Wiggins Links Crime Reduction to Education Reform, Proposes Retooling Alma Parris School

Friends of Democracy candidate for St. Michael Central, Raymond Wiggins, says crime in Barbados cannot be addressed by policing alone and is calling for stronger investment in youth development and education reform, including the retooling of the Alma Parris School into a technical and career-focused institute.

Wiggins was speaking at a public meeting in Clevedale last evening, where he argued that youth crime is often the result of social and economic gaps rather than bad behaviour.

“Most crime in Barbados is being committed by the youth, and youth crime does not start with bad kids, it starts with gaps,” Wiggins said. “When young people feel shut out, bored or unsafe, the street begins to look like opportunity.”

According to Wiggins, treating crime solely as a law enforcement issue ignores underlying problems such as disengagement from school, lack of employment opportunities and limited access to mental health support.

As part of his proposals, Wiggins outlined a range of initiatives aimed at keeping young people engaged, including guaranteed part-time or seasonal work for youth aged 16 to 25, expanded mentorship programmes, properly functioning community youth centres and increased access to counselling services.

A major focus of his address was the proposal to retool the Alma Parris School into a technical and vocational career institute.

“For too long we have treated academic performance as the only measure of intelligence,” he said. “Some students are gifted with their hands, with technology and with tools, and our education system must reflect that reality.”

Wiggins explained that the proposed institute would offer training in areas such as construction trades, automotive technology, digital media, renewable energy and other technical skills aligned with labour market demand.

He said early exposure to technical education would help reduce school dropout rates, improve self-esteem among students who struggle in traditional academic settings and create clearer pathways to employment.

“When a young person sees a future and a career path, crime loses its appeal,” Wiggins stated.

The Friends of Democracy candidate also called for greater emphasis on mental health support in schools and communities, noting that unresolved trauma often manifests as aggression and antisocial behaviour.

Wiggins believes that investing in education reform and youth opportunity is essential to reducing crime and building safer communities in St. Michael Central and across Barbados.