Ellee Seymour

I’m all for close family ties. But there comes a time when a boy has to cut himself free from his mother’s apron strings.

In Italy, that time seems to have been considerably prolonged as more than a third of Italian men over the age of 30 live at home with their parents; this is blamed on sky-high apartment rents and bleak job prospects as much as a liking for mamma’s cooking.

The Italian government’s response is to offer them a cash incentive to leave their feathered nest and cut themselves free. Italy’s economy minister has sparked uproar by offering "big babies" a tax break if they let go of their mother’s apron strings and leave home. Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa has offered a 1,000 euro tax break for 20- and 30-something Italians who rent instead.

As someone who is married to an only child who would have been eligible to apply for the Italian tax incentive, I think it is a wonderful idea. My husband cannot boil an egg, and has no inclination to. We were old fashioned and didn’t live together until we married, so I had no idea about this.

My philosophy about parenthood is that I must bring up my two sons so they are able to stand on their own two feet, which includes being financially independent. And yes, they love my cooking too.

I wonder what kind of husbands these pampered "big babies" will be. Could this also be happening in the UK too with our sky high property prices?

It’s almost the first anniversary since Camona Orgille vanished in Jamaica. The 13-year-old went missing while walking home from school in October, 2006.

She was in the vicinity of the Mavis Bank Coffee Factory talking to her cousin on her mobile phone when the cousin heard her scream. He tried calling her back with no luck. He then called the police who searched the area but found no sign of her.

Her family have offered a $100,000 reward for anyone who will return the child safely to them. There is hope that she is still alive following reported sightings.

Joan Massop, a family member with whom Camona lived, said:

"I don’t think she dead. People say dem see her, even some police say they hear that she somewhere in western St. Andrew."

Her family fear she was kidnapped and have searched extensively for her.

In memory of those who are still missing.