Are children out too late?
“These young boys and girls should be home at a certain time. I can’t imagine toddlers and children under the age of 13-14 are still seen running around at 2 and 3 a.m. just so that their parents don’t want to miss an artiste. That is ridiculous!” the woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, declared to this news agency.
She pointed out that will some individuals frown upon what they see and are reluctant to speak up because "Tortola is a small society".
“Critics will be berated because their dirty laundry might be exposed for commenting, but I honestly think that something has to be done because it’s lawlessness, slackness and poor parenting,” the Social Worker pointed out.
In a perfect world, the former Social Worker wished that parents could be fined for “poor judgment” and lamented on the fact that it’s an acceptable trend not only here but throughout the Caribbean. “People have come to accept it as a norm.”
And while admitting it’s a sensitive issue, the retired woman is charging Government and churches to come up with creative ways to handle the situation.
However, though the Social Worker has a point, one young mother said she found no problem in taking her two children, who are below 10 years, on occasions to Festivals.
“It’s not like is every week-end I drag them with me. Music Fest and August Festival are advertised as a family affair so that means children are included as well,” the 29 year-old stated.
But a mother of three in her 30’s told this news agency that “no way, no how” she would keep her children out so late.
“I have two girls and one boy all in their teens and they have curfew. They have to abide by them. My son is 16 and he would take them and if I say to them be back by 1 a.m. you better believe it my instructions are adhered to,” she revealed.
Not wanting to be too harsh, the mother of three added that she knows it is difficult for single mothers especially to have a responsible individual babysit for a few hours, however, she stated that with advanced planning “it would not be too difficult”.
“These events are advertised for some time,” she stated.
Virgin Islands News Online also sought the opinion of Rhodni Skelton, the Events Coordinator for the just concluded BVI Music Fest, who stated that he was not shocked at the presence of young children spotted in the wee hours of the morning during the three-day event.
“It is something that we have seen over the years but I would prefer to have the kids home when certain artistes are expected to perform,” he disclosed.
Another promoter opined that maybe “no children under the age of 13” should be placed on flyers for certain artistes’ performances. “Because some can be sexually provocative.”
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