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Contact:
Rose
Marie Harris
Wednesday, November 19, 2003 - While Saint Lucia has recorded a number of
positive measures in the overall development of the nation’s children, there are
still a number of significant issues to be addressed.
Addressing the nation on Wednesday November 19, 2003, on the occasion of the
launching of the “Year of the Child”, Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Kenny
Anthony pointed out that the successes recorded thus far, do not mean that the
war has been won. According to the prime minister, the enemies continue to lurk
in the shadows.
“While we can be very proud of the strides made both in health and education,
the area of child protection remains a burning issue. Over the past five years,
the division of human Services and Family Affairs has observed a marked increase
in the number of reported cases of child abuse. We cannot continue to treat
these cases with mere sympathy and outrage. It is not words, but deeds that will
lend redress to this situation. Consequently, we must put measures in place to
prevent the incidences of all forms of child abuse, and institute even stronger
procedures and penalties to deal with the perpetrators. Here there can be no
compromise. We must ensure the adequacy of our laws and legal system to protect
our children and provide the support services for victims and their families,
wherever and whenever necessary.”
In the area of health care, since Saint Lucia’s ratification of the Convention
on the Rights of the Child in July 1993, the island has made significant gains
in the health sector. “As a consequence of deploying additional resources to
maternal and child health and primary health care, we are suffering fewer
causalities. By fortifying our defensive mechanisms through a methodical process
of immunisation against communicable diseases, Saint Lucia has not recorded a
single case of measles, mumps or polio. As a result of our antenatal clinics,
there has been a decrease in infant mortality rates and infants born with low
birth weight,” Dr. Anthony said.
Another success registered is that of creating school places for every child of
primary and secondary school age. Government subscribes to the theory that the
cure for poverty is not money but knowledge. “While we will commit to providing
a school place for every child of primary and secondary school age, it is the
responsibility of all parents and guardians to ensure that their children attend
school. Unfortunately too many have abandoned or delegated the responsibility
for raising their children to the schools, the teachers and the state.”
Children, the Prime Minister reiterated, must no longer be voiceless, for their
too are purveyors of wisdom. They must not be silenced in the face of abuse,
neither must they be shut up so as to cover up the society’s failures and
shortcomings.
The theme for the year long observance is “Change Saint Lucia for the Children
with the Children”. Dr. Anthony describes the theme as most appropriate, as it
closely relates to that of the Global Movement for Children, spearheaded by
Nelson Mandella and his wife. The theme, Dr. Anthony said, emphasises the need
for societies to give recognition to the voices of children and the need for
their involvement in the decision making process on matters pertaining to them.
Read Full Address here
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