Dear Editor,
The recent and not so recent events in Linden that have occasioned attendance by students from our secondary, and even primary schools, while commendable, have left a very distasteful feeling in the minds of parents, and especially the mothers resident in this community.
I refer to the hosting of the Regional Costume Competi-tion, held in Linden on Friday February 2nd last, where thousands of our children exhibited their talents at dance, drama and physical display at the Mackenzie Sports Club.
However, it is what occurs after the conclusion of these types of events that is cause for concern, as well as the seeming encouragement of this untenable behaviour by our children by some ‘leaders’ in our society that I find reprehensible.
In 2005, the R.D.C.’s Welfare and Women’s Affairs Committees pooled their efforts to combat this crisis. One group of women had a meeting with the Regional Education Officer (ag.) while another group met with the Commander of the ‘E’ & ‘F’ Divisions of the Guyana Police Force. Both of these officers acceded to our requests and gave support to our cause. These requests were –
1. All children attending these types of extra-curricular activities must be attired in their school uniforms.
2. No alcoholic beverages must be sold in the grounds or its immediate vicinity.
3. The activity should be concluded by 14.30 hrs.
4. Schools must take responsibility for their students
Additionally, the two committees sought the assistance of the Probation Officer and the Social Workers’ Association and parents. We divided ourselves into mixed groups to conduct a monitoring exercise at the main after activity locations, in the vicinity of Banks DIH, the Ark Disco, Linden Online and Carib Bar area along Republic Avenue.
I must commend the Regional Education Officer (ag.), the Police Commander and some head teachers for their outstanding support given during the last exercise. But that was then.
The 2007 Regional Costume Competition came to an end around 15:30hrs, and the crowd immediately wended its way to the end of Republic Avenue in their hundreds, with the majority ending up in the ‘Ark Disco’ and ‘Carib Bar’, two nightspots on this main thoroughfare in Linden. What was appalling, disgusting and totally unconscionable, was that the crowd, which was made up of mostly teenaged or younger females, were encouraged to party in these nightspots from that time until almost 21:00hrs when the police finally called a halt to this activity, presumably because the crowd was clogging the roadway and impeding traffic.
This wanton behaviour by the owners of these businesses (particularly interesting to note that one of these persons holds a senior political position in our community) in allowing under aged children entry to these discos, as well as selling alcoholic beverages to these children has to come to a halt immediately, and I call on the relevant authority to ensure that there is no recurrence of this situation, especially since this has not been the first time.
On one occasion, the members of the RDC’s Welfare and Women’s Affairs Committees had to physically patrol this section of our community and threaten the businesses in the area with protest action in order to ensure that they desisted from this type of behaviour. We pledge to again take up the fight to ensure the safety of our children, since the authorities seem constrained to prevent this unlawful practice and our businessmen seem to have thrown all sense of decency and morals to the wind.
Finally, allow me to remark on the mode of dress observed, as demonstrated by some of the teachers present at this same Costume Competition, especially those of the female gender; it leaves much to be desired. Come on teachers, you mould the minds of nations, and your actions speak volumes of what should be viewed as acceptable behaviour or dress for children.
As Chairperson of the Region 10 Welfare and Women’s Affairs Committees, I call on the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, all Parent Teachers’ Associations, School Boards and Churches to sound their voices in this matter and rescue our children from this.
Yours faithfully
Valerie Adams-Sharpe
Councillor
Regional Democratic Council
Region 10
