–at ‘Child Rights and Independence’ workshop

THE Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) on Thursday morning hosted its third ‘Child Rights and Independence’ workshop in observance of Guyana’s 52nd Independence Anniversary.

Addressing the gathering at the Herdmanston Lodge at Peter Rose and Anira Streets, Queenstown, were Acting President and Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Ms Valarie Garrido-Lowe.

Minister Nagamootoo told the gathering of mainly schoolchildren that Independence is about paying homage to the birth of a nation, since at times we seem to forget the essence of what the topic is about.

He went on to describe the word as meaning–the building of our self-esteem and national pride as Guyanese–since we are a uniquely identifiable people, as the determination and resilience of our First Peoples can attest.

He said that in much the same way that we are proud of our spirit of Independence, then so too should we feel proud to move forward as a people, particularly now that we are no longer seen as a poor country, with the advent of becoming an oil-producing country.

JUVENILE JUSTICE BILL

He also touched briefly on the juvenile justice bill, saying that now that that landmark piece of legislation has been passed, allowances will be made for those underage children who come into contact or conflict with the law.

On the issue of youths being incarcerated for having in their possession small amounts of marijuana, Minister Nagamootoo said that were he to have his way, they would be receiving counselling and sent to rehabilitation instead of going to jail.

He was, however, at pains to explain that while he believes that youths should be given non-custodial sentences, the magistrates are not wrong in sending them to prison, since the law so specifies that they should.

That said, he feels that a new approach needs to be taken, whereby our laws can take into account the circumstances under which young offenders live, as Independence would have no meaning if our children are abandoned.

For RCC Chair, Ms Aleema Nasir, the Independence of any nation is always a momentous occasion to reflect on the circumstances surrounding it, and to contemplate on its significance.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH
She said that with the RCC being constitutionally mandated to promote and participate in the education and empowerment of youths all across Guyana, its work programme engages stakeholders in such ways as holding outreaches in far-flung hinterland communities, and paying visits to those penal institutions where youths are held.
She pointed out that what their visits to hinterland and riverine communities have taught them is that there is a dire need for children to access secondary education in close proximity to where they live, so as to prevent their parents taking them elsewhere to find it and a better way of life, and in so doing never return to contribute to the development of their native villages.

What they’ve found, too, Nasir said, is that children often do better at schools, whether primary or secondary, that are close to their homes and families.
Minister Garrido-Lowe used the occasion to commend the work of the RCC to ensure that the rights of children in Guyana, wherever they happen to be, are safeguarded, and to call upon the youths themselves to appreciate each other’s cultures.