Zapote’s celebrations have not finished yet; however, the National Children’s Trust (PANI) has assisted 25 cases of minors involved in consumption of liquor, drugs, among others.
Geovanny Fernández, from the Department of Immediate Assistance, declared that there is more control year, because “megabars” are not operating this holiday season.
According to the official, most children walk in groups, with friends of the same age range (14 to 17 years old) and without adult supervision.
They have every right to have fun; if they have their parents’ consent, they can do it. The point is that parents should be aware if a child smells to alcohol or drugs; parents should give their children a reasonable hour to get home and they should know who their children are going out with or meeting,
stated the specialist.
Authorities also dealt with the case of two children who were participating in street sales with their parents, a situation that is totally prohibited.
In these cases, PANI contacts the minor’s legal representative and they conduct an evaluation to study the situation conditions.
Furthermore, Fernández said that these adolescents usually live in broken homes.
Some of them do not live with their parents, but with their grandmothers. They are sent home, but, depending on the case, we made a follow-up. If the family does not look for them in the center, they are sent to shelters,
informed Fernández.
Evasive answers and even lies are part of the children’s strategies to prevent the authorities from communicating with their families.