Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham last night called for a new era of national volunteerism and announced that the government will make $1 million available immediately to initiate social programs in urban areas in New Providence and Grand Bahama.
"There is no denying the role played by young males in the crime scourge of our nation," said Ingraham, during a national address on crime.
"These males are predominantly from the urban areas of the country, most particularly Nassau and to a lesser degree, Freeport.  We cannot bury our heads in the sand about this reality."
Ingraham advised that the programs will be developed and executed in conjunction with social partners such as the church, civic groups and sporting groups.
He said the funds for these new programs are in addition to the resources that are already budgeted for various urban renewal and youth development programs.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Development will spearhead this effort together with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the prime minister said.
He said the expectation is that the programs will be up and running by as early as December.

Volunteerism
Ingraham stressed that even with its best efforts, the government alone will not be able to fully address the crime scourge.
"We need as many of you who care about our nation to enlist in this fight," Ingraham said.
He announced that the government will launch a National Volunteers Register on November 1.
"The register will enable you to sign up to be available to volunteer your time for mentoring our young men and women; assisting in community centers with afterschool programs; outreaches to urban neighborhoods to encourage parental and child involvement in school activities;  to work with existing youth organizations in their programs, and a host of social activities that can positively impact upon our society," Ingraham said.
Volunteers will be able to register online or at various designated government offices.
"Our aim is to enlist hundreds if not thousands of volunteers," the prime minister said.
"This effort will also be spearheaded by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture together with the Ministry of Labour and Social Development."
Ingraham said one of the social dimensions to fighting crime is social intervention which can play an essential role in deterring crime, stopping first offenders from re-offending and rehabilitating some criminals.
"Accordingly, my government will continue to work with and strengthen partnerships with civil society generally.  We will collaborate with churches, civic groups and the business community to fund and manage targeted social intervention programs to confront anti-social and criminal behavior among various groups," he said.
"In our shared fight against crime, there is an urgent need for more community service and mentoring and greater corporate citizenship and philanthropic efforts inclusive of helping to fund and sustain various youth and young adult programs as well as crime prevention and offender rehabilitation programs."
The government is targeting four principal areas: Community service programs in all public schools with an enhanced service-learning, ethics and character development component; community and youth development programs geared towards providing young people with positive and alternative life experiences and skills while discouraging anti-social behavior; and effective and creative alternative sentencing for juvenile offenders.
"Towards this end, the minister of education has been charged with implementing a new and more comprehensive community service-learning program for all government schools," Ingraham said.
"This is with a view to helping more young people develop a sense of belonging in our community and deeper sense of responsibility for its well-being while better respecting themselves and others."
NATIONAL ADDRESS ON CRIME AT A GLANCE

In his national address on crime last night, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said, "The crisis of culture and community manifested in an unprecedented level of criminality requires us to deal with essentials invisible to the eye like values, attitudes, social trust and mutual respect."
Ingraham also made a number of announcements regarding the government's new approach to addressing the high level of violent crime in the country.

o Customs to increase random searches at ports

o Stronger gun penalties

o Stronger drug penalties

o Two new gun courts

o 30-day period to turn in illegal firearms

o Expansion of CCTV program

o Police to get two mobile command centers

o Specialist consultants to train police

o Three years set as reasonable time to hold suspect

o Magistrates must put in writing reasons for granting bail

o Legislation for non-disclosure of witness identities in some cases

o Death penalty to be retained as punishment for certain murders

o Life to be defined as the remainder of a convict's natural life

o Additional judges

o $1 million for social intervention programs

o National Volunteers Register to be launched Nov. 1, 2011

o Establishment of Outward Bound Program for at-risk youth and first offenders

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian