De Coteau: Too many marriages breaking up

The alarming statistic of a 29.6 percent divorce rate, only goes to show there continues to be a rapid decline of family life in the country, Gender, Youth and Child Development Minister Clifton De Coteau said yesterday as he addressed a cross-section of men on the first day of the Defining Masculine Excellence Programme in Princes Town.

“If we factor in this relatively high rate of divorce, along with the already high single parent families, we begin to get a better picture of the number of children growing up in single parent households. So when you fathers who like to roam, and meet the mother in the town and give her a little change, you are doing an injustice because you play a very important part,” De Coteau said.

The Moruga/Tableland Member of Parliament added, “We all know how challenging parenting already is, imagine how much harder this becomes when only one person is responsible for raising a child.”

Saying he has enjoyed 42 years of marriage, De Coteau said like many men he has had his “personal challenges” such as not “knowing who is your father or siblings”.

De Coteau called for a return of family values especially this year which is being recognised as the International Year of the Family.

De Coteau said, “Sadly in Trinidad and Tobago, girls, boys and young men and women will go to bed each night in homes where their fathers do not live. There is a weakening of family life which is needed to successfully raise children.”

According to De Coteau, each week single mothers flock to his constituency office looking for help as the children’s fathers are not around.

“It is the belief of the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development that fathers and male role models can and must play a vital role in helping boys make a safe, happy and positive transition from boyhood to manhood.” Going on to note that at most of the nation’s learning institutions, the teachers and principals are women, he asked, “Where are our men?”

In an effort to see men take their rightful place in society, De Coteau said his ministry is committed to giving boys and young men positive life choices.