When, in 2013, your child hits a man with a cutlass by a doubles vendor and you, the parent, have money, you can put your child on a plane and send him out of the country. Permanently!When, in 1962, your child or stepchild is arrested by the police for using obscene language and throwing missiles, and you are a government minister, you can walk into the police station and order his release. Then, you get promoted by the Prime Minister!When, in 2014, a single mother gives her 12-year-old child a severe cut-tail to put her on the right track, politicians bump their gums and threaten to have that mother arrested. Arresting the mother will create a greater tragedy than what she tried to prevent. There are at least two or three other children in that home. There seems to be no father present. So when you arrest the mother, you break up a home that a mother was trying her best to keep together. What will then happen to her children? Her three daughters and a son? Who will take care of them? The state? Please!
We all know of the alleged abuse that happens in state-run institutions. If the politicians are so concerned about abuse, let them start by putting the state-run children's institutions in order. The emotional and physical and sexual abuse that children suffer in some of those places is far, far worse than the corporal punishment that mother gave to her daughter.An even greater tragedy will be the failure of the nation to recognise the very eloquent statements made, post corporal punishment, by both her elder daughter and the 12-year-old.The Prime Minister better not put God out of her thoughts and bring legislation to repeal corporal punishment in homes. Instead, she should reflect on the massive indiscipline that has permeated our primary and secondary school system since she piloted legislation to abolish corporal punishment back in 2001.
Linus F Didier
Mt Hope