Govt Minister: Children are not monsters

Prime Minister Rowley was speaking at the National Consultation on Education at the Magdalena Grand Resort in Tobago when he made the comment.Also, when asked if she thought children who act out in an unruly manner are in need of assistance, Critchlow-Cockburn said, “I believe they do. Sometimes they themselves do not understand what they are doing and if by having conversations with them, we can let them become aware of what they are doing is wrong and understand, then we can provide the service they require.”

Critchlow-Cockburn said violence in any form is a concern to all in society, as she spoke to reporters after a grant distribution ceremony yesterday at the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards, Century Drive in Macoya. She said when violence manifests itself at the school level among the nation’s children, “it is of great concern.”

“We at the Ministry, our Family Service Unit, we provide counselling for families and we are also working very closely with the Office of the Prime Minister to treat with children’s issues. We also have the Children’s Authority, it is a partnership.” Critchlow- Cockburn indicated that under the Family Service Unit there are counsellors and trained Social Workers who go to the families, who cannot come to them.