Tisha Ricketts
In this documentary, “Youth Voices- What Are We Fighting For”, three young Barbadians, Nadisha, Zachary and Chemar allow us to get a glimpse of how Barbadian youths feel about violence.
Most recently, the issue of rising violence has become a problem in Barbados. As the documentary highlights, the reasons contributing to this increase in violence are complex.
As one young man says in the video below “If you check it, there is nothing for the children. The youths are coming up in one way and that is violence”
Another young man talks about a specific incidence of violence. He said;
“Last week a man from my neighbourhood was robbed. He had a chain, a nice big gold chain and another man wanted it. He was just walking on the beach and a man came up and said..man give me that chain, the man said nah man..the man drew a gun and pop off the chain and shot him two times in the leg”
The rest of the video goes through similar stories, of former gang members or victims of crime. I was surprise that these things happen in Barbados. My impression was that there were a few incidents of violence in Barbados. Barbadians can no longer feel comfortable and confident that violence will not become a major problem in their country.
It is obvious that there are no simple solutions or quick fixes but addressing the issues and preventing an environment that promotes violence seems critical. I hope that the Barbadian government listen to the stories and voices of these young Barbadians. The time to do something to help is now otherwise violence will become part of the lives of all Barbadians.
