What could be done to combat the rising of criminal activities in Port Vila?

Given the economic growth rate of 7.2% for Vanuatu's economy in 2006, Vanuatu Government should be looking forward to 2008 with relish. However, at the same time there should be no self complacency. Certainly this year 2008, is a challenge year for all of us. The public in Port Vila, and their Government must have been shocked and stunned by the propinquity of events during the beginning of the weekend of January 2008. According to the local media reports, a young Ni- Vanuatu, and a lady, who was originally from Australia, became victims in light of alleged criminal activities. This is indeed very sad, and must have been an excruciating period for the friends, loved ones and families of the mentioned victims. The occurrence of the alleged criminal activities of January, which, had sadly culminated in the death of the two mentioned victims, has detracted residents of Port Vila from a solid start to the new year. Some residents of Port Vila struggle to think of anything that have affected them personally more than these recent killings. It was unnecessary, senseless and appalling waste of life.


As members of the public, we have to ask the important question as to "what could be done to combat criminal activities in the capital"? The recent horrific deaths of the two victims should be a very loud warning bell to the Government, Church leaders, NGOs and the public at large. Something has to be done now in order to prevent and curtail the rising numbers of criminal activities, before, it would turn out to be an epidemic in our society. In light of the recent rising of criminal activities, it is not the time to be involved in the so called blaming culture whereby the public, Government and Church leaders are to start blaming each other. However, it is important that everyone including the Government, Church leaders, chiefs and the media have to come up with stringent policies, and proposed laws, which, in effect are able to deter people from occasioning criminal activities.


There are many factors which may influence people/youth to resort to criminal activities. Unemployment and poverty are certainly a couple of them. In order to obviate this continuation trend of unemployment, Vanuatu Government should be more pragmatic in it's approaches. It is manifestly in the interests of everyone, for Vanuatu Government to start looking at these problems very seriously. For example, looking more closely as to the ROOT causes of these problems. Should the Government failed to do this, there would be more of a large group of youth to be thronged into unemployment. Poverty would also be rife.


It is about time a political response is needed. And one of the solutions to help unemployed youth is for the Government, NGOs and the public to ensure that there would be more youth clubs, with structured activities that the community wants and needs. The rest of society should stop stigmatising unemployed youth as idle and worthless. The Government need to map the extend of the problem, consider facilities available to bring young people into the mainstream society rather than excluding them. It is about time to look at the relevance of education, standards of parenting and most importantly the quality of life of those involved. It is time now for Vanuatu Government to start putting an effort into redeveloping the economy to create more jobs. Creation of more unskilled and labouring jobs, which would assists young people who have obtained less qualifications.


It should be noted that any proposals of reducing freedom of movement, which, is dully enshrined in our current constitution would be unwise. You don't confuse the degree of freedom of movement with propensity of violent and criminal activities. Crucially, Vanuatu is much more than when we were in early 1980's. What we should be clear about is that we should be trying to counter criminal activities, not counter people's freedom of movement. We should be trying to avoid a class of civilisations, rather than prosecuting one.


If nothing is done now, Vanuatu will suffer the economic consequences of violent crime. Therefore Port Vila will become unviable as a destination to do business, live or visit. The Government must act now, and visibly.


© Indigenous-Ni-Vanuatu