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National plan of action on behavioural change needed-Cromwell Smith

Talk show host Cromwell Smith believes a national plan of action on behavioural change is needed in the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File
Dr Cindy George believes behavioural change can be achieved and thinks the VI is slowly moving towards there, but consistency is key to reaching that goal. Photo: Youtube/File
Dr Cindy George believes behavioural change can be achieved and thinks the VI is slowly moving towards there, but consistency is key to reaching that goal. Photo: Youtube/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Tackling the societal issues from the root and pleading for a plan of action on behavioral change on a national level is what at least one talk show host is suggesting as a solution to dealing with the many social ills that the Virgin Islands currently faces.

Cromwell Smith aka Enju En Ka made his suggestion during his 90-minute radio programme, UMOJA, on Thursday March 9, 2017 on ZBVI 780 AM.

His remarks stemmed from a discussion with Dr Cindy George, of Dr Cindy George Counselling and Consultation Services, on the all-time high of arrests and incarceration of the territory’s youth, the manner in which those who have sworn to enforce the laws speak and treat these young people, as well as the many societal challenges.

According to Mr Smith, the name Law Enforcement removes the compassion out of the entire operation so the name Peace Keeper would be a better name as kindness and love are the better tools to deal with people and even called for it to be changed, with the hope of having a psychological effect on the mindset of people.

Stop putting band aid on festering sores

The talk show host said in most communities around the world, including in the VI, most of the references and cultural influences are from North America.

“We look for simple fixes and we put a band aid on festering sores, instead of looking for the causes. Where did this sore come from? Where do we really stop it? We need to stop it,” he pointed out.

Mr Smith said since when his show started, close to 20 years ago, he noticed it in the US, and said none of the social issues were being addressed at the root.

“And so what would happen is that they would add more resources to the demands to contain it, there is no eradication process, we are not trying to get rid of it. As a matter of fact, we don’t think that we can get rid of it, we think that the problem is too big, so what I saw happening was that industries were being developed around social ills,” Smith said.

He explained that what happens is more people are having problems, so you get more psychologists, psychiatrists, magistrates, law enforcement officials, more jails, more mental institutions, and more halfway houses.

“…And you create an industry now around the social ills so you are unable to eradicate them because the economy will collapse!”

Serious strategic long-term plan needed

Smith questioned if the issues can be fixed, including unhealthy lifestyles which have already cost the territory a fortune.

In her response, Dr George said she is an optimist and she believes that it can be changed and thinks that they are slowly moving towards there, but consistency is key to reaching that goal.

Mr Smith said he is beginning to hear some talk about a holistic approach to the problem, so that’s a good sign. “I’m not expecting to see a change in my lifetime, I don’t think I’m going to live that long to see a change, but it doesn’t mean that we cannot plan it, you should have planned it already. We need to plan a long-term behavioural change strategy on a national level,” Smith noted.

Problems exist

Smith, then questioned whether society or himself was making too much of it and wanted to know how big is the problem from where Dr George sat.

“No I don’t think you are making too much of it and anything that concerns the well-being of our youth and the furtherance of our community and our country I think it is important to discuss,” Dr George stated.

“So, no I don’t think you are making too much of it, I think we are seeing a lot of young persons are incarcerated and we are seeing a lot of young persons treated forcefully, we are seeing them being labeled, so I don’t think what we are talking about is over reacting. In reality, it needs to be discussed and not just discussed but what are some solutions, and again we can’t solve anything tonight, but if gives our listeners and those persons in the way of doing things, to have some food to chew on, some food for thought.”

7 Responses to “National plan of action on behavioural change needed-Cromwell Smith”

  • DON Q (10/03/2017, 11:46) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Too much talk we want action
  • guy hill (10/03/2017, 12:40) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    You cannot correct what you are not willing to confront.
    We have allowed certain types of behavior to manifest and now we are faced with this conversation.
  • ???? (10/03/2017, 14:17) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    Is this man ever known as only "Enju En Ka" or he is only referred to as "Cromwell Smith aka Enju En Ka" because nobody knows who "Enju En Ka" is?
    Is he embarrassed by the name his parents gave him?
    • @ ???? (11/03/2017, 21:27) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      I think many people are missing the core issue. No slave names please
  • wow (10/03/2017, 14:27) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    There's something called PARENTING and MANNERS!!!!!
  • wize up (10/03/2017, 16:16) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    It is call fulfillment(read the book of revelation)..all the pier park, all the marketing of tourism and new beach development NO one will visit a country with social shortcomings...charity begin at home and none of our elected members speak about the social system
  • ... (10/03/2017, 20:08) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Even if they do have a "reasonable" plan, the program is bad for the bvi


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