At-risk Zeelugt youths still not getting help

Dear Editor,

Words cannot express the sadness I felt when I looked at the dailies yesterday and saw a twelve- -year-old girl being charged for murder. Over the years, especially during the period when we were being governed by the PPP/C, I penned numerous letters begging/imploring those responsible for our youths, religious leaders and the various organisations to come out with a clear plan to help our youths and I even got into details and used Zeelugt on the East Bank of Essequibo as an example, citing the huge school drop-outs, increased drugs and alcohol use and crime.

To date no help or project has been introduced in that village. Instead there are small gangs emerging, crimes being committed (some murders) and some villagers living in torment from these youngsters because the police seem reluctant to act on certain reports.  Because of neglect, crime seems to be getting worse and the majority of them seem to be committed by youths.

Finally Editor, I have posted on my Facebook page my opinion about the sorry welcome Lisa Punch got at the Timehri Airport and to see our two young ladies from the victorious West Indies women team entering Guyana without a decent welcome is very embarrassing.

That is to show the feelings those in authority have for our youths here! Our Director of Sports hastily calls a press conference to say that the Guyana Cricket Board did not inform him so that he could have arranged a hero’s welcome for the two young ladies. Now my questions are, as Director of Sports, couldn’t he call and inquire instead of waiting? Couldn’t he get the girls’ contact numbers and make contact with them personally and apart from the press conference did he convey any congratulatory message to them?

Our youths are not getting the credit they deserve and actions like these only seems to deter them from shining. Perhaps our Director of Sports should take time off from updating Facebook and actually show us what he is doing.

Yours faithfully,
Sahadeo Bates