The Cabinet-appointed task force to deal with street children is to work in collaboration with a wide cross section of agencies, which would be identified as the need for them arose.

Ministries including Labour, Human Services and Social Security; Home Affairs; and Culture, Youth, and Sports; have already been earmarked to collaborate with the task force on the issue.

Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon, said yesterday that the street children phenomenon was part of a bigger picture where there was inadequate supervision of school children by both the parents and the authorities.

This resulted in the children being absent from school during school hours and they sometimes became involved in unlawful and dangerous practices, he said.

After careful consideration, it was decided that a wider mobilisation for task force membership would be sought as the dimensions of the social issues were revealed.

Dr Luncheon said some of the dimensions to be addressed were how to compel parents to be more responsible for their children, and how those who encourage children into reckless pursuits during school hours--including minibus operators--could be made to desist from such practices. Government may have to rely on agencies and individuals outside the task force to assist in this regard, he said.

This social phenomenon could also be addressed through legislation, regulation and public consciousness campaigns.

He noted that some other Caribbean countries experienced similar situations with children.

It has to be recognised that the way the situation was being examined would be for the short term initially and another process would have to be installed to address the situation on a more permanent basis, Dr Luncheon stated.