Zeelugt youths tainted by substance abuse

Sep 16, 2020 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

I wish to express my disappointment in the parents, teachers, police and relevant authorities who have had oversight of youth development in the Zeelugt community on the East bank of Essequibo.
Over the last year and a half, the number of youths engaging in ganja and marijuana usage has drastically spiked. The provision of these items is to my knowledge unknown. However recently it has become more and more intolerable.
Youths under the influence are making their names in petty crimes that are not addressed by the authorities. Additionally, the age range is from 15 to 25. I do not understand what the older folks of this community are doing.
Even in the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic youths are parading the streets after the 6 o’clock hour trying to get their hands on these illegal items.
With the majority of the new ministers and officials now hailing from the West Coast, I urge them to look into this matter. Our youths are not alright. They are being pushed further from “normal” on a daily basis by the onset of poverty, drugs, lack of education and most of all lack of parental guidance.
I urge the leaders in this community to take a stand and get the youths into productive work. To the Police, please get these youths off the street and inform them of the curfew measures. (There hasn’t been a single patrol in this community for the longest while). Government officials please look into the needs of the youths. Please provide education and the basic necessities to our youths. They are the future.
Please do not fail them. Please consider and take immediate action.

Peter harbajan
Concerned and affected Villager