The recent reported gunfight at the Scarborough Mall in which one Tobagonian was shot dead by the police is yet another indication why there is a need for the powers that be to invest in areas which could provide our youths with positive alternatives in life.

As the old saying goes, "the devil will find work for idle hands to do". We in Tobago have witnessed a virtual mass execution of Trinidadian youth by various means. So far, hundreds of mainly African youths lay in the cemeteries, while hundreds more are locked away in jail cells. Gun violence has made the urban areas of Trinidad's very dangerous communities. At present, there are serious efforts being made to provide positive alternatives for youths in those areas.

We in Tobago have had some fallout from the gun violence and violent crime taking place in Trinidad. There have been instances of Trinidad related violence taking place in Tobago. Therefore, it is most essential for us to put measures in place to protect the youths of Tobago. Let's look at the area of information and knowledge. The absence of a functioning library in Scarborough for more than ten years has taken a heavy toll on the academic and intellectual development of the Tobagonian.

The Scarborough Library served as an environment for academic discourse among Tobagonians. It also served as a place of study for various forms of school exams. When such an institution is not available in a modern society, it leaves a void in the development of the people, particularly among the youths who are seeking to chart their future course in life. Without knowledge and information people could go astray in different directions. At present the negative culture of crime and violence hovers as a dangerous alternative for our youths. The idea of a get rich quick mentality where money, girls and rank prevails has penetrated most communities. It is the era of 'blinging' with jewels, fast cars and loads of cash. This concept of life is well glorified in song, through the media and other forms of communication.

While some sit in their posh homes lauding over their material possessions, there is another life happening elsewhere and that other life can enter into the very homes of the 'well to do' citizens. Make no mistake about it, criminal culture is not confined to the 'have nots' but some of those who have wealth and other forms of material possessions are deeply involved in crime. In fact, some have acquired wealth by less than honest means. It has been established that the drug business operates at different levels. There are those who have the capital and contacts to pay for the big money to import drugs and guns. Then there are the distributors and those who are prepared to deal on the streets.

Drugs being illegal, make it necessary for guns to be imparted to protect the 'goods' and turf from competitors. A successful drug dealer must be one who is prepared to use violent means to protect his or her investment hence, the proliferation of guns and gangs in our society.

Youths living is such societies have to face this situation such as when a young woman is offered a job to make fast money by transporting drugs, some may resist the temptation, while others may grasp at the opportunity. It may well be the same situation with young men who are offered a gun and a chance to make fast bucks from drug sales.

In Mexico, Brazil, Columbia and Jamaica gang related violence is frightening. Our own Trinidad is the closest lesson to us here in Tobago. We need to put practical measures in place to save the Tobagonian youth form taking this dangerous road to ultimate self destruction.

Two weeks ago, I was watching some young cricketers from the Sports Elite Cricket team playing a game in the Tobago African Union Windball Cricket competition and I found their quality of play to be very classy. Senior cricketer Gilbert Lezama was sitting with me, so I asked him what can be done to take these youths to an international level. He told me: "We need to put structures in place to facilitate their development in the sport. We must have regular tournaments for them to participate in so that they could be more prepared for bigger competitions." There are many talented young Tobago sport youths who have abandoned their potential abilities to reach high levels of sport because of the lack of opportunities to pursue their goals. Youths have an abundance of energy and it is essential for organised avenues to be created for our youths to release those energies.

There are many ways which can be provided for our youths to chart a course of positive development and sport is one such area. Bertille St. Clair through his own initiative has shown what can be done with our youths. Surely, Mr. St Clair has saved many a Tobagonian youth from going down the road of violent crime. Over the years, St Clair through personal sacrifice has contributed to the all round development of hundreds of Tobagonian youths. It is time for the powers that be to supplement St. Clair's work with an annual budget so that his work could be expanded.

Football is the most popular sport in the world and since the United States joined the world football revolution over 20 years ago; there has been a massive transformation in the sport in the United States where thousands of youths are now playing the game. This is why there is a very strong case for the Tobago Football Association, cricket and athletic organisations to be given the .

Also, the time is now for a programme for the development of sports grounds around Tobago. The days of sportsmen and women having to change and do their numbers in the open have gone.

Opoku Ware is a freelance writer