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by pltm
(PLTM) - Gold medalist Kyron McMaster in an interview with JTV shared his perspective on why the youth in the Virgin Islands are attracted to a life of crime, particularly by engaging in the drug trade.
He mentioned that the limited opportunities, economic hardships, and persistent inequalities that abound in small countries are some of the reasons why young persons, particularly young men gravitate towards selling illegal drugs.
“We don’t have the infrastructure in place to take our youth and put them on the next level,” McMaster explained.
He added that, “If you can tell a 15 year old, you can make about 50 stacks in an hour, they will go for the 50 stacks. That is a risk they willing to take because they got people to feed.”
McMaster said that while young persons in the Virgin Islands possess various skills and talents, there are inadequate structures in place to provide “outlets”. Ultimately, in McMaster’s view, young people want to be successful.
He also proposed that more examples of persons attaining success through honest and legal means would serve as an impetus for young persons who are observing.
“We have no outlet. I don’t think that [crime] is their first choice that they want to do. A lot of them like basketball, and if they see one person from here go to the NBA – not the European league, the NBA – I guarantee you, that multi-purpose complex would be flooded,” McMaster stated.
He also suggested that if government’s priorities are to help the youth to advance, more avenues should be implemented to make this a reality.
He noted that identifying the societal ills in the Virgin Islands is necessary, but real change must come through deliberate actions.
“We have what it takes to change the minds, it’s the resources and the funding [required] that will help to make a difference,” Mc Master said during the interview.
