The tragic death of Keyana Cumberbatch dominated this week's news as well as the hearts of the citizens in T&T. We are still grieving, regretting and accusing.How long will the blame game go on?Former Minister St Rose-Greaves blames PM Bissessar, Opposition MP Browne blames Gender, Child and Youth Minister De Coteau and the public blames the Government's Children's Authority.
They are not the core of the issue. When are we going to partly blame ourselves? Why are so many teens before the court for various offences?Our families are failing and no one is realising this. This where the buck stops. Parents need to play a more active role in their children's lives, especially through the trying times of adolescence when they are more exposed to spoils of life and peer pressure. It is not just what morals and values we teach our kids but the example we set as adults that would either affect them positively or negatively.
We should all be concerned as no parent would be proud to say they raised a criminal or, in the case of whoever killed little Keyana, a monster. Every parent in this nation is paralysed at the thought of their child falling victim and that's justified, but we need to take step back and take a good look at our kids. Am I raising him/her right? Am I teaching him/her about self-respect and respect for others? Do I know what's going on in my child's life?
This is where it should start. Before we throw the hot potato in the other's hands, take responsibility first.
Sapphire Mohan
Chaguanas