COP Deputy Political Leader Mora speaks out on youth violence Mora: Trinidad & Tobago’s future in jeopardy. CHARLIEVILLE – On Tuesday 4th May 2010, the Congress of The People brought together Artists (at Memorial Park) who expressed the drama and trauma of what is happening on a daily basis in our beloved Trinidad and Tobago. On Tuesday 18th March 2014, our dear Leader of the Opposition said “I am being told that what happened (in the streets outside of Mucurapo West Secondary) is normal. Everybody else knows that this has been “normal” for years and years. Is he just now waking up? We must stimulate our collective memories. In 1989 after secondary school students were found with knives and brass knuckles at a Schools’ Sports Meeting, The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association convened a “Consultation on Indiscipline and Violence in Schools.” Many papers were presented and recommendations submitted. On Sunday March 13th 1994, a headline screamed at us from one of our weeklies (pg. 25) “The Growth of Conduct Disorders: A look into the causes of crime, indiscipline and violence- Why parents must be honest with themselves.” Another, on Sunday April 21, 2002: “Education System must be dismantled reassembled.” Then shock reverberated throughout the country, in 2001when the United Nations Report on T & T stated that “Schools Turning Out Criminals.” Then on November 23 2008, a St. Augustine Senior Secondary Student was allegedly stabbed to death by to St. Joseph College students. There were apologies and one of our COP youth who was then El Dorado East Student Council President, called for the “immediate termination of the Gaza and Gully feud between the schools.” In the Newsday of December 10th 2009, another headline stated “Bullies Want To Kill Us: Schoolboys appeal for help.” Please wake up everyone who is just finding out about youth violence. In the paper “The Social and Psychological Needs of Society” presented at that “Media Health Event” on 4th May 2010, the COP said that “In rebuilding our society, we must not only refurbish and construct new buildings, it is also necessary for us to rebuild personalities, nurture souls and the spirits of its citizens.” The COP is very well aware of the history of violence that has brought us to this point. At the Media Health Event we called for Diagnostic and Trauma Centres; a National Researched-Based Parenting Programme and a Child Protective Agency, a fully–functioning Foster Care System and Improved Services offered by Orphanages. We are happy to note that the Children’s Authority is on its way to full implementation. Those young women who were fighting in the streets and bullying two unfortunate peers are exhibiting symptoms of extreme stress also known as trauma. Instead of “throwing the book” at them and putting them in jail, we must understand what is going on with them. Here is what precipitates disorders of extreme stress: Repeated trauma from early in life and chronically overwhelmed without resources or resilience. These persons have emotions and impulses that are out of control; substance abuse; depression; personality disorders and more. Emotions and impulses out of control are what were displayed outside the school on Mucurapo Road. What happened is not a minor offence but the predisposing factors must be assessed. Trained Psychologists and Social Workers must form the personnel of the Diagnostic and Trauma Centres, this is imperative now. We are also very aware that the exam-based model of education is not working and as said in our paper presented in May 4th 2010 we must replace this with an Ethical and Humanistic Values-based model. This model puts people at the centre of development and focuses on continuous assessment of the core skills. We must help our young people to know their purpose for walking this earth. We also join our fellow citizens who are calling for the strengthening of NGOs at the community level to enable them to provide adequate support for intervention with Central and Local Government. Anna Maria Mora Deputy Political Leader
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 16:08:11 +0000
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