By Wilbert Mason
Returning to my hometown in North Leeward, particularly Rose Hall, I was confronted with a distressing reality. Each morning, groups of young men congregate along the roadside, some indulging in rum and marijuana as early as 9 a.m., while others wander aimlessly, seemingly lost. One young man confided, ‘Weed and rum are my escape from the struggles around me.’
His words unveil a harsh truth: countless youth in our community are ensnared in cycles of despair, resorting to substance abuse to dull the pain of their daily lives. This is not just a social issue—it is a mental health crisis. Depression, addiction, and hopelessness are festering in our neighborhoods, yet the response has been muted. Families are silently suffering, and our young people are being neglected.
As election day on November 27 approaches, politicians and their representatives are canvassing villages, urging these same young men to register and vote. However, I implore our leaders to look beyond the ballot box. These young men are not mere votes to be secured; they are lives in desperate need of salvation.
We must demand clear answers from our candidates: What is your strategy to tackle the mental health crisis in North Leeward? What programs will you implement to support our youth, offer counseling, create opportunities, and reignite hope?
Rose Hall and the broader North Leeward community cannot afford to wait any longer. If our leaders genuinely care about the people they aspire to represent, they must act immediately with compassion, urgency, and foresight. The future of our youth hangs in the balance.
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The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of iWitness News. Opinion pieces can be submitted to [email protected].