The Role Of Gang Violence In St. Kitts

The issue of gang violence on the youth and communities in St. Kitts has been compounded over the last decade and have drastically increased over the years. As a direct result of the rise in gang violence, St. Kitts has been negatively impacted economically, socially and politically. Gangs thrive in an environment in which illegal and deviant behaviors are learned and improved upon, and methods for avoiding detection are taught. Gangs create a natural anti-social and defiant mannerism amongst its members because the members will feel the sense that they only belong with their gang and virtually, remove themselves from the social norms of their communities. Gangs have to find methods of fueling their influx of money whether it be through selling drugs, robberies, or extortion. The money is then used to supply weapons for protection from other
Kitts have decreased as they host the major gangs and are at the center of gang violence. Due to the presence of gangs, residential dwellings begin to deteriorate as the owners flee the area and homes become rental properties or are sold to less-than-desirable candidates. As the houses are abandoned, they are attractive locations and become targets for gangs to occupy and carry out their criminal activities. Landlords find it either unnecessary or difficult to keep properties in good order therefore, these houses and lots are left by the wayside and become breeding grounds for gangs. As a result, communities such as Mc. Knight, the Village, and Newtown has a host of ‘eye-sores’ around the neighborhoods as there are many discarded residential structures in these areas that the gangs can actively occupy. The reducing property values, vandalizing homes and cars in the communities, and assaulting residents who dare to express their displeasure to a gang member, few, if any, of the residents of a gang-infested community can escape the negative consequences of a gang's