THE EDITOR, Madam:I HAD an experience recently with a 14-year-old boy who was running away from "home". He felt that he was being treated unfairly and could not deal with it anymore. He lives in a setting with his mom and siblings and a few other people whom he was forced to live with based on some developments which took place with his mom and her church.
I gave him some money and questioned him as to the reasons and, as big as I am, I am not sure I could have coped with the situation he described. I told him to go and if he was not accepted then he should go back to his mother and I would try to help him in some other ways.
I got in touch with the little boy over the weekend that followed and he was quite comfortable at a friend's house. He had contacted his dad overseas and then his mother to inform her where he was and of the plans he made with his father, whom he barely sees. His mother coaxed him and ask him to return if not he is on his own. He eventually went back home.
Based on the conditions he had described, I wanted to make sure that no severe and drastic punishment was meted out to him. All I wanted was for someone at the Children Services Division to visit his house and ensure that the situations described were conducive to the development and growth of the children living there. An assistant told me that they were only responsible for children who are presented to them by the court. I was then referred to the police. I was told by a policeman that the police could not handle the situation since I am not living there or am at least a neighbour and happen to hear anything unusual.
I am not sure at this point if there is anything that can be done to ensure that the children are at least being treated like children and not forced to adhere to the beliefs of the mother and others alike. Are they going to wait until something drastic happens and at this point we rush to amend the laws to prevent things that could have been avoided with at least the presence of someone in authority.
Too often children suffer because of their parents' stupidity and the absence of outside protection. We should at least adopt this type of law from the United States instead of some of the things that we could comfortably live without.
I am, etc.,
LINDA ULETT
1b Lawrence Ave
Kingston 8
