Director of Policy and Community Support in the Ministry of Homeland Security, Zaheer Ali, says the government is advancing targeted interventions to support vulnerable youth and reduce criminal involvement.

Speaking at a media conference on Tuesday, he highlighted two initiatives the Ministry has launched to tackle youth criminality following a National Symposium held in March: a specialised psychosocial intervention and educational engagement programme, as well as a National Parenting Seminar. He said both initiatives are now underway to help protect children and steer them away from crime.

“For too long, I believe that we have left a space between our nation’s youth and the society. We have spoken about a society raising a child, a community raising a child, but sometimes we haven’t manifested that in a way that we should. And then we complain when a gang leader or a gang member takes that space to be able to nourish and promote that particular illegality where that child is concerned. So it’s an opportunity to close that gap and to make a strong statement to these children that we care about you, we are interested in your development, we recognise that you are the future of Trinidad and Tobago.”