Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 22, 2014 Letters
DEAR EDITOR,
A few weeks ago I penned a letter in your papers to express my outrage at the way we treat out children. In that letter the focus of my attention was on thirteen-year-old Andy, whose lifeless body was found near a public highway after his head was crushed, while he slept on the parapet under a truck.
In my letter I blamed all of us for Andy’s gruesome demise and I contended that the state of the Guyanese child has reached crisis point. A crisis point that is very real!
From all indications it seems like the government of the day is leading the charge against the assault on our children. A glaring example of this apparent state-sponsored assault on the Guyanese child is reflected in the recent comment made by Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee.
According to news reports, the minister when asked to update the public on the status of the investigation regarding the shooting incident involving the fifteen-year-old child, who was shot in the mouth by a police officer stated, ”I have to confess that I’m not so much up to date on that because I was out for a while and I’m still to get a briefing from Mr. Persaud.”
Is the minister serious? An incident as grave as this and one which has attracted so much public outcry seems not to be in the minister’s thinking. This response demonstrates a lacks of urgency and a general uncaring attitude for our children. It seems like justice and the protection of our children have no place on the agenda of the PPP/C administration. Rohee’s comments should not shock any of us, particularly those of us who understand the government’s position on children. We watched a fifteen-year-old alleged intruder shot dead in the house of a citizen and all the government seemed to have said was that it was the parents’ fault and that the child was a criminal who simply deserved what he got.
Then three teenagers were shot dead in Albouystown, by the police, and again the government seemed to have justified their killing by simply calling these children criminals, whose death at the hands of the police was probably anticipated.
As a civilized society we need to reject this kind of dismissive attitude the government projects towards our children and take steps to meaningfully address the problems our children face. It is no secret that many of our young boys are attracted to the bourgeoning criminal enterprise which seemed to have engulfed the nation, under this regime.
This is the first fact that we must brazenly accept. The next step is to seek answers as to why these children are attracted to adopt a life of crime. We must hold parents, government and community responsible for the roles we all play in aiding this downward spiral of many of our young people.
Over the last few years a significant portion of the national budget was allocated to education, yet it seems like our schools are in disarray or are not attracting many children to stay. It is clear that if these young children are committing some of the most heinous crimes in the country, they are not going to school.
It will be very instructive, therefore, to have an accurate picture of the absentee and drop-out rate of our children in the school system. I have written two letters in which I called on the Minister of Education to provide information regarding the drop-out rate and to date there has not been any information. This is another indication of the lack of sincere interest on the part of this government to do right by our children.
The rate of school drop-outs and absenteeism should not be a government secret. It is our business to know whether or not the educational needs of our children are being met. This information will also help us to ask the right kinds of questions, and do the right kind of research and analysis in order to provide the appropriate intervention for our children. Will the Minister of Education release information regarding drop-out rate and absenteeism in our school?
I hope common sense prevails in the hope of looking out for the best interest of our children. We must also examine the operation of the Ministry of Human and Social Services. Clearly there is a concern with the functioning of that ministry, as it seems like there is a serious disconnect with what obtains in the school and what transpires in that ministry with respect to addressing the social, emotional and other needs of our children. Too many children are being killed at the hands of their parents; too many are left to ply sex trades on the streets of Georgetown.
What is so ironic about the “sex trade business” is that many of these happenings occur just in front of the Human Services Ministry and in the vicinity of the courts!
Regardless of how the PPP/C administration sees our children the reality is that whatever path they take is likely to affect the lives we all get to live. If they turn to a life of crime our safety and protection will be in jeopardy, and no society should relish the idea of being fearful of its children.
Lurlene Nestor
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
Mar 28, 2024
Minister Ramson challenge athletes to better last year’s performance By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports – Guyana’s 23-member contingent for the CARIFTA Games in Grenada is set to depart the...B.V. Police Station Kaieteur News – The Beterverwagting Police Station, East Coast Demerara (ECD) will be reconstructed... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – In the face of escalating global environmental challenges, water scarcity and... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]