The local Roman Catholic Catholic church has raised its voice amid the current rampant wave of crime and violence. In an official statement, Archbishop of Castries The Most Reverend Gabriel Malzaire called on various elements of society to abstain from the scourge which is plaguing the nation.
The Archbishop called on Christians to embrace the teachings of Jesus, as opposed to falling into the same traps and experiencing the ills suffered by other Biblical examples.
“Right now we are seeing a lot of hurt and pain around us from families and communities affected by violence, and it is up to us to work towards peace and unity” he said. “As followers of Jesus, we are called to choose the path of love and respect for each other. We have two choices – to follow the way of Cain, who chose harm, or to follow the way of Christ, who sacrificed his life to show us love. It is a choice we all must make.”
Criminality on the island has seemingly become brazen as seen by Monday’s daylight shooting in Castries that claimed the life of one man. However, Archbishop Malzaire believes that this crime trend has developed over time, having been allowed to fester within the society unchecked.
“Saint Lucia is in a tough spot where crime and violence have caused real damage. When we hear about the senseless acts of violence every day, it is easy to feel discouraged. But this problem didn’t start overnight. It has been building up from years of ignoring the signs and letting anger and hatred grow.”
To this end, the Catholic clergyman appealed to all members of the society to play their role in combating crime. He particularly emphasised the role that leaders in both the public and private sectors must play in combating the crime crisis, noting:
“The violence and criminality surrounding us must be addressed with urgency. I urge each one of you to join me in creating change. And when I speak of violence, I do not only mean physical violence, such as gun violence, but also the subtler forms, violence expressed through words and actions from all levels of society. I condemn all such destructive acts, whether committed by individuals or by institutions.”
“To the leaders of state, public institutions, private enterprise, academia, civil society and the church, I call upon all of us to constructively and lead by example. It is our responsibility to ensure that our society adheres to the law, but also to embody integrity and virtue in our leadership. Let us strive to be fit and proper leaders, acknowledging that where we fail, we must seek atonement.”
The homicide rate currently stands 72. With other non-violent crimes also of concern, the Catholic church believes that time is now to change this worrying trajectory.
