Webster-Roy calls for unity to combat crime

Freelance Contributor

Government Minister Ayanna Webster-Roy has pleaded for unity across the board to combat the scourge of crime plaguing T&T.

Webster-Roy, the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Gender and Child Affairs, made the call while delivering the feature address at the opening of a Women’s Entrepreneurial Development and Product Expo at Saith Park, Chaguanas, on Friday.

Speaking after her address, Webster-Roy told the media that it was time that everyone put aside their differences before it was too late.

She said, “As leaders, if we truly believe that our positions should be used to build our people and build our country, then I see everybody responding to a call for unity. Now is not a time, the timing does not permit for us to stand divided, if we have to reclaim T&T, we all have to stand united, putting aside our difference and working on a common agenda, which is to secure the future of the boys and girls of a future generation and secure T&T for now and in the future.”

She added, “This is not something that requires the Government and parliamentarians but for everybody to do their work, there is work to be done by the judiciary, there is work to be done by corporate T&T and there is work to be done even by the media. I often call on the media to be a meaningful partner on this journey for transforming the lives and the space we call our own.”

She asked the media to highlight the positives in society. She said a plethora of bad news affects the psyche of nationals and paints this country in a bad light.

“It’s not just our people viewing it, social media means that the entire world is looking on. We have a responsibility, we all have a responsibility,” Webster-Roy said.

“It’s not about me trying to say something because I’m looking for a vote, this is where I live, I am raising three children in T&T. I don’t have a house in any other country to run away to.”

She said Tobago has now reached its highest murder rate ever, at 20.

Webster-Roy recalled that she had visited Calder Hall the day before the latest murder victim on the island, Kurlon James, was shot last week.

“I did not sleep on Wednesday night. On Tuesday I walked that community in Tobago (referring to Calder Hall), I interacted with those young men. The young boy that died (Kurlon James) helped me to take food hampers down the steps to old senior citizens in the community.”

She said during her visit, the youths lowered the Trinibad music playing on their radios and welcomed a discussion with her.

“When I needed the help to get the things down the step, they all came and assisted, so it’s not as though they bad and to throw them aside. It’s for us to look beyond what is presented to and look towards reclaiming all our young people in T&T.”

She said the time has come to save all youths.

“I have colleagues on the opposition bench who are partnering with us, they may not do it openly, but they will come and say ‘Minister, I want to try this, or Minister I want you to bring this for me, so there is that willingness there to do it.”

She called on women to take on a positive role as influencers to instil change. She said while some women may not be the best examples, they have the ability to change with the right support.

Webster-Roy said her ministry is developing its first action plan geared towards peace and security that would use women as the main divers in the communities to bring about change.

Commenting on the horrific murder of five-year-old Anika Guerra and her father, Enrico, Webster-Roy said, “When adults make the wrong decisions, when adults get themselves involved in negative things, it’s not just the adults who are hurting, our children are often bearing the brunt of the responsibility of adults in T&T.”

She called on all adults to be a better version of themselves. She said the loss of lives through crime and violence also represents the loss of valuable human capital and the loss of people who could have changed and contributed to society.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Ministry of Works Richie Sookhai advised the entrepreneurs to engage with the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry of Commerce to boost their business. Sookhai said Small and Micro Entrepreneurs are the heartbeat of T&T.

“If we don’t foster that we will definitely lose a class in society.”

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