‘Society in crisis’

Crime and the problems being faced by society will not be solved by policing and incarceration, Chairman of the Family Planning Association of TT (FPATT) Gerry Brooks as he made an impassioned appeal for $5 million annually from government to continue its work.

He said the crisis underscored the need for such funding if the FPATT is to take the lead in implementing meaningful interventions in communities. Through increased funding from Government the FPATT plans to expand its programmes, among them, “De Living Room” — the Association’s youth centre to at least other sites and increase the FPA Express to undeserved communities. Brooks used news stories in the Newsday and other daily newspapers to illustrate the problems affecting the family and youths. “When page one, two, our and five unprompted of a daily newspaper indicate what it has indicated we need to get out to get out to the communities, and reach families if we are to resolve the problems facing society.”

The FPA is placing emphasis on families with its theme for this year “supporting Families, Building a Healthy Nation” for this year’s theme. Brooks said with the insidious nature of the deterioration of society the FPATT believed that the solution must be in forging meaningful relationships with communities, which are based on trust, dignity. He said communities must also be given the proper tools to achieve enabling environments.  Brooks also noted the lack of support given to youths, saying they are left to flounder in an environment which does not cater or their holistic development in general and to their need for sexual and reproductive health information. He said society had to stop dealing with sexual and family life education in Calyposes and jokes and engage young people in mature discussion. The FPATT has intensified its efforts to strengthen the family with its “De Living Room” —, the Tobago Integrated Youth Health Promotion Project — an expanded response to stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS and the Collaborative HIV/AIDS Adolescent Project — a family based HIV/AIDS prevention project. The FPATT has been receiving an annual subvention of $1M since 1992.