The proper care of children

THE EDITOR, Madam:

THERE CANNOT be many things more heartrending than the distress of children. Jamaica is not the worst of places in this regard, but we do have a very large number of destitute, dispossessed, and distressed children in the land.

That said, I greet with mixed feelings, reports of a survey to be undertaken to determine the number of these children in Jamaica. The bigger issue of what happens after the numbers collection is complete, is yet to be addressed. I suspect too, that the full horror of those statistics might induce the government to either hide them, or dress them up before release. Whatever the tale of the numbers, that we have a grievous problem is plain for all to see.

It is not enough to appoint an Ambassador for children. I am not aware that that appointment has, after several years, led to any real improvement in the lot of our children. One hopes that the appointment is part of an overall strategy being crafted to decisively address the problem, and not a political ploy to create the impression that serious attention is being given to the matter, when nothing of the sort is the case.

Political expediency makes deadly shoals, and many a worthy scheme has foundered on those rocks.

Alienation

Our political leaders must take the lead in this matter. To fail to demonstrate leadership here will earn them richly deserved opprobrium when the history of this period is written.

The child is still father of the man. We should not expect a child who learns that his life has no value to become an adult who attaches value to ours. The future is being shaped right here in the present. The winds of alienation and violence now blowing only foreshadow the whirlwind yet to come if we fail to act decisively.

I am etc.,

MICHAEL R. NICHOLSON
SCFSU Jamaica
E-mail: scfsu@hotmail.com
P.O. Box 281
Kingston 10
Via Go-Jamaica

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