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'Ban children from political motorcades'
Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Tuesday | August 14, 2007
Marlon Vickerman, Gleaner Writer
WITH SPORADIC acts of violence taking place on the campaign trail leading up to the August 27 general election, Betty-Ann Blaine, convenor of the advocacy group, Hear the Children's Cry, is calling for a ban to be placed on children taking part in political rallies and motorcades.
Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, Blaine noted that children, who are oftentimes present at the political meetings (some even decked in party colours and paraphernalia), are being exposed to potential harm. This, she said, is in breach of sections the Child Care and Protection Act.
"The reality is that political campaigning in Jamaica is characterised by violence and as long as they are characterised by violence then the children cannot be apart of it. The state should ensure that no child is a part of a political motorcade or present at political meetings because of the threat of violence," she said.
"The Children's Advocate must look at this because there is a clause in the Child Care and Protection Act that speaks about the endangerment of our children and clearly this is putting them in harm's way. If a child gets killed, God forbid, or injured while they are in a motorcade, who takes responsibility?"
Pure lawlessness
She continued: "The kind of lawlessness that you see on these motorcades is frightening. I can't imagine why children should be exposed to this; it is what I call anti-child. It's not appropriate for children. You go to these political rallies and they're smoking weed and playing music that is not appropriate for children. When you look at how the motorcades are conducted, the lawlessness associated with them is not conducive to the welfare and the well-being of our children."
Mary Clarke, Children's Advocate, said tha children may be taken on the campaign trail by their parents, her office has received no complains so far. She said that in light of this, she could only make a general appeal to the public to look out for the children and to ensure their safety.
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