Magistrate challenges youths

A SENIOR magistrate in East New Britain says there are more youths on the streets doing nothing useful and not contributing meaningfully to society.
Magistrate Samuel Lavutul said East New Britain was not the province it once was where one would find young men and women at home.
He said there were many youths today roaming around Rabaul and Kokopo towns.
Magistrate Lavutul said this during the closing ceremony of a six-day integral agriculture training for 232 youths from three wards – Kuraip, Ramalmal and Rakanda – in the Reimber-Livuan local level government (LLG) of Gazelle.
The closing was held at the Ramalmal Catholic Primary School hall on Monday.
The training was facilitated by the PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment.
Magistrate Lavutul said the issue need to be addressed by local authorities and the provincial government.
“One thing you young people need to understand is that while you are under the care of your parents or still living with them you are a liability,” he said.
“This training is good as it will make you to step out and add value to you as individuals.
“With this training you will be able to support yourself.”
Magistrate Lavutul said many youths had ended up in jail or in trouble because they had no direction in life or opportunities to do something worthwhile.
The magistrate told participants that there was an increase in teenage pregnancy and family court cases with mothers as young as 18 and 19 coming to court for maintenance.
He said most of the partners of these women were young men who could not afford to pay child support as they were unemployed and living with their parents.