Zabaneh: “We Need to Show Our Children Right Examples”
The fallout continues from a disturbing video recorded during the Orange Walk Carnival that showed women dancing suggestively around a young boy, sparking outrage across Belize. As condemnation grows from religious leaders, child advocates and government officials, concerns are being raised about the messages being sent to children and the role adults play in protecting them from inappropriate sexual behavior. Today, the Minister of Religious Affairs joined the chorus of voices denouncing the incident, calling it evidence of a troubling decline in societal values. Dr. Louis Zabaneh says Belizeans must come together to reject such conduct and set better examples for the nation’s youth. Here’s more from the minister.
On the phone: Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Religious Affairs
“I think like most other Belizeans it was shocking to see such a young child being encouraged in this type of lewd behavior and especially to hear that the parent may have been the one doing the videoing. So it is really a situation in which it is thrown in our face the extent to which many in our society have deteriorated morally, if you will. This is not the foundation on which our country was built. For us to have social cohesion, it is necessary that there’s a high regard for each other, respect for each other and especially for our children. We need to show our children the right examples and when they become adults, they will make their own decisions. But if from a young age we are showing them these types of actions, then that is what becomes instilled within them. And so we should not then be surprised when we have other types of behaviors that our young people are exhibiting, because then they get the impression that anything goes.”
The Special Envoy for Women and Children, as well as the National Evangelical Association of Belize, has also issued statements condemning the behavior and calling for better standards in carnival.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
Watch the full newscast here: