LETTER OF THE DAY - Father's Day and juvenile delinquents

THE EDITOR, Sir:

AS WE approach Father's Day, I wonder how many of the young men who died in the Tivoli Gardens incursion grew up with a father in the household. As a former juvenile counsellor, in Jamaica and the United States, I notice one common denominator between both countries: most juvenile delinquents and teenage criminals did not grow up with a full-time father. This illustrates the fact that the negative effect of the absentee father in a household has no respect for geographic location or economic conditions.

During my tenure in the US as a juvenile counsellor, many of the delinquents had fathers who were professionals, even attorneys. The street did not respect the social background of a juvenile it sought to recruit into the criminal lifestyle. Let me also hasten to add that there is no shortage of successful young people who grew up with single parents, especially single mothers. However, from my observation, the rule is that if the dad is not in the house the opportunity for delinquency increases dramatically.

Choosing the right road

I also grew up with a single parent - my aunt. I only glimpsed my father once in my entire life. My mother had to hop on that England opportunity train in 1960s. The roads of good and evil were crystal clear in front of me. There was no one to stop me if I wanted to choose evil. Thank God, I chose good over evil.

So as Father's Day draws close, I am reminding all fathers of the role that they have to play in their children's lives. Gone should be the days when we leave the mother to struggle with the children. We are equally responsible for their existence and we have a moral duty to be there for them, full time.

I am, etc.,

Alvin Buchanan

alvinbis@gmail.com

Florida