‘We Need to Educate Our Parents’ – Cherry On Runaway Teens

Amid a troubling increase in reports of teenagers, especially females, leaving home and going missing for days, Rise Saint Lucia Inc. Chairman Dr. Venus Cherry has highlighted the urgent need to address the root causes of this issue. Cherry stressed the critical role parents play in addressing and preventing these cases by improving their parenting skills and understanding the needs of their children. According to the Rise Saint Lucia Chairman, there are two main categories of missing teenagers: legitimately missing and those who run away due to various challenges at home. He pointed out that the reasons for running away often involve different forms of abuse, including mental, physical, financial, and sexual abuse — issues that are frequently hidden and unaddressed within families. “These kids are no longer going to stay quiet and just take it. They are going to speak out in one way or the other, and if that means running away, they will,” he said. Dr. Cherry also highlighted a concerning trend of young people being exposed to or engaging in early sexual activities, sometimes encouraged by adults who exploit their vulnerabilities. He calls this a “sad case” and emphasised the need for parents to show more...