Group Of Men Led By Dexter Skepple Take Stand In Community; Commit To Be More Involved

ST. CROIX — While this island has seen its share of violence in the past, the criminal activity a few weeks ago was so brazen that Lieutenant Governor Osbert Potter, then acting governor, issued a territory-wide state of emergency, mobilizing peace officers to operate as regular police, placed them on 12-hour shifts and organized checkpoints around the island to combat the gunfights that erupted following the homicide death of Jermaine “Bird” Williams on Friday, Sept. 4.

Potter called off the state of emergency two days later, and as the situation calmed, discussions of solutions came to the fore. Police need to do a better job of getting illegal firearms off the streets, some community members argued. Others blamed the lack of jobs as the culprit.

And Sen. Novelle Francis, in a press release following the violence, said the “eye for an eye” mentality only hurts the community, reminding residents of the culture of payback that has adversely affected the territory.

Leonardo Carrion addressing men at Bernie’s Restaurant in Peter’s Rest.

But a group of Christian men gathered at Bernie’s Restaurant in Peter’s Rest, adjacent from the FedEx office, to address another problem: the lack of male involvement in the lives of the territory’s youngsters. There, led by Senior Pastor of Speak the World Ministries Dexter Skepple, the men admitted that they had failed the community, and committed to stepping up their efforts to have a positive, lasting impact on a generation of youth that are seemingly lost, hopeless and headed to destruction.

The need for a meeting place where men could gather, watch sports, fellowship and be themselves was also discussed, and Pastor Skepple said Bernie’s Restaurant would be temporarily outfitted as that location until a permanent space was identified — with the next event being held on October 3.

Leonardo Carrion, a former law enforcement officer who currently works at the Dept. of Justice, spoke of his experiences as a husband and father. He used knowledge obtained over his almost 30 years of marriage to encourage men to be loyal to their wives and to be examples of stability and good family values to their children.

“Men, we need to step up,” Carrion began. “This is my personal opinion, but there is not a problem in our islands that we, the men, can’t handle.” His remarks were received with applause and “amens” from the the audience.

“I have been in law enforcement for over 26 years, and I’ve seen a lot of things that many might not have seen, and because of the nature of the job we can’t speak about what goes on. But I think it’s a blessing to be exposed to the things that I have, because it has prepared me to be an example.”

Carrion, who started his career as a corrections officer, lamented that the territory’s prisons are mostly occupied by young men. “95 percent of the prison population is between the ages 16-25 years of age,” he said. Then, beginning with himself, Carrion spoke passionately about the failure of men to take a stand, “their rightful position,” he said, to help steer the youngsters towards a path leading to a bright and productive future.

Pastor Dexter Skepple speaking to men about his vision for the all-men effort.

“To put it simply, we are to blame because we are the fathers. We are the fathers that are not doing what God has mandated us to do. We are the fathers that don’t even know what our sons are doing. It’s our sons out there killing each other and going to prison. Sixteen-year-olds doing life in prison. They haven’t even started living life yet,” Carrion said.

“We are responsible for what’s going on.”

Carrion then spoke of his own three sons, one in the National Guard, another working as a designer for Lockheed Martin, and yet another who has a degree in sound engineering.

“I have been blessed with good sons, but it doesn’t mean that I can’t get involved,” Carrion continued. He went on to say that it was high time to bring back the days when a village raised a child.

“We grew up in an era where you didn’t have to know the gentlemen across the street for him to discipline you because you were out of place. Just the mere fact that he was older than you, you had to show respect. We don’t have it anymore,” he said.

The 52-year-old, also an elder at Speak the Word Ministries, again implored the men to take a stand and take back the community.

Ashley Scotland, opinions editor at VI Consortium, listens attentively while Pastor Dexter Skepple address men.

Following the event, The Consortium asked Pastor Skepple about his vision behind the all-men effort. He said the goal was to identify a location where men can learn from each other while enjoying a good game of sports. It would also serve to strengthen brothers and encourage them to be examples in the community.

And it’s not open only for Christian men, Skepple confirmed. Women, however, are not allowed to participate.

“Maybe in the future God will move upon my heart to create a similar venue where women can band together, enjoying themselves and be who they were called to be,” Skepple said. “As of now, though, the vision is to help men take their rightful positions and lead.”