WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR JUSTICE

Justice is more than the system that upholds our laws; the word
suggests fairness or reasonableness in the way people are treated.
Since the chief judge of the provincial court visited recently, we
at the Observer have been reflecting on what just treatment means
for our communities.

Although we understand the difficulties the RCMP face in gathering
the appropriate evidence to successfully convict criminals, there
are some unresolved crimes that continue to irk us.

For example, there are known drug dealers in our community,
especially those who peddle dangerous chemical concoctions. How
these people can continue to get away with the harm they inflict
upon islanders is beyond us. How in such small communities, they can
live with themselves and the impact their crimes have on their
neighbours and families is beyond us too.

This brings us to The Observer's neighbour, Sam Leung of Sam and
Shirley's Grocery. One evening a few weeks ago, a gang of
thoughtless youth blatantly stole from his store and since then,
there has been no resolution to this act.

Shoplifting a few sandwiches is not the same magnitude a crime as
dealing harmful chemical substances, but the example illustrates a
troubling lack of respect.

Mr. Leung and other entrepreneurs on these islands provide valuable
services to all residents. We know he is not the only one to bear
the brunt of this type of inexcusable crime. Shoplifting is a common
occurrence in a number of island stores.

People, the younger ones especially, need to be made aware that this
sort of behavior is unacceptable.

But the wheels of justice can be so slow that so far, the young
people who victimized Mr. Leung have gotten away with their
wrongdoings and he continues to feel violated.

That said, the police are not the only ones in our community who can
take responsibility for justice. Any authority figure could step up
to the plate, be it parent, teacher, basketball coach, uncle,
neighbour or big sister. In fact, young people themselves, those
unimpressed by the antics of their peers, could stand up for their
belief in a just society and say it loudly to others.

We do have programs to deal with the inherent lack of respect
displayed in this type of chicanery in a different way. The Haida
Gwaii Restorative Justice Program promotes a different approach to
crime in the northern and southern islands communities. Low risk,
youth and adult offenders are held accountable for their actions,
victims are given a voice, and balance is restored. This type of
program can be a powerful process when it gets underway. But let's
all take some responsibility before we get to this point and treat
each other with respect.