MINISTER OF Education and Youth Maxine Henry-Wilson on Thursday appealed to young girls to stay in school and abstain from sexual intercourse."Young ladies are using sex for commercial value (but) I am appealing, young children, that these men have nothing enduring to offer you," Mrs. Henry-Wilson said.
Speaking during the launch of the Kingston Youth Information Centre, Mrs. Henry-Wilson warned the girls that the men would leave them "in the twinkle of an eye".
"Any man who takes young girls as a sex object is a pervert," she declared.
NOT TAKING PRECAUTIONS
Mrs. Henry-Wilson said empirical data have shown that young people are aware of HIV/AIDS but they are not taking precautions against the deadly disease.
She told the youths who gathered on the lawns of the Caenwood Complex in Kingston that young girls from 16 to 25 in the Caribbean have the second highest rate of HIV/AIDS in
the world.
She said 500,000 people are going to be infected in the Caribbean in the next 10 years.
"So we are in danger of losing a whole generation," Mrs. Henry-Wilson added.
The Education Minister charged the young people to be aware of their environment and engage in lifestyle practices that will help them to survive.
CRUSADERS
Mrs. Henry-Wilson told the youths to take care of the Youth Information Centre. "Serve as evangelists and crusaders. Go out and recruit persons to come out and use the Youth Information Centre," she said.
The Youth Information Centre, which is located at the Caenwood complex, is equipped with several computers, which will allow students to access information on a wide range of topics. It is manned by three Youth Empowerment Officers.
