The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune

No one was robbed in East Street, not a single gunshot was fired in Pinewood, no one died in Fox Hill and in Bain and Grants town all the children did was play. Parents are thanking God for the way their sons are turning their lives around. Police are being seen as allies and are welcomed into the neighbourhoods. 2019 is shaping into the year we are praying it would be.

I recently had the pleasure of having a wonderful conversation with a reformed gang member who I will refer to as Joe. Joe, a born-again Christian, shared with me some of his experience as a gang member. When he first joined the gang it was not to become what he turned out to be. He first joined because as a kid from an impoverished family the gang life offered security and a sense of belonging. It all started in junior high school.

He was a scrawny, skinny kid growing up in the inner city. His mother and grandmother could barely make ends meet to provide for four children and many days he would go to school without lunch, wearing clothes donated by the church. All of the components made him a target, not only for the bigger boys, but other children, including girls to tease and bully him.

Eventually because of his circumstances he was lured into the gang life. It was the family I never knew we protected each other, he said. Touch my homey and you touch me when I eat, you eat. As a new member, a junior, I looked up to the leaders, the bigger and older guys I wanted to be like them. The respect, the jewellery, the fast cars and especially the chicks. Eventually the more involved I became with the group the more unafraid I became. I beat up and robbed people, fought over turf and drugs, was shot and sliced (stabbed), other friends of mine were shot, some killed and it never fazed me.

At least not until I saw my best friend shot and killed. He died right in my arms, I watched the life ebb from his body. “His last words to me was get out Joe, get out now before you end up like me.” To me that was the most surreal moment I have ever experienced in my entire life. That was an epiphany. Right then and there I gave my life to the Lord. I immediately stopped running with the gang that I called family. At first it was hard because after years of living the way I had become accustomed to. Walking away wasn’t easy. With the gang I had respect, the younger members looked up to me. I had power.

Contrary to what it looks like, gang members are hiding behind a facade. Behind all of that bravado most of us are all just kids playing tough trying to belong. When I made the announcement that I wanted out at first I was met with some resistance, but I stood my ground and they respected me for that. I now have a job and am learning a trade. I want to be an electrician. My wife is pregnant with our first child and my mother is proud of me and so would be my granny if she were still alive of the way I turned my life around. I still visit with the guys, but from a distance and so far I have encouraged a few of them to join me in my life of reformation. This is just the beginning, prayers are being answered. To God Be the glory, great things he hath done.

Let us pray for Joe as we join him in his quest to save our youth.

ANTHONY PRATT

Nassau

January 20, 2019