There is a need for more structured social activity if this country is to reclaim communities.
That was one of the main points coming out of yesterday’s Social Partnership meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, at the Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, Wildey, St Michael.
Mottley, who invited media managers to the meeting, which was also attended by Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce, along with representatives from the banking sector, the Barbados Private Sector Association, the Church, the trade unions and the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also highlighted the importance of parental and life coaching.
Speaking to the media executives after the marathon meeting, she said this type of coaching was critical.
“We were also able to have feedback on critical aspects of policy initiatives, the wireless intercept, the question of how do we ensure that there is some kind of mandatory framework that our kids can stay in school or post secondary institutions or some kind of apprenticeship or vocational area or, of course, the Barbados Youth Advance Corps. Or should we should be looking at mandatory participation of all children in forms one to three in some kind of disciplined club like Scouts, Brownies, Cubs, Guides or Pathfinders.”
Reflecting on those represented at the meeting, Mottley said the approach to tackle social issues and that of crime, required all major stakeholders to be on board.
“You have virtually everybody here except the political class,” she said, explaining she requested a separate meeting with that group.
“What we had today was not just the traditional social partnership. We
started it Friday last week . . . . We had all the members the Social Justice Committee which is wider religious groupings and social worker groupings and other groups that are part of that Social Justice Committee. We also invited specifically today at this meeting the media managers because we believe you have a role to play and you will help us; tell us what you believe we can do. You heard for yourself that this was a case where people came to the table and 80 per cent of what you heard in every presentation was virtually the same thing, and that is the point I made even when we were trying similar to when we were trying to save the dollar.”
She recalled that the first day in Government the question was asked who wanted to save the dollar. Mottley said 80 per cent of what people put on the table was the same thing.
“It is what made it possible for us to navigate the IMF [International Monetary Fund] programme. The same thing happened with COVID-19. We want the same thing to happen now to help Barbados stabilise and for us to ensure that a handful of people do not take from us our way of life,” she said.
Mottley said the objective of the meeting was about working towards building consensus.
“I think you heard consensus on a number of interventions at the social level. The Government would have had Pastor Eliseus Joseph, who is working with the Ministry of People Empowerment, present a platform recognising that, regrettably, a lot of today’s generation need support and that a lot of things that the older persons take for granted ought not to be taken for granted, like mental wellness.
“We had the opportunity also to have the National Council On Substance Abuse show the kinds of deadly and dangerous substances, some of them looking like candy, some of them looking like liquids that you wouldn’t think of, some of them looking like normal pharmaceuticals that are clearly, when used together, not necessarily singular but when used together and with alcohol, are having a devastating impact on many of our citizens and particularly our younger citizens.
Mottley said the need for a national clean up was also agreed on.
“Government itself is leading the way, as you know, with the derelict
vehicles and derelict cars and the bush. The bush legislation and Health Services Act will come in shortly. We felt that even though the legislation was passed, we need time to give people a chance to understand that soon from now if ‘you don’t clean up yourself, you will not only have to pay back Government what we spent. If you don’t do it yourself, you will also have to pay a fine.
Security cameras
“We have also recognised that if we can move those cars, move those buildings that are derelict, do the clean up and have proper lighting and also encourage more people to put security cameras on their properties, that together we will be able to reduce the opportunities for crime which is the most important thing for us to do,” she added.
Mottley reflected on a plan she designed on justice, peace and security during her years as Attorney General.
“Chapter 7 was on reducing opportunities for crime, and that is what each citizen and each household has to do. They have to understand what their role is,” she said. (CM)
