Minister points to violence holding back young men
(CNS): As Cayman joined over 60 other countries to mark International Men’s Day (IMD), the minister for community affairs pointed to the challenges that face local men and boys. Mike Adam said that, despite the positive path that many men in Cayman have traveled, people now have to come to terms with a variety of negative social issues, including violent crime, that are affecting our young men. The minister said that International Men’s Day provided an opportunity “to highlight men's positive experiences with the broader and ultimate aim of promoting the basic humanitarian values that are necessary to create a healthy society in all areas and for all people.”
As this year’s theme is "Helping Men and Boys Live Longer, Happier and Healthier Lives", and events will focus on efforts to improve male life expectancy, as well as boys' education, challenging the tolerance of violence against men and boys, and promoting fathers as positive role models.
The celebrations will include the 2nd IMD Football Tournament and Expo; an Evening of Supermen: Breaking Stereotypes; and a radio panel discussion to talk about the issues affecting our boys and men.
“These IMD events provide us with an opportunity to engage in positive behaviour with our boys, highlight the men in our communities who are on the right path, and discuss the challenges that get in the way of some of our boys and men becoming the supermen that they were meant to be,” Adam said.
See ministers full message below.
Category: Local News
and what about the huge huge drug problem we have here with our young people which is being completely ignored. Why? Because too many people will "suffer" if their source of income is being taken away. Try living with an addict for a week so you can see the problems you are causing. So many of our young people are addicted to ganja, cocaine and more. Don't be fooled into thinking that ganja is not addictive. It is much stronger these days than it was previously and some kids cannot get off it on their own. We need more counselling, rehab, education and for the police to be actively looking for and arresting pushers. dealers and especially suppliers – whoever they might be. We also need a programme such as "Scared Straight" where kids are taken to jail for a day or longer and shown exactly what they are headed for if they don't stop. It breaks my heart to see what is happening with our youth and to see how those in authority turn a blind eye.
How about the parents step up to the plate and educate moderation to prevent drug-abuse instead of creating more government programs that are after-the-fact and only increase the value and demand of drugs.
Most parents do their best but once a teenager gets out there and associates with others who are doing drugs, it is very hard to stop them. Please stop blaming parents. I agree some neglect and abuse their children but there are many who do the best they can and yet their kids still go astray. It is heartbeaking enough for a parent who naturally blames themselves, without having other people blaming them as well. It the blasted things weren't allowed to get in to Cayman and be so freely available, it would be alot harder for the kids to get hold of it in the first place.