Government, religious leaders meet to talk about crime

Minister of National Security Martin Joseph met for two hours Wednesday with 24 heads of churches and other religious bodies at the Ministry of National Security to discuss the crime situation in the country, and "to forge a partnership forward".

A release from the government news service said the aim of the meeting was to "have open dialogue with church and religious leaders about the crime situation in the country.”

It said the minister felt that religious leaders have traditionally held "tremendous influence and esteem in their respective communities and among followers throughout the country, and are a critical partner in saving communities and individuals from engaging in criminal activities."

It added that the social partnering "is a continuation of the government’s effort aimed at fostering and strengthening partnerships with all sectors in society to work together towards a safer and more secure country."

Among those present at the meeting with the minister were minister of state Donna Cox, acting police commissioner James Philbert, the Director of the Special Anti Crime Unit, Brigadier Peter Joseph, the Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Edmund Dillon and the Commissioner of Prisons, John Rougier.

The government release said religious representatives present were from the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church, the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Seventh Day Adventist, the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies, the Open Bible Standard Church and the National Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Faith. It did not mention any Islamic representative.

It added that religious leaders spoke of their own concerns about the crime situation and Joseph informed the group about "a number of Government’s anti- crime initiatives including the pro-social Citizens Security Programme (CSP) which is currently in place in 22 high-risk communities in the country."

It did not give further details. However it said the religious heads agreed to convene a second meeting within the next two weeks to come up with a joint proposal and recommendations, to be presented to the minister.

The government said it hopes "this collaborative effort by the religious leaders and the ministry will lead to a sustainable relationship in this fight against crime."