Development of youths – our business

THE EDITOR, Sir: IT IS not proper to say “education is the key”, likewise “goals win matches”. We are not paying sufficient attention to the importance of the children whom we seek to ‘ educate’, and thereby have taken our eyes off the ball.

Our corporate and civil leaders have, for too long, been detached from our youth at their early stages. Socially related material, like philosophy, which is being taught at the tertiary level, should be directed towards younger children. This is where the power of choice should be kindled and a ‘higher thinking’ engaged; not just about right or wrong, but better or worse. Unfortunately, the politics of economy, loyalty, and the “gun smoke” had gotten to a promising and young Andrew Holness, then minister of education turned prime minister, and the rest of us, and we took our eyes off the ball.

Our recent refocus on children as being where “it all” begins and where it all ends, as it relates to everything including crime, has given me renewed hope. I just hope that all of our ministries will join the Ministry of National Security in holding up Minister Ronald Thwaites’ arm with its “lantern”, because right now, and ever since, his job has been the most important of them all. A prime minister in his 20s or 30s ‘must’ also be a part of the vision (2030). ANDRE O. SHEPPY astrangely@outlook.com