OUTSIDE THE PULPIT: Illiteracy still a major concern

Can you believe that as we celebrate 50 years of free education in Barbados there are young people who cannot read or write?
I was shocked to read that convicted murderer Michael Taylor, 45, who was 17 years when he was jailed in 1984 for the murder of shopkeeper Millicent Lyder, 81, was illiterate [at the time].
The question must be asked: how in an age like this can a person who passed through the education system not be able read and write?
I do remember that murder very well, for at that time I was serving as priest-in-charge of All Souls Anglican Church and conducted the funeral for Ms Lyder.
Another question that must be asked is: how many of our young men who are serving time at Her Majesty’s Prisons Dodds cannot read or write? That may be the reason some of them are in prison, because it is my view that if a person cannot read and write, it will be very difficult for him to reason.
During his 28 years in prison Mr Taylor benefited from all the rehabilitation programmes. He can now read and write.
From all reports he has been a positive person while in prison and learnt tailoring, which he indicated he wanted to pursue as a career.
He now needs the necessary support to make it on the outside.