The Coalition for the Protection of Children has developed a 36-point set of legislative and policy recommendations that The Royal Gazette will publish in three parts between today and Saturday with a view to raising the level of discourse during the lead-up to the General Election on July 18.

Education and Youth Development

1, Early identification and intervention for children with behavioural or academic challenges is critical

A recent study of men incarcerated at Westgate Correctional Facility for violent offences indicated that 85 per cent of them had been suspended or expelled from the mainstream education system before the age of 16. School records and self-reports show that those young men began exhibiting problematic behaviour from a very early age. This means that early intervention is essential. This needs to be coupled with considerably more learning support, behaviour management, counselling and outreach programmes to embrace struggling parents. This should include parenting classes, housing and financial assistance, and family-to-family mentoring programmes.

2, Stop the practice of expulsions and long-term suspensions for children under the age of 16

The practice of expelling students in their early teens is associated with very negative outcomes for young people. The Department of Education needs to provide appropriate therapeutic intervention for middle school and senior school students with psychological or behavioural problems.

The department needs to honour its legal obligation to provide an appropriate educational setting for children who have challenges up to school-leaving age. This could involve the establishment of an alternative school for at-risk or troubled youth with a focus on the talents and gifts of these young people. The purpose of this is not punishment but to provide a stable, nourishing, safe and drug-free environment that has strong programmes, including music, the arts and a range of athletic pursuits.

3, Significantly increase the number of school counsellors and include school-based social workers available for outreach

Criminal behaviour, gang-related relationships and illicit drug use all begin at the middle-school level and it is critical that strong and consistent prevention and intervention must be firmly in place at this stage. This will require an increase in social work and counselling resources. While school counsellors are important, the problems being exhibited among students require specially trained social workers who can intervene in troubled families.

4, Recognise and support different learning styles

The traditional British approach to education has not served every student well. The Department of Education needs to recognise the diversity of learning styles within the student population and provide a range of options that are student-centred and include experiential learning opportunities.

The dearth of technical training available suggests a lack of recognition of the value and significant wages associated with the work of electricians, carpenters, mechanics, plumbers, hairdressers, cosmetologists and the like. Unfortunately, many of the individuals employed in these areas in Bermuda continue to be foreign workers. These professions should be viable education options offered beginning in late middle school throughout senior school and providing a path to certification.

Professional development, education and training

5, Subsidise tuition and book expenses at Bermuda College for those unable to pay

Financial assistance should be made available to pay for the Bermuda College for those who cannot afford the cost, including ancillary costs such as books, to ensure that individuals who want to further their education are able to do so. Additionally, adult learners should be encouraged and supported to develop their skills to increase their ability to earn a better wage through improved educational or vocational training. The provision of financial assistance for adults wishing to return to school is essential.

Employment, wages and the cost of living

6, Establish and legislate minimum-wage guidelines

In recognition of the direct link between the growing income inequity, and violent and predatory crime, steps must be taken to address the extreme poverty in the bottom quartile of the income scale. This means taking a serious look at what would be a living wage for people in unskilled or semi-skilled sectors of the community. This involves the establishment of wage guidelines that reflect the actual cost of living for a family supporting a child or children. The recently appointed “Joint Select Committee exploring the Efficacy of Establishing a Living Wage in Bermuda” is a very good beginning.

7, Reduce the mandatory wage deductions for individuals at the lowest end of the income scale and increase those who have salaries of $200,000 and above

At present, the monthly fixed cost for every employee for the Health Insurance Plan is $433.31 and for social insurance it is $344.70 for a total of $778.01. The employer is mandated to pay half of this, leaving a balance of $389 taken out of an employee’s pay monthly. Additionally, the employer is mandated to deduct 5 per cent and another 3 per cent for pension and payroll tax respectively. Taking the case of an employee who makes $10 per hour, and is fortunate enough to have a full-time job, the gross pay is $400 per week or, for a four-week month, $1600. Together these deductions amount to $516 monthly. At $10 per hour, it takes this employee more than 51 hours of work before making any money.

This puts the bulk of the burden, particularly for social insurance and HIP, squarely on the shoulders of our most economically vulnerable families.

When you consider that there are very few apartments suitable for a family on the market for less than $1,600 per month the stress that puts a family under is enormous. The burden associated with these fixed deductions should be transferred to those at the much higher place on the economic scale.

While these deductions continue to rise, so does the cost of living, while at the same time wages remain stagnant. This is not sustainable and is largely responsible for much of what we are experiencing in terms of social unrest.

8, Increase the duty on alcohol, cigarettes and luxury items

These are good ways to increase revenue. At the same time, the spectre of revenue from gambling must be carefully considered and any funds accruing to the Government ought to be directed towards the amelioration of the multiplicity of problems likely to be generated as a result of this activity.

9, Cap the interest and associated fees that credit-collection firms are allowed to charge

At the moment the three leading collection agencies are adding as much as a 33.33 per cent collection fee to an existing bill that has been referred to them for collection. Additionally, the legislation allows for an additional 7 per cent to be added. Women who lack health insurance and give birth at the hospital can receive a bill for as much as $5,000, which she clearly cannot pay. This is often sent to a collection agency, which can add on an automatic $1,600 (33 per cent) bringing the total to $6,600. A further 7 per cent collection fee will bring the total to almost $7,000. This does not include additional fees that can be added, including a committal warrant ($65), a counsel’s charge ($125) and a process service fee ($25).

Women who receive notices of these mounting fees that are so far beyond their capacity often are afraid to communicate with the collection agency. When this happens and the collection agency sees no viable recourse, the end result is ultimately a judgment and the threat of imprisonment for contempt of court.

This is a constantly recurring theme for many of Bermuda’s families living well below the poverty line. With the loss of jobs and the decline of real wages, this scenario is much too common. We believe that while the 7 per cent permissible by law allows the agency a fair return, the practice of adding an additional 33.33 per cent should be addressed.

• Sheelagh Cooper is the chairwoman of the Coalition for the Protection of Children

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