I listened with mixed feelings to the report on the Kaiso Handbook in which Minister of Home Affairs, Guy Mayers told us that carnival has to end at 6:00 p.m. in order to protect the revelers from the criminal elements who will use the cover of darkness to engage in criminal activities.  While this was nothing new it still struck a cord of annoyance in me.  Do I want to be safe on the road?  Yes I do.  But I also want to be free.  Not necessarily free to jump after 6:00 p.m. because frankly by that time I am so tired that I cannot wait to get home.  No I want to be free of the fear and anxiety that prevents me from enjoying carnival with the kind of abandon that I was used to from years gone by.

I also found out that there is a law in Saint Lucia that prohibits the sale of alcohol after 2 a.m.  This year the police is going to be enforcing that law because the theory is that drunk people are less able to protect themselves.  In no way do I want to sound like I am an advocate of continuous uncontrolled drinking until all hours of the morning.  What gets to me is the feeling that another choice is being taken away from me through no fault of my own.

I do not claim to be a criminologist.  I am not so I do not know how the criminal mind works.  I cannot understand what would make someone so mad that they will pick up a gun, cutlass or knife and use it to kill the subject of their rage.  Someone has to understand it because that is the only way we will be able to stop it.  We have to attack the root of the problem not the symptoms.  By the time a young man or woman has committed murder, or armed burglary it is too late.  We need to get to them before that stage.  I don't have the answers.  I just wish that those who are being paid to can find them. 

I do have a suggestion however.  Instead of putting us law abiding citizens on curfew for the 'carnaval' and make us rant and rave,  why not put the criminal elements on a time out and let us jump and wave.  Seventy two hours is all we need.  Pick them up and put them in a holding cell for the duration of carnival.  A few human rights may be violated but I would take that over another innocent life being lost anyday.  Wouldn't you?

Listen to Minister Guy Mayers