Lashley: Some parents need help

A GOVERNMENT Minister thinks there is a crisis in relation to the level of parenting in Barbados.Minister of Family, Youth and Sport, Stephen Lashley, made this charge at the weekly lunch time lecture hosted by the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) at its George Street headquarters, Friday.“I do believe that far too many parents are not taking their parental responsibilities seriously,” he said.Lashley said Government had formulated a plan to help such parents.“The state has determined that it will move in the direction where we will provide support mechanisms for our parents and  already the unit of family which in the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sport, has already started a parent training programme through which individuals will be trained in the art of parenting,” he said.Lashley said Government would be partnering with youth, community and church groups “to ensure that we can turn around this problem in relation to parenting.”Lashley told the DLP party faithfuls that he did not think that a high percentage of young people were in crisis, adding that the majority of young people were  positive symbolsof excellence. “We have a challengewith some of our young people but I believe they arein the minority.”He said the public should resist the temptation of painting all young people with one brush. (MK)