Anti-social behavior alleged by a resident in Gizo
A “concerned resident” of Gizo, named in the Solomon Star newspaper as Benjandro Piko, complained about anti-social activities allegedly causing a nuisance in his local community. The newspaper article relating to comments attributed to Mr. Piko, said this, and I quote.
Speaking to this paper (Solomon Star), Benjamino Piko, who is a resident at Babylon Heights in Gizo said, youths causing nuisance is a common issue in the communities, societies, and country as a whole.
Some of the the issues relate to noise through loud music, drinking of alcohol and other abti-social behavior.
Mr. Piko suggested that setting up community policing would be helpful to minimize criminal activities in the communities.
A concerned resident of Gizo, Western Province says youths need more empowerment and support to stop them from engaging in bad behaviour.
He raised this following increasing numbers of young people engaging in anti-social activities by causing a nuisance in the communities.
He attributed rising unemployment, engaging in peer groups, broken homes, lack of parental support and community support contributes to social disorder.
He believes one way to stop this rising problem is to encourage youths to actively engage in productive activities.
“Organising activities such as sports, church programs, and entertainment can lead them into a straight path,” he said.
Therefore, he appeals to all the respective leaders from communities, churches, provincial government, RSIPF, and main key stakeholders to help address this issue involving youths.
End of quote.
Comment.
I am pleased that Mr Piko has confidence in community policing to consider a likely response to his local concerns, but I should just say that while community policing does have a significant role to play in mediating and/or moderating interrlatedeness of criminal activities, crime and collective disorganization in society, community policing is not the panacea for resolving all troubling issues at the level of a community,
From what Mr.Piko outlined as possibly some of the factors causing a lack of community cohesion, I would suggest a combination of stakeholders become involved in support of police services and could include community social workers, government officials (possibly MAL) and church leaders.
I suggest MAL (but maybe also UNDP) because I might be possible to give the unemployed basic gardening tools to start a small garden enterprise to allow them to grow crops, with guidance, and for them to sell their surplus produce and earn a living.
In Malaita several youths have formed youth groups committed to peaceful activities and who work closely with the provincial authority on development pursuits to mutual benefit. Perhaps one or more of the Malaitan youth group leaders could get in touch with Mr Piko and give him and local youths the benefit of their advice.
Also in several parts in Malaita local rules for community behavior and orderly affairs have been drawn up as Bye-Laws and are being successfully implemented. Again, Mr. Piko could seek the advice of the Malaita Provincial government on the drafting and enforcement needs of local Bye-Laws.
I am sure the local police commander will be prepared to meet with Mr.Piko and to see what way a joint community and police programme could assist the concerns he has outlined and maybe a cooperate plan with all relevant stakeholders could then be designed.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
