“When we’re talking about youth violence, we’re talking about the youth who don’t have the opportunities, so they have engaged in a certain degree of lawlessness, because we as a society have failed them” – Matt Gonzalez

I am a mother and daughter and I can only imagine the pain which the mother of Dominica’s latest murder victim is feeling right now. I cry the tears which all mothers cry, because those young people who are being gunned down were brought here by mothers, just like me.

Fellow mothers, sisters, aunts, fathers, brothers, uncles – sons; please do not get numb about the spate of killing on our island. This is not how things are supposed to be. As a mother, I pray that no other mother goes through this pain and lament; as a Dominican, I ask why are we not doing more to protect our children?

The society is obviously sick. Crimes and violence are definitely on the increase, and it seems as if those who should care really do not do a good job in showing so. We need to protect our boys from this increasing scourge of planned, execution style murders. In light of this, I am asking for a Movement of Mothers (MoM) to step forward and make representation to the authority of Law and Order in Dominica.

Through my Alternative Peoples’ Party (APP) platform, I am assuming the responsibility to sparehead this MoM initiative and I ask that Dominican mothers join their voices with mine and the other mothers of APP in a way that the world will hear our outcry.

Enough is enough! Too much precious blood is being shed in our blessed land. We must take a stand, and the government needs to put a hand. We can no longer stand idly by and see the blood of our young men oozing away while those who should be protecting them are busy protecting themselves.

The most recent killing at Soufriere is one too many. I have to stand, and my sisters of APP are standing with me; please do not let us stand alone. Join the MoM movement and let’s blow the horn of youth neglect and the other economic failing of society.

I will publish the initial thoughts of the MoM in due course, in the meantime, let’s pray for the victim’s family and all the families of murder victims who are still waiting on justice. My heart is also heavy for those who committed the crimes – and their families – it cannot possible be easy, but we can try and appease the tension together as a community.

Kendra Stephen

Finances & Secretariat Director (Interim) & Lead on the MoM Initiative

APP – Steadfast. Engaging. Fair