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Minister of Family, Stephen Lashley, congratulates Champion for Children, Faith Marshall-Harris, on her appointment, while UNICEF’S Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Khin-Sandi Lwin, looks on at right. (C. Pitt/BGIS)

The Ministry of Family is currently completing a proposal, to be submitted to Cabinet, for the construction of an ultra-modern Day Care Complex.

That is the word from Minister of Family, Stephen Lashley, who disclosed that the complex "is earmarked for a suitable location within the Bridgetown catchment area".

Mr. Lashley made the comments yesterday while addressing a ceremony at UN House, to announce Barbados’ Champion for Children, Attorney-at-law, Faith Marshall-Harris.

He told his audience that there was an urgent need for all stakeholders to work with Government to provide additional services so every child could be assured a place in a day care centre when necessary. "The Government welcomes the support of other centres, particularly church sponsored centres, to aid in fulfilling our growing needs for quality child care," he stated.

He argued that the increase in the number of working mothers dictated the establishment of more centres, and suggested that those facilities represented a direct investment in the development of people from the earliest stage.

In his wide-ranging address, the Minister further disclosed that the island had not submitted a report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child for a number of years, but Government had moved speedily to correct this situation.

"Barbados’ second report will be considered by the Cabinet of Barbados next week and once approved will be submitted through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for onward transmission to the appropriate authority," he declared.

Mr. Lashley said Government considered the Convention on the Rights of the Child as one of the most important international agreements it had ever signed, explaining that it could be used to measure the progress being made towards the goal of improving the quality of life of children.

However, he stressed that familial, educational, religious, political, social and individual efforts were needed to fully endorse child rights.

sharon.austingill-moore@barbados.gov.bb

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