Ex-gang leader becomes advocate, urging youngsters to shun crime

Timothy Lionel, a self-proclaimed former gang leader from Vieux Fort, is publicly expressing his concern about increasing crime and violence within the community. Lionel is advocating hope and redemption, with a strong message to the local youth to rise above criminal activity and strive towards a positive future. Lionel maintains that every young person has the capacity for a productive life, urging them to push aside the allure of criminal behavior.

Understanding the hurdles and temptions that young people encounter, he pledges to offer guidance and support on their journey. He hopes to bring his experiences living in Vieux Fort to strengthen his cause; “We do not have to fight with one another. What we need to do is love one another and know that we can be each other’s keeper,” he stated.

In his campaign, Lionel uses his personal story of transformation to demonstrate the power of resilience and divine intervention. His personal change, he says, is a product of God’s grace, and he presents this as proof that change is possible for everyone. Lionel further plans to sync his efforts with like-minded parties and groups to revolutionize the opportunities for at-risk youth.

Part of this proposed initiative includes the ‘Big Up’ sporting program, which Lionel believes will play a pivotal role in enabling youth to thrive. Lionel explained: “We have with us leaders and partners who share our vision for community empowerment. Together, we will develop strategic programs.” However, Lionel also underscored that community-wide change can only occur through a collective effort and calls upon all Vieux Fort residents to contribute.

Finally, Lionel draws attention to the stark reality of the increasing crime rate in Vieux Fort over the last two years, with a surge in gun violence significantly augmenting the community’s homicide rate. He emphasizes the need to address this predicament urgently and points out that both the victims and offenders are often young individuals.