Amid a troubling increase in reports of teenagers, especially females, leaving home and going missing for days, Rise Saint Lucia Inc. Chairman Dr. Venus Cherry has highlighted the urgent need to address the root causes of this issue.
Cherry stressed the critical role parents play in addressing and preventing these cases by improving their parenting skills and understanding the needs of their children.
According to the Rise Saint Lucia Chairman, there are two main categories of missing teenagers: legitimately missing and those who run away due to various challenges at home.
He pointed out that the reasons for running away often involve different forms of abuse, including mental, physical, financial, and sexual abuse — issues that are frequently hidden and unaddressed within families. “These kids are no longer going to stay quiet and just take it. They are going to speak out in one way or the other, and if that means running away, they will,” he said.
Dr. Cherry also highlighted a concerning trend of young people being exposed to or engaging in early sexual activities, sometimes encouraged by adults who exploit their vulnerabilities.
He calls this a “sad case” and emphasised the need for parents to show more affection and attention to their children. “Hug them, kiss them, tell them you love them. A lot of children never get that,” he noted, stressing that many teens may be running away because they feel unheard and unloved.
Dr. Cherry observed that a significant part of the problem lies in how parents communicate and discipline their children. “We don’t listen to our children enough,” he said, pointing out that harsh verbal abuse and public humiliation can severely damage a child’s self-esteem, making them more susceptible to negative influences.
“If you keep calling your child ‘jamet’ and telling them they’re nasty, what do you think will happen? Their self-esteem becomes low, and they become easy targets,” he added.
Cherry addressed the intergenerational cycle of broken homes, where children who lack love and proper guidance become parents themselves, perpetuating harmful behaviors.
He called for widespread parenting education programs across Saint Lucia to break this cycle. “We need a lot more parenting programs in this country,” he urged, stressing that parents need to understand the long-term impact of their words and actions on their children’s mental health.
However, Dr. Cherry pointed out that no official platform or government body in Saint Lucia is currently dedicated to educating parents on effective parenting. “I don’t think there is any official channel or ministry responsible, and maybe that is the problem. We don’t have it,” he said while calling for action to establish such avenues.
