A few weeks ago, Brian Reyes of the Gibraltar Chronicle wrote the story of 'Rachel' (http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=22373) whose partner, the father of her young child, was sentenced to prison in Gibraltar for cocaine related crimes. This thought-provoking, true story came shortly after a Supreme Court Judge had warned about the drug problem in Gibraltar and just a week or so after the Minister for Justice stated that “everything that can be done has been done” to solve this problem.
Rachel’s story touched me deeply for one good reason: I know Rachel. She is a good friend of mine. I talk to her nearly every other day. She finds herself in a horrifying situation, having to bring up her son alone, while worrying always about her own ailing mother and her lack of a job. Her partner was rightly sentenced. The blame for her predicament is his, but I also blame the drugs and those who promote them.
I think that it is wrong to say that as much as can be done is being done. Not only can nothing ever be enough as long as the scourge of drugs exists, but the message is one that will encourage those responsible who are getting away with it.
With the Police working hard on the problem, the problem, in Gibraltar as in many other countries, not least next door in Spain, is a serious one that always calls for more resources and fresh initiatives, as well as innovative methods. The recent introduction of the Street Pastor Scheme is a start, but nowhere near enough
Not long after this story hit our news, an argument broke out between Panorama news daily and the Government about drugs and violence in Bayside School.
I am aware from teachers of incidents of violence at the school. True, few schools anywhere do not have incidents. But how big is the problem here? My worry, not for the first time, was the dismissive and defensive stand that was taken by the Government in its press release (http://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/images/stories/PDF/pressoffice/pressreleases/2011/239-2011.pdf). The failure to discuss the points rationally with facts, resorting instead to accusations of deliberate misrepresentation would almost be amusing if they did not suggest a worrying case of denial.
Either those who write and approve Official Press Releases are genuinely not aware of the problems – a worry in itself – or they are aware and yet deny it. Either situation is of great concern.
It wasn’t the first, nor last time that, in response to criticism, Government press releases have lambasted the critics, without tackling the issues with modesty and sense, not admitting any shortcomings there may have been. Denying them prevents us tackling them and will not make them go away.
Indeed the vast majority of our youth is law abiding, fun loving and responsible. I work with many young people regularly, through involvement in performing arts, especially dance. I welcome them and support them year after year at the Alameda Open Air Theatre. I follow their successes – such as we saw recently in the European Showdance Championships where they made us so proud - and I am their biggest fan. But they themselves will tell you - if you bother to ask them - of the problems they see regularly around them.
I have seen it myself in my work in the Courts. I have had to deal with so many cases, some sad, some annoying, most worrying, of young people involved in drugs, violence and drink.
At my day to day work at the Alameda Gardens, I again see many young people drinking heavily every Friday and Saturday by the cannons at Grand Parade, leaving many empty bottles of vodka and other alcoholic drinks strewn around among all their other litter. I see them taking a lunch break from one of our educational institutions and littering, vandalising, sprawling graffiti and rolling joints. I talk to them. Some reason with me, some apologise, some shout abuse. Again, it both angers and saddens me.
There is a big problem among some of our youth. We must recognize that. It is much better to admit that there are problems – like in so many other societies – and work hard at them. Denial of problems or of the ability to do more to resolve them is not fitting in a true democracy. There must be wide, open, all-embracing discussion on this and much more.
Such serious matters as drugs, anti-social behaviour and law and order have not been tackled seriously enough and have been allowed to continue unaddressed, as if nothing was wrong.
There is a section of our young – and not so young – at risk of sliding down the slope towards more anti-social behaviour. We must identify who they are, what the problems are, what motivates and demotivates them.
We have to engage with these young people to ensure that disaffected youths in Gibraltar do not become a dysfunctional underclass. We must ensure that they do not become marginalized and drop out of normal society, losing the values we in Gibraltar hold to dear. Denying the problem is risking just that.
Has anyone seriously looked into this, analyzing the situation and studying ways of tackling it, by carrot, stick, both or neither? Has anyone looked seriously into these problems in recent years? Are the professionals in the various agencies and departments that work in these fields encouraged, or indeed allowed by the politicians to work together, exchange information openly, identify problems honestly and work together to move forward?
What we certainly must not do - and it’s been happening more and more in Gibraltar in recent months - is condemn the dissenting voices or those who point out things that could be better. If the motives of those who speak out are questioned, should we not question the motives of those who question them?
Supporters of the Government owe it to Gibraltar, and to our young people, to pause and consider seriously why it is convenient to claim that things have never been better, to spread a veneer of shiny lacquer over a rough, crumbly wall. I ask them to look under the surface and consider the aspects of Gibraltar that few want to see, but that are there nonetheless.
Enough of being told that all’s well in Gibraltar, that nothing’s happening. Keep trusting, don't question anything, look away, feel good, ‘cos after all, we’re doing all we can....
None of this means much to Rachel. She remains alone, uncertain of how she will cope, while some other young man has just taken over the supply chain that her boyfriend no longer runs….
