Authority to take action against irresponsible parents |05 October 2013

The department of Social Affairs in collaboration with the department of Police is launching an appeal to all parents to be more responsible and be aware of the whereabouts of their children at all times, especially during mass public gatherings and activities.

The appeal comes in the wake of last weekend’s Regatta event when the Police department said it registered an increase in the number of cases of underage drinking and in most of these cases the teenagers were not accompanied by their parents or a responsible adult.

“We had a situation where it was reported that a young man was stone drunk and was vomiting and could not even remember his own name, where he comes from or his parents’ names. The Police had to search the crowd to see if he was known by anybody to get some sort of identification,” social affairs principal secretary Linda William-Melanie said.

“It is very irresponsible of parents to allow their children to go unaccompanied in activities where alcohol is being sold. Once drunk the young boys and girls are putting themselves and others around them at risk,” PS William-Melanie said.

She said parents have to be mindful that there are laws that protect children from neglect. The department of social affairs, she said, will not tolerate a situation where children’s lives are put at risk due to lack of parents’ vigilance.

“The authority will be applying the law against parents who fail to take their responsibility,” she said.
The Seychelles Police and social workers will be stepping up their efforts and vigilance as the country enters an event-filled weekend.

A series of crowd-pulling activities such as the Moutia Festival at Beau Vallon, the Seychelles-India Day fun fair, a magic circus and the Festival Kreol, as well as other events at district level, are being organised throughout this month.

Police commissioner Ernest Quatre has issued a warning reminding all liquor dealers that it is an offence to sell alcohol to minors (under 18 years of age). He stressed that the Police will have a stronger presence during the period of activities and will crack down on those committing this offence.

“Our foot and vehicle patrols will intensify over the coming days and throughout this month and during activities. People caught breaking the law will have to face the consequences,” police commissioner Quatre said.

The Police, he added, will also be on the lookout and will clamp down on vagrant and anti-social acts usually committed during mass public gatherings.