Dear Editor,
There is a growing issue of people living in the drains and on the corners of New Kingston, which we all — MPs, business people, regular citizen — have been ignoring.
It seems as if we are truly turning a blind eye to the fact that there are countless teenagers living on the streets. They have been turned away by their families for different reasons and some have run away. Homelessness is not just their problem; it is everyone's problem. A 15-year-old living on the side of the rpad, giving sexual favours at night in order to survive, is everyone's problem.
The 13-year-old who ran away after his father threatened to kill him because of his sexuality and now steals food to survive is everyone's problem.
Our ministers need to stop turning a blind eye to this situation and take these minors off the street. We are always quick to speak of the innocence of children and the fact that they need to be protected as they are the future of our nation. Aren't these minors living on the streets the future of our nation too?
And, what about their parents or guardians; do they know it is illegal to put a minor in their care out into the streets? We can only ignore this for so long before it becomes a problem bigger than we can handle.
Melissa B
Kingston
ronaldinho_is_taken_@hotmail.com
Minors living on the street everybody's problem
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There is a growing issue of people living in the drains and on the corners of New Kingston, which we all — MPs, business people, regular citizen — have been ignoring.
It seems as if we are truly turning a blind eye to the fact that there are countless teenagers living on the streets. They have been turned away by their families for different reasons and some have run away. Homelessness is not just their problem; it is everyone's problem. A 15-year-old living on the side of the rpad, giving sexual favours at night in order to survive, is everyone's problem.
The 13-year-old who ran away after his father threatened to kill him because of his sexuality and now steals food to survive is everyone's problem.
Our ministers need to stop turning a blind eye to this situation and take these minors off the street. We are always quick to speak of the innocence of children and the fact that they need to be protected as they are the future of our nation. Aren't these minors living on the streets the future of our nation too?
And, what about their parents or guardians; do they know it is illegal to put a minor in their care out into the streets? We can only ignore this for so long before it becomes a problem bigger than we can handle.
Melissa B
Kingston
ronaldinho_is_taken_@hotmail.com
Minors living on the street everybody's problem
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