INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Crime is no stranger to the Caribbean Islands as it has become one of the
most violent regions in the Americas, registering some of the worst murder
rates in the continent. This has resulted in an environment surrounded by
fear and anxiety among residents, leading to an overall decrease in quality
of life. Amongst the islands, crime has taken a very controversial topic
against Trinidad and Tobago. Gang violence, gun crime and murders have
been rising dramatically since the late 1990s with approximately 605
people being murdered in 2022, the highest number ever recorded. ‘Safety
and security don’t just happen, they are the result of collective consensus
and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in
our society, a life free of violence and fear’ spoken by the late Nelson
Mandela. His words, even now, remain true and relevant towards Trinidad
& Tobago and the society we live in. It is for this reason our group chose
this topic, to help by spreading awareness of the topic and to encourage
others to help our community be a safer and secure place. The area this
research will be conducted under will be the Moruga area within Trinidad.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
What factors contribute towards the growing crime rate within the Moruga
area of Trinidad and Tobago? Poverty, unemployment, drugs, peer
pressure, and lack of support for youth are common and likely key causes
for the crime within the area.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The group aims to answer the following questions based on their topic
‘Criminal activity within the Moruga area in Trinidad and Tobago’
VALUE OF RESEARCH
Completing this research will not only improve the understanding of the
researcher researching this topic but it will also serve as a useful piece of
data/information for others to use or learn from. This will hopefully leave a
lasting enough impact on whomever reads this and encourages them to do
their part to make their home feel like a much safer place. Teachers can
use this as an opportunity to spread this information onto their students and
improve their learning experience. For those very students, it is the hope
that this research can be put to use and encourage you to be better than
your forefathers by making better informed decisions.
DEFINITION OF KEY TERMS
Crime - The intentional commission of an act usually deemed socially
harmful or dangerous and specifically defined, prohibited, and punishable
under criminal law.
Murder - The crime of unlawfully and unjustifiably killing a person.
Fear - An unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or
awareness of danger
Anxiety - Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension,
worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.
Gang Violence - Gun violence is defined as violence perpetrated with the
use of a firearm.
Gun Crime - Criminal offenses committed with the use of a firearm.
Poverty - Poverty is a state or condition in which a person or community
lacks the financial resources and other essentials for a minimum standard
of living.
Unemployment - When an individual who is not employed and is seeking
employment, cannot find work.
Drugs - In this instance it is referring to substances that, when taken in or
administered into one's system, affect mental processes, e.g. perception,
consciousness, cognition or mood and emotions.
Peer Pressure - When you are influenced by other people (your peers) to
act in a certain way.