Both President of the People's Empowerment Party (PEP) Natalio D. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru (left) and its Chairman Hon J. Alvin Christopher are on the same page when it comes to the need to better resource the Social Development Department. Photo: VINO/File

Hon Christopher said he sees the plight of persons with no place of abode as he goes throughout the Territory. Photo: VINO/File

Wheatley was a panelist on the radio talk show PEP Radio aired on Monday January 26, 2015 on ZBVI 780 AM. Also speaking on the panel was Chairman of the PEP Honourable J. Alvin Christopher (R2).

“In my view the Social Development [Department] needs to be strengthened, because the social problems are growing,” said Wheatley. “But it seems as though the Department has very little resources to work with,” he pointed out.

He noted that the young people of today need a lot counselling since many things are going on in the home that cause a lot of frustration.

“They come to school and they exhibit that level of frustration and then it just goes from there,” he said.

“Really an intervention is needed and the Social Development Department is the Department really to take the lead in making an intervention for many of the young people who are exhibiting some real problems,” he said.

“But they can’t make the intervention unless they have the resources necessary to be able to do so,” he said.

“So I see this as a priority area…the same way that we think that development projects are priority and we see the economy as a priority, I think social development in the Territory needs to be strengthened,” said Wheatley.

Honourable J. Alvin Christopher (R2) said that persons tend to take the subject lightly, “but the social fabric would destroy the community.”

“The resources under the Department [are small] even though the problem is escalating,” he said. He said that while he appreciated that monies are put towards the development of the twin pillars of the economy – tourism and financial services – “we must find money to strengthen our Social Development Department in order that they can assist in carrying out the work and give the guidance to those who have fallen by the way and keeping them on the right path,” he said.

He said that as he goes through the Territory he sees many people who appear as though they have no place of abode. “And this comes from many factors…drugs, alcohol and other factors that destroy them,” he said. “It is a problem that is growing and one that we have to address,” he said.

Efforts by this news site to get a response from both the Department and the Ministry of Health and Social Development proved futile up to post time.