MALE president urges community to tackle gang surge

Henderson Tittle, President of Mentoring Anointed Leaders Everywhere (MALE), has called for a unified community effort to arrest the BVI’s surge in gang violence.

Speaking on ZBVI radio recently, Tittle expressed deep concern over the increasing incidents of gang violence and stressed the importance of a collective approach to curb the issue.

Tittle’s comments were in response to a recent alert from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) about the rise of gang-related violence, particularly the activities of a group known as the “Money Boys”.

The RVIPF’s report highlighted the pressing need for anti-gang legislation, noting that the Money Boys gang consists of around 25 young men involved in a range of criminal activities, including robberies and shootings. The gang’s members are spread across various communities, and their actions have raised public safety concerns. With no legislation specifically targeting gang-related crimes, the police said they currently have limited power to prosecute members without direct evidence linking them to specific offences.

Boys need their fathers

Tittle stressed the critical role families, especially fathers, play in steering young men away from criminal activities. “I’m going to start with the parents,” he said. “Fathers, this is a good time for you to connect back with your sons. Touch base with your son because…a lot of fathers, they’re not present in the lives of these young men.”

He added that many mothers end up shouldering the entire responsibility for raising children and emphasised that “a woman cannot raise a boy child on her own. You need the influence of the father.”

The community leader urged that there should be a comprehensive approach that allows young men to be heard.

“The young men, they’re crying out. There’s a cry. There’s a cry, and we are not listening. We are not listening. And because of that, they find other things to do,” Tittle said. “[They] get involved in other stuff because it seems more glamorous and more rewarding.”

We all have a part to play

Tittle’s call for action is grounded in his belief that everyone in the community has a role to play. He encouraged parents to speak with their children about the dangers of gang involvement and urged young men to abandon this path, reminding them that their actions affect their communities. “It’s a sad time for us, and I’m so sorry that we reached this place … all of us have a part to play,” he remarked.

The RVIPF’s alert on gang activity outlined several reasons young people might turn to gangs, including peer pressure, economic hardship, and a need for identity or protection. It also highlighted the importance of offering alternatives, such as job training and conflict resolution programmes, to help youth avoid gang-related lifestyles.

Tittle echoed this sentiment, calling on society to work together. “It still takes a village, and that’s what it’s going to take for us to do this. We need it at this time,” he said.