Dear Editor,
SN and other sections of the media have reported about the arrest of a minibus driver who had children and alcohol in his bus on Tuesday last. This was incidental as part of a traffic stop. There could be other minibuses throughout Guyana who are helping the alcohol industry by providing alcohol to children.
The Childcare and Protection Agency and other people might be intervening with the children. But those of us who were once children who wanted to do everything adults are doing, must be sympathising with the children. After all, the Government of Guyana is proud co-sponsor of many national events with the alcohol industry and with alcohol branding. And the alcohol industry helps to sponsor many events targeted at young people (one event in Guyana had a beer drinking competition , the event was ‘family friendly’).
So what can any adult in Guyana do about children who want to participate in Guyana’s development and so on, and enjoy the alcohol which the Government and other adults enjoy? What can the social workers and teachers tell the children without seeming to be hypocrites?
And is the bus driver the only person who should be held accountable for the danger to the children and adults posed by the alcohol culture in Guyana?