Former minister in the Ministry of National Security, Keith Scotland, is urging a more measured and legally sound approach to addressing school violence.
He says he is concerned by Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro’s warning on Tuesday that the TTPS would confine children if parents fail to control them.
Guevarro made the comment at the first-ever ceremonial handover of the TTPS leadership from one commissioner to another while addressing attendees at the Police Academy in St James.
Senior Counsel Scotland, however, cautioned against an overly punitive approach to youth, emphasising the importance of compassion, legal safeguards, and early intervention.
“When it comes to children, I have a different approach. There are certain legal parameters within which you must operate. I do not think that one infraction ought to condemn a child for the rest of their life,” he said.
He referenced a case in the Court of Appeal, where the then-Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma highlighted the importance of giving young people a second chance.
While he acknowledged that parents need to take greater responsibility for their children’s behaviour, he stressed that systemic and root causes must also be addressed.
“Although I agree that parents ought to step up, step up with your children, step up! Don’t let it reach to somebody having to tell you we will intervene on your behalf with your child. That’s not their child, it’s your child. There’s a responsibility and that part I agree with.”
However, former education minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly welcomed the firm stance taken as she emphasised that police involvement in school safety is not a new initiative.
Regarding Commissioner Guevarro’s firm warning to parents, she said she does not see it as unnecessarily harsh but stressed that actions must back up the rhetoric.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily too tough a stance. What I would like to see is the action behind it because that has always been the problem, trying to ensure that the patrols are kept up. For example, we’ll get it for two weeks and then we have to go back. So, I just want to actually see, I mean I’m a citizen, I want to see it upheld.”
Meanwhile, the head of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) Martin Lum Kim said he is heartened by Guevarro’s stance.
“TTUTA supports any organisation or initiative that will protect not only the students, (3:15) but the nation and its people and our members.”
But, the president of the Trinidad and Tobago National Council of Parent Teacher Associations Walter Stewart said rather than penalising parents, the root cause of school violence should be addressed.
“What I want to recommend to the Police Commissioner is that we partner with parents and understand what the circumstances and root causes of children falling prey or going awry to regulations and laws and why they are presently in this predicament that we are in.”
He added that there are parents who are working hard and going beyond the call of duty to raise their children properly.
Also commenting on the matter was the president of the TTPS Social and Welfare Association ASP Gideon Dickson, who called on the country to come together to address school violence.
He said the warning by Guevarro was welcomed by the union, adding that schools should be a safe space.
“At the end of the day, a school should be a safe haven for our kids and not necessarily a stomping ground for the nation’s kids. They are our next leaders, so all hands need to be on deck to treat with all crime types.