Delinquent parents: problem for YWCA

The majority of parents whose children attend the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) day-care centre at McKies Hill have not been paying their children’s fees.{{more}}

Muriel Byam, president of the YWCA, on the occasion of World YWCA Day on Wednesday, said that of the 59 children currently enrolled, they receive monthly payment for about 23.

She explained that there are six infants whose fees are paid by the Gender Affairs Department, and that although the payment is received, they often have to wait.

Heddey Baptiste, director of the day care, said there are some parents who only pay when they feel like it.

“There are some parents who could very well pay, but they are being delinquent,” Baptiste told SEARCHLIGHT.

The director explained that the monthly fee is $160 and this money, along with fees collected from students who are on the feeding programme, and adults who attend either the sewing, home economics or cake decorating classes, is used to pay staff salaries and bills.

The YWCA also needs money to purchase food to be used in the school’s feeding programme.

According to Baptiste, the problem does not stem from any of the other programmes being offered by the YWCA, but solely from the day care.

She said that some parents owe as much as $680 and when contacted, they say that payment will follow, but it usually never does.

Baptiste spoke of an incident where the parents of one of the infants racked up a $1,000 bill, but before steps could be taken to recover the money, the parents enrolled the infant in another school.

“That’s what they all are doing; promise to pay and nothing shows up,” the day care’s director explained.

She, however, said that despite these setbacks, they are still doing the best they can.

Baptiste, however, lamented that although the day care is being run by YWCA, they still need to be able to meet their day-to-day expenses.

But according to Byam, the association’s president, Germaine “Granny” Rose, who started the centre, says the children should be allowed to attend, rather than being left at home.

“And we do that,” Byam said, but the situation is beginning to become problematic.(DD)