Antoine: Schools need to play a role

D’Abadie/O’Meara MP Ancil Antoine said on Monday said the situation at the Siparia West Secondary School sends a strong message to the nation’s teachers. In his contribution to the budget debate in the House of Representatives, Antoine expressed full support with the stance taken by Education Minister Anthony Garcia in this matter.

He said the message which it sends to TT’s teachers is to “take ownership of your products.” Antoine recalled in his days as a student, teachers took a hands on approach and encouraged students to map out their future. Saying this approach moulded him into who he is today, Antoine declared, “We have to get our act together.”

He said schools provided the environment to instil strong values in young people and it was important for schools to play their role in giving TT better citizens. Antoine rejected claims from Princes Town MP Barry Padarath that under the PNM, public money was being wasted on exorbitant travel for government officials and others. ‘

He said he was in Cabinet when a memo was circulated on March 14, 2016 curtailing expenditure in this area. In November 2015, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said the former People’s Partnership (PP) government spent $250 million on overseas travel during its five years in office.

Antoine also said his constituency suffered from the effects of “Hurricane Anil” prior to September 2015. However, he said things in the constituency were improving and his predecessor is now, “just a depression.” Later in the sitting, Oropouche West MP Vidia Gayadeen-Gopeesingh slammed Government for doing nothing to protect the country’s women from becoming victims of crime.