Thursday, March 28, 2024

AWRIGHT DEN: Not me again

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The unsupervised gathering and sometimes lawless liming of scores of young people have turned me away from some business establishments. It has reached a point that I make a deliberate attempt not to frequent places that usually attract large gatherings of unsupervised young people especially if I know there is a high possibility of lawlessness.

Two weeks ago, I wanted to treat my wife. She likes Planet Of The Apes and since the new movie was showing in cinemas, I thought it a good idea to take her to see it. I searched the websites of both Olympus Theatres and Limegrove Cinemas and amazingly, both were showing the movie and at the same time.

The one and only time I visited Limegrove Cinemas, it was a very pleasant and relaxing experience if, just a bit expensive. It would have cost $50 for my wife and me to view the movie in comparison to $12 at the Olympus.

My concern was that it was a Tuesday night and generally Sheraton Mall is crammed with lots of teenagers who have a history of causing disturbances or creating challenges for security; an atmosphere I choose to avoid.

We decided to go to the Olympus nonetheless since it was much cheaper and chose to view the 9 p.m. show since most of the young people would be gone by that time, or so we thought.

We arrived at the Olympus just before 9 p.m. to find the car park and the ticket booth area filled with people, most of whom were children. I was shocked that so many were there at that time.

Since the mall was now closing, I figured they were just hanging around waiting to be picked up or getting ready to make their way home. We purchased our tickets and entered the cinema.

From the time the trailers started until the end of the movie, the young people’s behaviour was sickening.

They shouted across the cinema, cursed, talked on their phones, spoke loudly and even played games. I was very upset. At one point I wanted to tell the ones behind me and the ones on the other side of the aisle something, but I held my tongue so as not to escalate the problem.

Within ten minutes of the movie I wanted to leave, but toughed it out.

At no time during the movie did I see any security present or did a walk-through and that upset me even more. I guess this is what $6 service looks like.

The movie finished around 11:30 p.m. and to my surprise when I got outside, there were still a lot of teenagers around. Disappointingly, I saw quite a few who looked like ten or 11 years old and some were girls who were proudly and comfortably hugging and snuggling with older guys.

To make matters worse, obscene language from both males and females seemed to be the casual choice of communication and the dress of many of the females was atrocious, given their ages.

I have not been to the Richard Haynes Boardwalk on the South Coast or Chefette Rockley on a weekend since 2009 and probably 2004, respectively, due to the behaviour of some of our young people.

I have made a decision that where possible, I will avoid Sheraton Mall on Saturdays and Tuesday evenings until there is better conduct. When it comes to the cinema, it may cost more but I know where I can have a pleasant experience.

I don’t know what the management of the mall can do to help curb this behaviour and based on an article in a newspaper last week, the security at the mall is finding it challenging as well.

I want to encourage parents to be more involved and aware when it comes to their children. They don’t only need money, clothes and gifts; they also require care, discipline and structure. The values and principles you establish in your child today will determine the society you desire for tomorrow.

​• Corey Worrell is a former Commonwealth Youth Ambassador.

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