THE EDITOR, Sir:

I HAVE read so many articles in The Gleaner that would suggest that a major contribution to boys delinquency has been the absence of fathers in their lives. There may be many truths to that suggestion; however, what is the root cause?

I would like someone at the University of the West Indies' (UWI) Social Science Faculty to study the real reasons we have so many absent fathers. After all, the UWI is seeing some 80 per cent of their newly enrolled students being females. Just 30 years ago when I was at UWI, it was about 50 per cent. That's a major change in a short time.

Let's do a research study that interviews both "present and absent" fathers in both two-parent and single-parent homes. Let's also interview boys and girls in both those situations across various socio-economic groups to find some answers and hopefully the solutions.

Boys' delinquencies are also reflected in situations where there are fathers involved. So what is the real truth? Are fathers willing or not? What's stopping them?

I admire the women for taking the charge, but they alone cannot have, let alone raise, our children of the future.

I am, etc.,

LENNOX PARKINS

allan_parks@yahoo.com

Toronto, Canada