An ambitious project to inject hundreds of thousands of US dollars into sport in an attempt to persuade young people away from crime led me to Trinidad. I talked to those at risk and who are involved in Port of Spain’s gang warfare to see whether it was likely to be a success. I found a great deal of passion and positives to the idea on this Caribbean island. New facilities and money were benefiting young people but I also found that more deep rooted causes of crime – poverty and a need to belong for many hardened gang members, restricted its’ effectiveness.
Listen to the full documentary here
See the Trinidad photo slideshow here
After this programme was broadcast, I heard the news that Jah David, the gang member featured had been killed and Jack Warner stepped down from his post as National Security Minister, resigning amid a fraud inquiry.