By Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer 
Henry-Wilson and Roper
REVEREND GARNETT Roper, former head of the National Youth Serivce (NYS), has accused the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Culture of shirking the overall responsibility to spearhead efforts to help capture wayward youths.
His comments came against the background of figures from last year's Social and Economic Survey which shows the 21-25 age cohort being the most ruthless criminal offenders.
Rev. Roper is contending that there is a breakdown in the country's social network, especially at the community level, resulting in a vacuum that facilitates youngsters featuring highly in major crimes.
"It is the fact that they (youths) have not been adequately socialised to readiness for participation in the formal economy," he told The Sunday Gleaner last week. "They are no more naturally prepared for participation in the informal economy."
TABOOS AND SUPERSTITION
Noting that social inhibition or social cohesion is planned for by all human society, the former NYS head said as a mark of moulding youths, ancient societies used taboos and superstition, reinforced by folklores and tales.
"Modern society used institution of socialisation like home, school, and church," he said. "Jamaica has been caught with its proverbial pants down. The citizenship is not being caught because the collapse of the social network has left a social vacuum."
Meanwhile, figures from the 2003 Social and Economic Survey show that of the 657 persons arrested and charged with murders committed last year, the 21-25 age accounted for 214 of them.
ROBBERIES AND RAPES
Additionally, the more persons in this same age group were arrested and charged for robberies and rapes last year. More persons in the age cohort 21-25 featured second in shootings and carnal abuse arrests.
According to Rev. Roper, the Ministry of Education which is the primary policy option to challenge and reverse the pattern, has not accepted this as its task.
"It (Ministry) is more oriented to support those who work there than the children or the rest of the society," the former NYS head told The Sunday Gleaner.
He added that the policy options require an intervention to teach citizenship.
He emphasised that the citizenship must be taught if it cannot be caught.
"The increase of youth participation in crime is the outcome of the social vacuum," the reverend said.
Defending her Ministry's policy, Maxine Henry-Wilson, Minister of Education, Youth, and Culture, said last week her Ministry is not the only state apparatus involved in youth socialisation. She noted that the Ministry (schools) have them for only eight hours daily, and that attention must also be placed at other socialising agents.
"We, of course, have certain responsibilities, but we are supposed to look at what other socialising agents are doing," the Minister said, noting that the church, home, family, and media are also major stakeholders.
Mrs. Henry-Wilson told The Sunday Gleaner the Ministry does not have unending resources and that it was prepared to do more if it had more funds. Accordingly, she said the debate should now be focused on collectively solving problems associated with saving the nation's youths.
"We (Ministry) are trying to take on our share of the responsibility but we should also look at other Ministries," she said.
