Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has issued a strong appeal for the students of Morvant/Laventille to rise above the stigma that is often ascribed to persons from those areas and pledge to become the change that is needed to take the constituency and country forward.
Urging hundreds of primary and secondary school students to swear to the words "I am the change" during yesterday's school rally to celebrate the launch of the School Improvement Project (SIP) at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, Rowley sought to drive home the point that the youth were the nation's greatest asset as he made reference to this several times during his remarks. Applauding the children of the greater Laventille area, Rowley told them that they were "very valuable" despite their humble upbringing.
Joking that he been told to follow instructions to perform for the students either through song or dance, Rowley jauntily responded that while he could not sing or dance, he was blessed with the gift of "talk."
Focusing his attention on the youngsters, the Prime Minister said those present were not too young to be taught the value of life.
Asking the students to indicate by a show of hands how many wanted to be doctors, teachers, nurses, computer technicians, prime minister and a good citizen of T&T, Rowley laughingly imparted some words of advice regarding his position as he said, "If you know how much trouble this work is, you wouldn't want it."
As he once again turned his attention to sobering issues, Rowley said while some things might not be happening right now in the Morvant/Laventille area, things had to change in order for the residents of the two communities to thrive in a productive and positive atmosphere. He told the packed Grand Stand, "You are the change that will come to Laventille."
Eliciting screams of approval from the audience as he revealed that all students would receive a T-shirt with the phrase "I am the change" emblazoned across the chest, Rowley encouraged them to wear it proudly both in and on their hearts to indicate their wish for change.
Recalling his early days which propelled him from Mason Hall, Tobago, to Laventille and then Morvant, Rowley reminded persons of the country's first prime minister Eric Williams who ascribed the national watchwords of discipline, production and tolerance.
Appealing for persons to always subscribe to the principles behind them, Rowley said individuals ought to be disciplined in all endeavours, embody tolerance by respecting others and become productive citizens by ensuring the nation's survival as they work harmoniously with others.
He assured the students that Government would do its part to ensure that students from these areas had the necessary academic and recreational tools necessary to achieve success.
Echoing these sentiments, Education Minister Anthony Garcia later said discussions were ongoing with the Ministry of Sport to ensure Morvant/Laventille was outfitted with adequate facilities to foster greater participation in sports and cultural activities.
On the issue of a swimming pool being constructed for the residents in those areas, Garcia promised, "In the not too distant future, these sporting amenities will become a reality."
Garcia said the three-year SIP pilot project, which saw 20 primary schools and five secondary schools participating, will focus on four core areas, namely, improving student performance; improving physical infrastructure and recreational amenities; encouraging greater parenting and community involvement; and reducing indiscipline and violence in schools.
Declaring yesterday a "red letter day in the history of T&T and the education system," Garcia said there are plans to expand the project in other areas.
Providing a principal's perspective, Hamida Baksh of Success Laventille Secondary School advocated for the introduction of additional staff members who could provide support services to the teachers who could then focus on the teaching curriculum.
Revealing some of the challenges often faced by school administrators, Baksh said more community activists needed to become involved in preparing the youths on how to cope and respond to certain situations.
Other speakers who delivered brief words of encouragement to the students included Minister in the Ministry of Education Dr Lovell Francis; National Security Minister Major General Edmund Dillon; Public Utilities Minister Fitzgerald Hinds; Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein; Community Development Minister Nyan Gadsby-Dolly; Sports Minister Darryl Smith; and Laventille East/Morvant MP Adrian Leonce.