AFC calls for national strategy to address teen violence
The Alliance For Change is profoundly saddened at the recent incident where one teenager is said to have stabbed another to death.
Our condolence goes out to the family and relatives of young Shane George whose life was taken in such a premature manner. Our prayers are also with young Akeem Roberts who is said to be responsible for the death of George and who now faces a murder charge.
Here is a most tragic situation of two young men on the threshold of adulthood, one is lost to us forever and the other will never be the same.
This incident speaks to an emerging category of violence in our nation. In February, 17 year old Anfernee Bowman was stabbed to death. Another teenager, Samuel Cornelius has since been charged with his murder.
Something is fundamentally wrong with our society when our young people feel that they have no other recourse to ending an argument other than with a weapon which usually ends up with someone losing their life.
This must be a concern for all of us, politicians, religious leaders, the judiciary, educators, and parents, indeed all of society. We can no longer sit and give platitudes to this ill that is threatening the very future of our young people and our country.
In this regard, the Alliance For Change calls for a national caucus to address teenage violence be it in the schools or any other place.
The AFC believes that this problem requires the intervention and input of all of society. We need to transcend the political divide and come together to design and implement a workable solution or the problem of teenage violence will be the death of this nation’s growth and development.
Collective approaches must be found to tackle this problem. This is not a problem only for the government or the opposition, single parents, the judiciary or any other single group. It is a problem that affects all of us. In the cases of George and Bowman, not only are the families of the victims and the accused affected but the many more young people who witnessed these incidents, they too are traumatised and will forever affected by what they witnessed. Society has a responsibility to these teens also.
The AFC calls for the putting aside of political and class differences to address this ill before it takes firm root in our society [END]
Mahdia roads may have contributed to still birth
I take this opportunity to once again bring to the attention of the media a situation at Mahdia that is making us uncomfortable.
I am appalled at what passes for roads in this village. Residents of the community are saying that the potholed road network in the area is making life very hard for them. As a resident of the community I too am concerned at the condition of the roads
Drivers are complaining that the condition of the road is at its worst and is directly responsible for most of the mechanical problems they encounter. As a result, they are concerned about the safety and comfort of their passengers. Recently a group of drivers visited the office of the Regional Executive Officer and asked him when repair works were due to commence on the road. To their disappointment the only assurance they were given was, they were told that no monies have been budgeted to do maintenance of roads within Mahdia. At this point I do not believe that the R.E.O is not prepared to seriously work to improve the quality of life for residents of Region Eight.
Therefore, I am calling on the Minister responsible for public works to intervene with the intention of remedying the road situation at Mahdia. The people of Mahdia are not satisfied with the performance of the REO.
A typical example of what the road is doing to people; a month ago a heavily pregnant woman due to deliver within two weeks was transferred to Georgetown. She was forced to travel by road. The journey began at Mahdia. It , she started to experience severe back pains and eventually, at Mango Landing she delivered a still born baby. The next morning it was observed that there were black and blue marks all over the infant’s body.
We cannot wait to see what more will happen, it may be worse. [END]
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