‘Govt’ wins Youth Parliament debate

REPRESENTING: Youth Parliament MP for Oropouche East Arianna Joseph contributes to the debate on the need for a counter radicalism youth policy.  The 15th National Youth Parliament was held yesterday.  PHOTO BY SUREASH CHOLAI
REPRESENTING: Youth Parliament MP for Oropouche East Arianna Joseph contributes to the debate on the need for a counter radicalism youth policy. The 15th National Youth Parliament was held yesterday. PHOTO BY SUREASH CHOLAI

The “Government” defeated a motion by the “Opposition” to establish a counter radicalism youth policy. The defeat of the motion by a margin of 23 to 18 was the highlight of the 15th National Youth Parliament which took place at Tower D of the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre.

This happened after another motion saw government members voting with the opposition or abstaining to allow Chaguanas East member Elijah French to conclude his contribution. In advocating a counter radicalism youth policy, opposition leader Danesha Munroe declared, “We are a nation at risk.”

Munroe argued terrorism is no longer “a threat from some disadvantaged country.” She recalled the country had a taste of terrorism in 1990.

She identified misinformation about Islam as one of the reasons for youth radicalism. She said youth radicalism could not be ignored with more than 400 murders having taken place.

In response, prime minister Shayanne Friday told the opposition this country has laws to prosecute people for terrorist offences.

Friday, a student of Debe High School, said the government’s “main focus is the youth of Trinidad and Tobago.” Friday also said the country’s education system has the flexibility to deal with at risk youth.

Finance minister Dillon Constantine quipped, the opposition “don’t know we have a national security council.”

Constantine questioned how terrorist groups were communicating with young people here. He said that would be a “long string” from Iraq to TT.

National security minister Garret Dinoo accused the opposition of “doing nothing but fear mongering the people of this country.”

Dinoo said to label TT’s youth as at risk because of the actions of a small group was “absolutely preposterous.”

Sport minister Josiah Herod said the ministry has several programmes “to deal with this particular issue”.

Agriculture minister Ajay Alleyne said, “All terrorists are radicals but not all radicals are terrorists.”

Barataria/San Juan member Teejay Ramcharan asked, “Is the government awake?” Ramcharan said youth radicalism is a real threat. He said members must go “into our constituencies and see what is going on.”

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