Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of National Security, the Honourable Glenda Jennings-Smith M.P., says that when it comes to preventing crime, one of the more significant ways of achieving safer communities, is by working with and empowering the youth. Parliamentary Secretary Jennings-Smith made this statement at the closing ceremony for the National Crime Prevention Programme (NCPP), Post-Secondary Entrance Assessment (S.E.A) ‘I Can/We Can’ Crime Prevention Camp.The ceremony took place on Friday August, 02, 2019 at the Central Regional Indoor Sport Arena, Manic Street, Chaguanas.
As she delivered the feature address to camp participants, the Parliamentary Secretary noted that there is a need at this time in the country’s history, to support the nation’s parents, schools and organizations that are geared towards positive youth development.
She further stated that “We must, as responsible adults, try to guide and shape the minds of our young persons into patriotic and hard-working citizens of this country. I call on all parents, teachers, and youth focused organizations to shield our young men and women from the clutches of crime and delinquency by doing your part and by working together”.
The ‘I Can/We Can’ camp was designed to target Post S.E.A students who are entering secondary schools in the upcoming school term. The aim of the initiative is to work with primary school students in promoting crime prevention strategies in communities and with the intent of conducting a tracer study over a one year period with both parents and students.
The camp is being held in collaboration with the Ministries of Education, Sport and Youth Affairs, Health; and Community Development, Culture and the Arts The Ministry of National Security’s National Crime Prevention Programme (NCPP) is working to nurture a symbiotic relationship among communities so that the root causes of crime can be addressed as a way of building and sustaining a national culture of crime prevention.