Saturday, July 21 2007

THE EDITOR: I write in defence of the “100 percent Crime Free: Youth Awards” Committee to present Miss Danah Alleyne for her mettle and stamina she displayed in carrying her head high in the aftermath of the unfortunate “mess” which enveloped her at the Akon Concert at the Zen Night Club. A young person of weak character would have reverted to all possibilities including suicide.

In my professional work, I see many young people going down the tube because of the attitude of unforgiving/uncaring adults. The young lady publicly admitted that she was wrong and that she made a mistake, she apologised to her parents for bringing them into disrepute. She is/was not proud of her involvement in the scandalous affair. But she is moving on with her life.

I myself believe it was a bit too soon to give her an award for the manner in which she is handling the situation. But in spite of that, can we not give this girl a chance?

There are too many hypocrites in this society. When a child/young person stumbles, that is the time to stretch forth our hands to raise him/her from his/her fallen grace — not kick him/her further down the drain. The award was not to recognise her for the Zen’s fiasco, but rather to recognise that she refuses to succumb. Thus I call upon the sponsors who pulled out of endorsing the events to reconsider their respective and collective positions and at least recognise the other awardees if you cannot bring yourselves to really forgive and forget.



ISRAEL B KHAN

Attorney-at-Law