Very often some societies become so complacent about important social issues that it takes some time before the members of those societies are prepared to sit up and confront some of those special problems which are staring them in the face.
In October last year, the Attorney General brought one of those problems out in the open and spoke directly about it in a speech which drew very little response.
In talking about the need to help some young people avoid anti-social influences which can often drive them into criminal ways, he turned the spotlight on a much neglected topic as he declared that a holistic approach was needed to help such young people and their families.
He continued: “Take a look at the Government Industrial School and see what has driven those there to be confined to the Government Industrial School. Yes, in quite a few cases there are criminal related issues, but we still have children that are sent to the Government Industrial School for wandering, and wandering means that they either don’t stay home, are own way, hard ears or otherwise; but in quite a few cases their parents, usually the mother, is unable to deal with that young girl or boy anymore.
“To that end,” he argued, “what is clear is that the parents need support so that they can have whatever is required physically, emotionally, financially or otherwise to stop those children from being led astray.”
The learned Attorney General was right then, and his message continues to be relevant to this society at this time, because earlier this week another young Barbadian was reportedly sent to the Industrial School after being caught “wandering” within the meaning of the current legislation.
Let us be clear. No blame is attached to any official involved in these cases. The police officers do their duty and the courts do theirs; but the hands of the officials are often tied by a law which deprives a young person of his or her freedom, not for stealing or for committing a criminal act, as such; but simply on the basis that the child is wandering and according to the act not having any home or settled place of abode or proper guardianship or visible means of subsistence.
As the Attorney General so realistically pointed out, there may be, and often are, physical, emotional, financial or other needs that drive such children into being led astray and “wandering”, and causes them to end up confined to Dodds or Summervale with all the attendant social stigma of a small society to follow them after their release.
Implicit in the Attorney General’s speech is the notion that something must be done for such children, whose only problem is that they are found wandering. If that is what is being said then we agree. It seems not a little draconian that deprivation of freedom should follow if some children fall within the provisions of the act simply as a result of social misfortune.
Given our ongoing concern for the youth, these unfortunate wanderers should not be allowed to fall through the cracks of our social safety nets. They are part of our future, too.
