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| Photo 3 shows the Laventille Hill behind the buildings. |
The photograph shows
the notorious Laventille Hill behind the buildings. This area is known for high
levels of criminal activities. It is often stated by scholars that urban areas
are conducive for high levels of criminal activities. The level of
socioeconomic inequality that currently exists in Laventille is alarming.
Socioeconomic inequality in Laventille is possibly attributed to the process of
deindustrialization. Deindustrialization may be simply defined as the decline
in industrial activities in a region. Hall and Barrett (2012, 77) described the
effects of deindustrialization as one of the reasons for the growth of criminal
economies in urban areas. Laventille is characterized by high rates of
unemployment, which is possibly linked to the relocation of many manufacturing
industries in which many people in the region have relied for employment
opportunities. As a result, many young people have turned to a life of crime in
order to support themselves and their family members. They engaged in criminal
activities such as selling illegal drugs, prostitution and forming gangs.
Urban politics at the
local state and private sector have seemingly failed the people of Laventille.
Therefore, a stronger involvement of community groups in the area’s political decision
is possibly the best option to solve some of the criminal problems faced within
the urban space. According to regime theorists
opportunities are opened to the disadvantage urban groups under such method (community
involvement) of urban governance.
References
Hall, Tim, and Heather Barrett. 2012. Urban Geography 4th edition. London
and New York: Routledge.
Urban social disturbance (in this case crime) is strongly correlated with factors such as unemployment, low levels of education attainment and high male proportions. All these in addition to youth composition are characteristics of the place you refer to. I believe that violent crimes in lavantille have gathered to some extent a particular culture that is engraved in minds of its youths. After all, it is about survival and staying afloat, given the present economic situations and lack of governmental intervention to help improve the livelihoods of its people. Therefore, the crimes we speak of that are related to lavantille are only a response to the negligence and failure of the government. Give the government work to do, they are a waste of time, have them change their agenda because the time will soon dawn. SAME SPEED…
ReplyDeleteIf the crime is a surrogate to employment because the manufacturing and light industry on which people relied for employment migrated from the country or area, why do you think community and social strength is the answer to the inequality? If the problem is unemployment, why isn't your answer employment? -- references?
ReplyDeleteGood post. Nice to see another thoughtful comment from a colleague.