The public's feedback will be crucial is passing the law. Photo: Aneka Edwards/VINO.

Today, Minister Andrew Fahie said that his Ministry has received the template from the Attorney General’s Office.

Below is his full statement:

Mr. Speaker, let me turn your attention to the curfew law that when introduced initially was met with challenges.

Mr. Speaker, there is a constant cry in this community that more of our youth are currently going astray. An increasing number of them are getting themselves mixed up in the wrong things, with the wrong crowd and with the wrong intentions.

Mr. Speaker, the Magistrate Court and High Court is full and running over with an increasing number of young people who continue to find a passion for all sorts of crimes.

Our streets in the midnight hour continue to be crowded with youth either sitting or lurking around with idle minds until an idea of deviousness overshadows their ability to do good, all because they want to be in the in-crowd.

Mr. Speaker, where are we as parents when our children are burning the midnight oil and doing things that affect their lives? Where are we as parents when our children are following the in- crowd and making bad decisions during late nights? Where are we Mr. Speaker when our children are making risky decisions that continue to get the best of them during the late nights?

There is nothing more troubling in a community than to have a fleet of lost souls. The aftershock is often detrimental to life.

No more Mr. Speaker. No more of our youth vanishing in the pits of the prison system. No more of them getting into the hands of destruction and demise as a result of trotting down the wrong road. Mr. Speaker, no more of our children falling through the cracks of society and left to wither away like an unforgotten corpse.

Gone are the days when parents knew every step their child made because if grandparents didn’t tell, the neighbor would tell. 2

Mr. Speaker, we have become too busy as parents. This is not me talking; this is the cry of many of our young people who are yearning to have an open communication with their parents.

My speaker, enough is enough!

The time has come for us to do some serious forecasting to make calculated projections. It is time for us to give precedence to new life so that a renewed spirit is instilled in our young generation. It is time for us to find effective ways of knowing what’s up, not because we are asked to, but because we need to.

Now is the time to implement the curfew law so that it can assist in putting an end to the backlog of youth at the prison. We must do that now, not tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker now is the time for us to put an end to complacency. We must do these things now, not the next day.

Mr. Speaker, this is our way of putting the responsibility of children back into the hands of parents so that respect for traditional childrearing values become a pillar of strength for transformational change.

Before a community can police a child, parents need to nurture the strengths of that child. Know where your child is; know their whereabouts and what they are doing and who they are with.

Many are saying Government should not interfere with family business, and I understand that, but the time has come for us to do something about this longstanding issue, no more lip service.

Mr. Speaker sir, please note that curfew legislation will not solve all the problems, but it will assist greatly in minimizing it. So parental guidance is not only needed but required and advised.

This is our chance to bring children back into the family environment. Life is not about modernizing all the time. There are times when we have to take a step back and hold on to the rope of tradition.

I am calling on the Family Support Network and the Social Development Department to join us in this effort by introducing interactive ideas that could help parents and children build stronger relationships with each other.

Parents you have be creative to engage your child. Sow the seeds of progress and let’s retain faith.

Parents, Mr. Speaker should create an environment where they can stimulate children.3

Mr. Speaker, it’s about getting back to the basics and making it mandatory for parents to take care of their responsibilities.

Mr. Speaker, sir the Ministry of Education has received the template from the Attorney General’s Office on the proposed curfew legislation. We will be continuing the public meetings in the next two weeks to gain the necessary public input. Mr. Speaker, the schedule of public meetings to discuss this matter further will be publicized in the many different local Medias. Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Education held initial meetings on this proposed legislation late last year at with the parents and PTAs of the Robinson O’Neal Memorial Primary School, Bregado Flax Educational Centre both secondary and primary division. The input from those meetings is invaluable.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage everyone to participate in this process because together we will save our youth.