Trinidad and Tobago Youth at Risk Project

Over the years, we have seen a steady decrease in the age of criminals, particularly those engaged in violent crime, while there has been an increase in crime and violence within the school system.

However, it is clear that youth misbehaviour, school crime and violence are more than mere deficiencies in the educational system. School crime and violence have become national development, national security and, arguably, national health care imperatives. These problems will only fester and get worse if they are not addressed cooperatively by all governmental arms, the business community, teachers, parents and all caregivers.

According to primary data gathered by the Trinidad and Tobago At-Risk Youth Project, it is estimated that more than 50 percent of school youth involved in school crime and violence are in fact afflicted with health problems, such as depression, physical abuse, mood disorders, and unresolved grief and loss caused by viewing and/or experiencing the death of friends or family. Daily, these health disorders manifest in school settings as unrepressed anger, disrespect for authority, fighting, sexual misconduct as well as acts of theft and robbery. The often-unseen impacts are hopelessness, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts.

The Chamber in January accepted an invitation from Dr Sandra Celestine, Lead Investigator of the UWI’s At Risk Youth project to sit on a Steering Committee comprised of stakeholders such as TTUTA, the National PTA, Families in Action, and four Ministries of Government – National Security, People and Social Development, Health and Education.

The project aims to address dysfunctional behaviour, targeting youths from ten years up to secondary school level. During the two-year period of data-collection, it will engage in professional counselling of students referred by school principals. These students would have been suspended or in line for suspension for serious offences or infractions such as robbery, assault, fighting with or without weapons, disrespect for authority, sexual misconduct or extortion. The counselling includes individual behavioural therapy, group therapy and family sessions. The Chamber supports early intervention counselling programmes to stem the increase in youth crime and violence in our schools.

Providing counselling for troubled youths and their caregivers is a proven method of reducing youth misbehaviour. As such, we welcome the recent announcement by the Ministry of Education for significantly increased staffing of the Student Support Services with school psychologist and counsellors. We, like Minister Gopeesingh, hope this can come to fruition in the near future.

The time has come for a concerted effort to address this pressing – and growing - national problem. The Chamber urges the business community and the public at large to support this project, whether through funding, in-kind contributions or other commitments. Interested parties may call 499-2706 or log on to www.atriskyouthtt.com.

Our children are our future. Government, the business community, parents or caregivers and teachers must continue to work together to solve our school crime and violence problem. The Chamber will continue to discuss the meaningful partnerships in which we engage, as we work collaboratively to build a stronger Trinidad and Tobago.