In reflecting on further encouraging social responsibility in its news coverage, I wish to share today the gist of three examples that attracted my attention and time in this past Tuesday’s DAILY NATION.
First, there was its Page 1 lead story, headlined Home Alone, with a narrative of the plight facing working mothers who feel compelled to leave their children at home alone at night because of the nature of their employment.
In expressing her concerns over this problem, the president of the National Organization of Women (NOW), Marilyn Rice-Bowen, has suggested that the Government move to establish “night-care” facilities to accommodate such children while also extending the working hours for child care employees.
It is known that child-care or child protective services exist, to a limited extent, in some countries in our region, and largely operated privately, with parents/guardians having to devote what income they earn towards meeting the care/protection cost.
Since most of the mothers facing such a challenge are generally in private employment, it seems that the leading private sector agencies/organizations should feel obligated to share the responsibility with government in an enlightened partnership in responding to the challenge commendably raised by NOW’s president.
Secondly, there was the news report on the formal opening of a special unit at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies to facilitate visually impaired students in accessing the institution’s library.
And there to formally open the Kerryann Ifill Unit, named after the remarkable visually impaired President of the Barbados Senate, was the very source of inspiration – Kerryann Ifill – as she tested one of the visually impaired-friendly computers.
What a wonderful display of human creativity and togetherness. Congrats, principal Sir Hilary Beckles.
Thirdly, there was the news story on No To Changing Of Buggery Laws, credited to the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC). It was a report on the commendable determination by Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit against amending the country’s law to facilitate citizens clamouring for this to be done in support of their own chosen lifestyle and seeking to exploit the growing same-sex marriage fad.
I am firmly opposed to discrimination against so-called “gays”. But they must also understand that fundamental rights are not to be abused to make a mockery of laws that also protect the fundamental rights of the great majority of other citizens against obscenities like buggery. Keep cool, Mr Skerrit.
• Rickey Singh is a noted Caribbean journalist.
