THE EDITOR, Sir:
A SENIOR Minister of Government recently made a statement in reference to young men in his constituency to the effect that most of the men between the ages of 18 and 27 were unemployable, were illiterate and were irredeemable. I consider this a most profound statement to have been made by a senior Minister of Government.
I think that it is the responsibility of Government to ensure that the children born in Jamaica have opportunities to learn and so be literate and also have opportunities to grow and so be worthwhile citizens in Jamaica. When one considers that the Government of which this Minister is a part would have come to power when some of these young men were as young as three or four years old and ripe for moulding, then I think that he must bear a significant part of the burden of their failure to achieve.
What also, of all the children born since 1989 who are not yet at the age of 18? Are there any reasons to believe that they will end up any better than the set of current 18-year-olds? We must realise that the child born in Victoria Jubilee Hospital yesterday comes into this world with no less potential than the child born in Tokyo, Japan; yet it is quite possible that the child born in Tokyo in 18 years will be making computers while the one born in Victoria Jubilee may end up just like the ones the Minister was speaking of. What or who is to be blamed?
At the same time could the Minister please say what is the solution in this instance where we have a cohort of young men who are redeemable. I hope the Minister can answer.
I am, etc.,
JEROME HENRY
Highgate P.O.
St Mary
