Latest update May 13th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 07, 2013 News
By Latoya Giles
Parliamentarian for the Alliance for Change Ms. Valerie Garrido-Lowe yesterday said that her party strongly condemns the way the children of the Kato Primary School were being exposed to harsh work.
Lowe, speaking at a press conference, said that child labour is often defined as work which deprives children of their childhood. Lowe maintained that the “horrifying” pictures showing children fetching logs during school hours so that they may part take in a hot meal definitely reflects child labour.
According to Lowe, one of the region’s councilors had asked about a tractor that the region has, but was told that the Ministry of Education does not pay for fuel. Lowe further stated that after that the councilor brought up the issue of the children fetching the logs some three times.
Lowe said the matter was even brought to the attention of Minister Ganga Persaud at a meeting in Mahdia. She stressed that the reason why it was brought to press was that no one was paying attention to it. Lowe said that there was no political motivation on the part of the councilor. She denied rumours that the councilor was paid to give the story to media.
On Wednesday last, this newspaper published photos with children from the Kato Primary School carrying logs on their backs, to enable themselves to get hot meals.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand in response to the appalling discovery surrounding the School Feeding Programme condemned the use of children to facilitate the project.
“We view this as a very serious and important matter to be addressed. We absolutely condemn the use of children to fetch firewood to use as energy to cook. At no time should children be asked to fetch firewood, water, or engage in any programme related activity that could be deemed as exploitation of children.”
The Minister, in an attempt to clear the air on the issue, during a press briefing, deemed the situation at Kato as an “isolated incident.” While the feeding programme is being monitored on a monthly basis, Manickchand said that the situation was only brought to the attention of the Ministry following the Kaieteur News article under the heading “Hinterland primary students trek miles with logs for hot meals.” $1.2B is being spent this year on the School Feeding Programme for more than 64,000 children.
A team is expected to visit the area before next week Friday, June 14.
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