THE CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE

Nov 02, 2011 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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High winds last weekend brought down a tree which fell on a house and in the process killed a young child. This was a very sad incident which follows too closely on the heels of another tragedy involving two young children who drowned while swimming in the Demerara River, which is known for its strong currents in certain places.
In the face of these tragedies, the blame game began as to who was responsible. In the instance where the tree fell on the house, it was said that the presence of the tree was reported to the local council.
But if this tree was seen as a threat, why did the residents whose lives it threatened not take action to remove the tree themselves? It is very easy to blame others when tragedy occurs, but what about people assuming responsibility for their own safety and taking action?
Based on the photographs and reports published in the newspapers, it would seem as if this house was on a dam. Should a house be on a dam? And who is to take responsibility for this? And what should have been the priority, relocating the residents from off the dam or removing the tree?
In Guyana, there are many houses, including some on the foreshores of Guyana that are at major risk. Where it is discovered that a home is situated where it ought not to be, then the persons should be asked to remove. But this cannot be left to chance. There has to be a planned effort to remove residents from high risk areas and risks that endanger the lives of citizens.
However, if a risk is identified, the residents should not have to wait on the authorities to take action. They should accept that their safety is the first priority, and take action to reduce the threats, especially that of rotting trees.
The rainy season is now upon us, and it is at this time that a number of trees come tumbling down. The principal cause of the trees being uprooted is because the soil holding these trees in place becomes so sodden that it can no longer support the weight of the trees which crack and fall.
It happens every rainy season and there have been a number of cases where civilians miraculously escape injury. Citizens have to be alert to these dangers and try to not wait until an accident happens before taking action.
Of course there are cases in which no risk is detected but still an accident occurs. There is nothing that one can do in these cases which also happen occasionally.
Whether the death of that child who was pinned when the tree fell on her house could have been avoided depends on an examination of the facts, and there should be some sort of inquiry into the matter, even if the press has to undertake its own investigation. It is important that we develop in Guyana a culture of taking every death seriously, and of trying to learn from what happened.
In the case of the two children who drowned in the Demerara River, there should be a ban on swimming in certain parts of the river where the current is strong. But one has to ask in examining this incident, how it is that these children were being allowed to roam free.
While the facts are still not clear, there are far too many incidents in Guyana where children are being allowed to roam free without adult supervision.
Unless, the children went off without permission, they ought to have been under the control of an adult. Too many guardians are allowing their children to roam around the streets and communities, and whenever these kinds get into mischief, the excuse is always that there is a lack of opportunities for recreation for the kids.
This is a poor excuse that should not be entertained, because there are many adults today whose parents supervised their children’s free time. These parents may not have been rich, but they ensured supervised recreation. The children had fun. They played with other kids, even if it was a board game at home. But an adult was always around and the whereabouts of the children was always known.
There are, of course, cases where children breach the rules imposed and go off on their own. But if stern discipline is taken early, the children will come to appreciate the need not to break the rules set by their parents.
Unfortunately, there are many instances where it is the absence of rules that is the problem. Too many parents are allowing their children unlimited freedom. This is poor parenting, and has to be reduced if future tragedies are to be avoided.
Moving around the country, one can see children at the most unholy hours of the night on the streets and at the road corners. You go by the markets and you see children just hanging around. After school, instead of children hurrying home, many of them can be found malingering around.
We should learn from the untimely deaths of these three children and all make a concerted effort to ensure that where there is risk and danger that action is taken, and that children understand that there are certain places where they should not go and play unsupervised by an adult.

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