Dear Editor,
I read with great concern a letter penned by one Miss Niamatali about children roaming the streets of New Amsterdam begging for food and money. This letter is of great concern to me, seeing Berbice is the county of my birth, and as such holds an important place in my heart.
Indeed, the writer is spot on with her comments, as I am too, because here we have young minds that are being wasted, which is not something to be taken lightly. In fact, some of them have been known to be engaged in petty crimes, which, if not curbed, would lead to greater and more dangerous breaches of the law.
I have noted these grave concerns myself while I was in Guyana recently, where children were found roaming all over – without face masks of course – doing all sorts of odd things, when they should have been otherwise engaged in meaningful learning. This is my main concern for our next generation; that is: What are we really doing for our youngsters? Are we looking out for them with the due care and concern that they deserve? Are we taking care of future Guyana?
And the answer comes back again: We are not. And when I say “we”, I am talking about those of us who are genuinely concerned about the nation’s youth, not those who have a political axe to grind.
In that same group, you would get the crass, nonsensical argument: Then what is the Government doing to curb this situation? You mean the Government can’t see that the people suffering? These and other foolishness are being put forward as a solution; it is always the Government’s fault.
Well, the Government is playing its part in putting this situation right in the reopening of schools and a return to the classroom. There is also a vaccination programme to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, as well as a robust school feeding programme to take care of those vulnerable groups who can’t afford it.
So, what’s the problem of those naysayers, and here’s the point: The moment the Minister announced a reopening of schools and placing the children in a safe environment where learning can take place, those opposing this move suddenly sprang into action. They are now “overly concerned” for the children’s safety and the risk of them becoming infected. Utter hogwash! Where were they when those very same children were roaming the streets? Weren’t they concerned then?
And here’s my point: These so-called concerned groups who claim that they care, when you really get to the bottom of it, you get the clear idea that they are not concerned at all; they are just in it for the political mileage they can make at the expense of our children’s future.
Then it behooves me to conjure up the thought that they are not in the least interested in a progressive Guyana, their objective is that we bring up a generation of citizens who are illiterates and “hustlers”, all to their political benefit. But this is not going to happen, because the Government of the day needs to move ahead with its programme to educate future Guyana. I say let nothing or no one impede your progress.
Respectfully,
Neil Adams
