THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM distressed over the fact that many of our youths under 20 are perpetrators of crime and violence. I'm even more perplexed that not much is being done to bring about change in the younger generation.
There are a few suggestions that I would like to make to the policy-makers. There needs to be a new social order as it relates to the nation's children.
It is necessary to increase and better equip the Police Force and the Army to combat crime, but more importantly, greater efforts should be exerted to bring about positive changes and better socialisation of our young boys. If we are serious about curbing crime and violence, we must ensure that there is hardly anyone to fill the slots of gunmen when they die.
Far too many of our boys are on the streets. Poor people will continue to have children regardless of the family planning campaigns.
However, while the family planning campaigns continue, the children who are already here must be helped if they are to rise above the circumstances they were born in. Policy-makers need to put in place more assistance for the more deprived and vulnerable boys in our society.
I attended primary school in the early 1970s, and there was always soya-flour, milk-powder, and cornmeal-porridge at the canteen for those who needed. So a parent could always send her child to school knowing that he would get some free lunch. In addition the principal received some uniform material so that the very needy students could get.
Let's get the boys off the streets, get them to learn at least the basic numeric and literacy skills.
Help them to get some skill-training in a practical area, instill in them good morals, values and attitudes. If we are serious about turning this country around, get the social workers on the streets, get them into the homes of these boys.
For those boys without homes, provide more places where they can live and be properly socialised. Make it mandatory for young boys to be in school and make the social workers vigilant on the streets to ensure that there is full compliance.
I am, etc.,
MORVETIA HUNTER
Eltham Meadows
Spanish Town
