20,000 kids march against crime

APPROXIMATELY 20,000 primary school children from Port-of-Spain and environs demonstrated their solidarity yesterday as they participated in a “Walk Against Crime”.  Among them were children from the Princess Elizabeth Centre for the Physically Handicapped.

They were joined in their march by Education Minister Hazel Manning, Head of the School Intervention Strategies (SIS) Unit Dr Michael Alleyne, and School Supervisors for the area Ivor Niles, Avril Sampson and Ann Thornhill, as well as Clive Pantin, who represented FEEL. The march left the Paddock at the Queen’s Park Savannah just before 9 am and proceeded around the Savannah, before once again assembling at the Paddock where Manning addressed the gathering. Manning said the walk was part of the Ministry’s initiative on preventing crime involving the SIS Unit. She said “some measure of research” had been done by the students who took part in the walk. “We are saying no to crime, no to indiscipline and no to violence,” she said.

Manning explained that only primary school children were involved in the march because a different kind of approach was necessary at secondary level. She said the Ministry would welcome any ideas from secondary schools. We know that we still have more work to do and that’s what we are doing, we are continuing this fight against crime,” she said. he Minister told the youngsters present that the Ministry was intent on fostering an environment of peace in schools. She told them non-violent means should be used to resolve conflict. ponsors of yesterday’s event included PowerGen, Angostura, Holiday Foods, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Trinidad Guardian, Republic Bank, First Citizens Bank, British Gas, Balliram Maharaj, Neal and Massy, and Nestle.