Kimesha Walters
There was deafening silence among panellists who seemed stunned as seemingly frustrated youth advocate Tamian Beckford took the issue of a helpless street boy, who was in dire need of assistance, to them to the table.
Seven panellists paused for almost a minute in the middle of a presentation, as whispers emanated around the room where the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child was being commemorated.
Beckford said he had been trying to get assistance, for a 15-year-old boy who was living on the streets, but when he took him to a hostel at the Possibility Programme, he was told there was no space.
He said he offered to pay for the youngster, but the organisation still refused to take him, citing the same reason. According to Beckford, employees at the hostel told him the capacity of the place was 25 and it was at its maximum.
Beckford's voice rose as he continued to address the panel. He said at another institution, he was told that children had to take an entrance exam and some children had not been to school in years.
"I want to really know what is happening with our street children. What is really the policy direction that can move these kids forward and take them off the streets?" he asked, before saying he would not leave Damian Millwoodon the road again.
When Antoinette Brooks of the Ministry of Education broke the silence in the room after Beckford's outburst, there were still no answers.
Beckford was adamant that Millwood needed assistance.
"He wants to change. He's not one of those young people who you force," he said in an interview later.
Millwood also said he wanted to change his life, as he had lived on the streets for a year.
"Mi have family members but dem nuh care 'bout mi," he said, adding that he was grateful for Beckford's assistance.
unconfirmed reports
Up to yesterday afternoon, there were unconfirmed reports that the Child Development Agency had sent an investigating officer to look into the matter and find a home for Millwood.
Meanwhile, a representative from the Possibility Programme denied telling Beckford that the facility could not accept the youngster. She said the issue had been blown out of proportion, and the centre was operating under capacity.
A report that was presented at the function yesterday said, "It is estimated that more than 6,000 children are living and working on the streets of Jamaica."
It further stated that a national survey conducted in 2002 showed boys outnumbered girls by a ratio of 70:30.
There was deafening silence among panellists who seemed stunned as seemingly frustrated youth advocate Tamian Beckford took the issue of a helpless street boy, who was in dire need of assistance, to them to the table.
Seven panellists paused for almost a minute in the middle of a presentation, as whispers emanated around the room where the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child was being commemorated.
Beckford said he had been trying to get assistance, for a 15-year-old boy who was living on the streets, but when he took him to a hostel at the Possibility Programme, he was told there was no space.
He said he offered to pay for the youngster, but the organisation still refused to take him, citing the same reason. According to Beckford, employees at the hostel told him the capacity of the place was 25 and it was at its maximum.
Beckford's voice rose as he continued to address the panel. He said at another institution, he was told that children had to take an entrance exam and some children had not been to school in years.
"I want to really know what is happening with our street children. What is really the policy direction that can move these kids forward and take them off the streets?" he asked, before saying he would not leave Damian Millwoodon the road again.
When Antoinette Brooks of the Ministry of Education broke the silence in the room after Beckford's outburst, there were still no answers.
Beckford was adamant that Millwood needed assistance.
"He wants to change. He's not one of those young people who you force," he said in an interview later.
Millwood also said he wanted to change his life, as he had lived on the streets for a year.
"Mi have family members but dem nuh care 'bout mi," he said, adding that he was grateful for Beckford's assistance.
unconfirmed reports
Up to yesterday afternoon, there were unconfirmed reports that the Child Development Agency had sent an investigating officer to look into the matter and find a home for Millwood.
Meanwhile, a representative from the Possibility Programme denied telling Beckford that the facility could not accept the youngster. She said the issue had been blown out of proportion, and the centre was operating under capacity.
A report that was presented at the function yesterday said, "It is estimated that more than 6,000 children are living and working on the streets of Jamaica."
It further stated that a national survey conducted in 2002 showed boys outnumbered girls by a ratio of 70:30.
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