The Rev Jacob Powell addresses parents at the dedication ceremony for several babies at the Sharon Baptist Church in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, last Friday. - Photo by George Henry

MALVERN, St Elizabeth:

Parents should take more time out of their busy schedules to protect their children, a St Elizabeth clergyman has urged.

The Rev Jacob Powell, pastor for the Sharon Baptist Church in Santa Cruz, said the monument erected in downtown Kingston last year to memorialise the lives of more than 400 children who were murdered was a constant reminder that the nation had failed to preserve the vulnerable.

"We are being asked, in our country, to stand up and to protest against the wilful destruction of the lives of our children," said Powell. "We cannot, in clear conscience, stand up and protest the destruction of the lives of our children, when parents are not paying any attention to their children."

Adult responsibilities

Powell was addressing parents at his monthly dedication ceremony for babies at the church last Friday.

He rebuked parents who did not fulfil guardianship of their children, saying too many kids walked the streets late at night when they should be at home with their families.

Powell also argued that too many children had assumed adult responsibilities and behaviours, particularly outside their parents' presence.

"I do not know how you go about bringing up your children, but I would like to encourage you to make good use of those parenting seminars and sessions put on by schools from time to time, so that your parenting skills can be sharpened," the pastor said to the audience.

He recommended that parents attend church symposiums and other related events geared towards imparting advice on parenting and family development.