Friday, December 2, 2011

$3.1M for 'Gatekeeper' program to keep youth away from crime

The Government of Trinidad & Tobago is putting aside $3.1 million for a community intervention programme aimed at reducing youth involvement in criminal activity, among other things.

The Toco Foundation will run the program,
titled "Gatekeepers" which focuses on building responsibility. It has successfully run the program in the Toco/Cumana and Moruga/Barrackpore areas.

It will deal with crime and its impact on family life, gang related activity and the implications, and collaborative problem-solving methods using community resources.

The intention is to run the program for three years during which participants would attend classes in parenting classes and other subjects, including how to be respectful of people and human rights.

TMinister of Gender, Youth and Child Development Verna St Rose Greaves announced the program at Thursday's post cabinet media conference and also told reporters Cabinet has approved some critical infrastructure for her ministry.

These include:
  • the establishment of and construction of three interdisciplinary child development centres
  • one model children's home
  • two transition homes
  • three safe houses for victims of violence
The minister said one of those houses would be for perpetrators who needed treatment. 

She added that the Ministry would also build two respite centres and four assessment centres and one institute of healing.

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Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai