Ministry to tackle vagrancy, street children

Serious steps are soon to be taken by the Ministry of National Mobilization, in an effort to deal with the number of street children and vagrants in and around Kingstown.{{more}}

This is according to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Mobilization Rosita Snagg.

Snagg, speaking at a press conference last week Thursday

at Cabinet Room, indicated that as of December 1st this year, a street children rehabilitation programme is scheduled to come on stream.

The programme, facilitated by a local consultancy firm, aims to assist children between Diamond on the island’s windward side and Layou on the leeward side.

According to Snagg, the consultants will develop a pastoral programme and set up activity centres, where they can integrate children with their families.

Snagg also said that her Ministry will be working along with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Social Development to tackle the issue of vagrancy on the streets of Kingstown.

The ministries will also be looking to the churches, faith based and other Non Governmental Organizations, to help in the project.

High on the agenda of the project is to locate the families of these persons, most of whom, Snagg said, are mentally ill.

Meanwhile, this country celebrates Universal Children’s Day on Tuesday, November 20.

A week of activities takes place from November 18 to 24, and will feature an exhibition and a march. (JJ)