of enforcing curfews on youth while minors are simultaneously eligible to face criminal charges. He said this dual approach, can be seen as contradictory and might even heighten inequalities. “It is using the law in a way that will further increase inequalities in the society, and this is not the purpose of the law,” he states.
While the NPA President sees curfews as potentially effective if other methods fail, advocates like Augustin-Joseph believe that real change comes from addressing the socioeconomic factors that often lead young people into crime.
Whether through economic programs, community initiatives, or parental support systems, they argue that solutions should focus on prevention rather than restriction.
PHOTO: Police stop and search students in Castries (File image)
I respect this guy’s perspective however, just floating ideas such as “the empowerment of young people through targeted social and economic enfranchisement, which can turn them away from a life of crime and make crime less attractive” is just vague. How would this work? Who is responsible? Is there going to be associated costs? Who will pay for this? I know, people will say “goovamant” (Chas’ accent) but where would the government get the money to pay for it? Taxes. And we are all tired of these taxes aren’t we?
It is easy to just vaguly talk about things and criticize things but it’s more difficult for people to make specific proposals.
This makes a great debate. I would have liked to know what policies or laws that came before the curfew was initiated. Fundamentally, I am against mass punishment. The apprehended perpetrators should have had the book thrown at them (including their parents); if that were not done before. I too think a curfew should be the very last step when everything fails. The law is demotivating and harsh for the kids who are doing the right thing. What about their little parties and get-togethers… important for socialization and breaking the monotony of studying?
I believe that it all begins with proper training at home – having said that some homes are ill equipped at parenting for they themselves did not receive the basic fundamentals and therefore the cycle of dysfunction/criminality continues. Children learn where they live —– There were gangs when we were growing up in St. Lucia – however our parents instilled in us that we are to go to school, study hard and stay away from bad company – thank God we obeyed all ten of us.
Let us also be honest – there are some individuals who do not desire to work a legitimate job. They want to get rich overnight and have already purposed in their heart that engaging in criminal activity is their career choice and they will live a life of crime regardless of programs and or initiatives etc.
Always the lawyers pushing back against policing initiatives. It’s almost as if they have a vested interest in criminality. I wonder? hmmmm
When one hears “curfew” one thinks of dire situations. You mean to tell me that night time criminal activity is at that high of a level in Antigua and Barbuda? I guess so. Who are the victims of these nightly crimes being committed by young people? Are they robbing businesses, breaking into homes? The potential victims should do what is necessary so that they deter the criminals, for example installing burglar alarms. Are the youth committing rape and murders? If so the night-time curfew will just turn them to the daytime hours to do the same thing. Let me check Antigua and Barbuda news to find out what’s happening because a curfew is serious business.
I was totally against this curfew business when it was first mentioned a few months ago. You can’t punish the majority of the well meaning citizens for the miscreant minority. There is no martial law, neither are the conditions met for instituting blanket wide curfews. You therefore cannot restrict the movement of well meaning citizens either. The government has failed to initiate better measures to alleviate the crime scourge and are now resorting to Draconian measures against the citizens. Yes hold parents accountable but also implement measures that are practical.
I honestly quite like the idea of a curfew, and please note that I said “idea”. As always C-Wiz you make quite good points, but hear me out. The threat of something as simple as a curfew can make a drastic difference in controlling crime, and I got a real-life example. Quite a few years ago when I was in my younger days gangs and crime in my country was rampant and out of control. Not a day would go by where there wasn’t a murder, a shooting, a stabbing or chopping. What the government did was put out an official statement that if the gangs didn’t call a truce and stop their war carnival and major fetes would be cancelled until further notice. The government promised amnesty should anyone come forward to give up their weapons. They were pledged to anonymity from the public view. They were promised no prosecution for crimes against their gang members and if any crime is committed after the truce they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, however, they will be held accountable for any non-gang affiliated persons that were caught in the middle. If my memory serves me right within a week the leaders of the gangs came on live TV with their masks on and signed a treaty agreeing to the terms and that was the end of three biggest gangs that ruled my little island. Gang wars and gang related killing stopped completely.
Now I know the solution is not a one size fit all, but I want to know, what would happen the things we enjoy the most was being threatened to be taken away from us. It could be as simple as stopping the sale of alcohol after certain hours, no parties and fetes after a certain hour, the curfew for minors, instead of 2 days of carnival reduce it to one with no night-time parties, no street parties, no Gros-Islet Friday night jam.
At first my fiance and I discussed this as a thought experiment and what we think is that the shere outrage of everyone that would be affected by this would ultimately cause the criminals to be pushed out into the open and I feel like based on everyone’s reaction to this may just prove my point
@ I’m Just Saying
I acknowledge your valid contribution to the debate. You clearly stated that your government implemented measures to combat the crime in your beloved country but I also noted that what your government implemented did not collaterally affect well meaning citizens in the immediate first instance…by that I mean that stopping carnival and major fetes would affect all citizens on that particular day of carnival or major fete but not on every single day of the year . What the Saint Lucian government is proposing ( Island wide curfew) would affect every Saint Lucian citizen, both well meaning and miscreants alike, every single day of their lives. I think it harsh to punish the majority for the behaviour of miscreant minority. Your government’s offer of an amnesty is well noted.
Put a curfew on them and finish with that. ignore those complaining. they have no business roaming the streets beyond a certain time anyways. It is also becoming clear that it is the very young that might be behind the many unaliving spree in those islands. They foolish. They think they know it all and have no reasoning skills. so they dont know when someone is simply fooling their marijuana laden non-functional brains. Put u the curfew , ignore the nay sayers. If you see them out, make them spend a night at the police station and have their family come and collect them. I dont have time for the criminal minds that some of u birthed in this place. time for drastic action.