President of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), Kavan Gayle, says that the abuse of children in their homes was among the primary factors forcing them onto the streets and into child labour.

"Today in Jamaica, children between the ages of 10 and 18 are being exposed to all types of illicit activities which are adversely affecting their health, safety and morals," Gayle said.

He said that in response, Jamaica must embark on a clearly defined plan of action to save children from exploitation.
"Government, private sector and non-governmental organisations must work together to establish a national machinery and plan of action to save our children," Gayle pleaded.

Gayle, who replaced current Minister of Health and Environment Ruddy Spencer as president of the union in November, was addressing the installation ceremony and dinner of the Optimist Club of Trafalgar Pines at the Civil Aviation Auditorium, Winchester Avenue, Kingston, last Saturday.

He suggested that the national machinery should include government agencies, non-governmental agencies dealing with affected children, private sector groups, international development agencies, children in related activities and the trade unions.

They should collaborate with the ministries of labour, youth and community development, as well as the Bureau of Women's Affairs, the child support unit of the Ministry of Health, the Child Development Agency, poverty eradication projects, the Four H Clubs, the police and the church, he said.

"We need to ensure that this national machinery collects and exchanges information with related institutions, at the national and international levels, and use these findings to review and strengthen the legal framework to protect children who are at risk," Gayle said.

He suggested a registry containing court and police records which could be used to monitor perpetrators, and educational programmes to encourage children to practise healthy lifestyles, continue their education and acquire additional skills to cope with life.

"If we are to save our children, we must act now and do it together," Gayle said.

Giving the reasons for his proposals, the trade union leader referred to the latest findings of an International Labour Organisation study, which showed that children are facing many different challenges, without the support of the home structure they need to overcome them.

"They have to encounter various types of abuses, ranging from physical and mental to sexual abuse," he said. "The social and economic situation in Jamaica is also a fundamental contributing factor to these challenges."
Poverty, poor parenting, distorted values and the fact that 44.7 per cent of Jamaican households are headed by single females, who are concentrated in the low-wage sector, were also contributing to their downfall, he added.

He said that the children were being exposed to exploitation, like being employed below the minimum age, being employed to do hazardous jobs exposing them to physical and mental risks, and being forced into pornography, prostitution and other illicit activities.

He said that girls aged 13-18 are being employed in massage parlours and as go-go dancers, while the boys were being recruited into gangs to perform illegal acts for the "dons".

"These activities are among the worst forms of child labour because they exploit children, violate their basic rights, disrupt their education, expose them to life-threatening risks, corrupt their moral values and socialise them into treating their bodies as sexual commodities," he said.

The reasons for them becoming engaged in these activities included poverty, limited opportunities, poor parenting, peer pressure and fear of reprisals from persons like community "dons", as well as limited education, being forced into adult roles prematurely, media advertising and inadequate monitoring of the laws, he argued.

The consequences often include mental illness, associated with depression and stress, distorted values and exposure to hard drugs and possible addiction.

Gayle called on fathers and stepfathers who prey on young females to "stop practising this barbaric act", and urged mothers not to remain in denial while these things were happening.

Sophia Harris was inducted as the club's charter president, Donna Atterbury and Wayne Ingleton as vice-presidents, and Karundi O'Connor as secretary/treasurer.

Excellent 'Iron Man' soars high

Bramma's Value of a Lady creating waves

Orville Hall: Stepping Up and Away