Crichlow-Cockburn: Families under threat

MINISTER of Social Development and Family Services Cherrie Ann Crichlow-Cockburn says the family, as a core societal institution, is under threat and she is pleading with parents to instil “old-school morals and values” in their children.

She was speaking on Wednesday at the launch of a National Symposium on the Family 2018 – Supporting Families as the Bedrock of Society– hosted by the ministry in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister, Gender and Child Affairs.

The event was held at the University Inn and Conference Centre, St Augustine. “Positive values, attitudes and behaviour are now considered old school by many. I am happy to confess that I am old school and hold fast to the morals and values instilled in our family. I believe if we get back to values like integrity, honesty, respect, we will see a difference in TT.

“If we instil in our children, as my parents did, ‘cut your coat to suit your cloth’, ‘Do not let your eyes burn you for everybody else’s things’, there are likely to be fewer robberies and crime in TT.

“If you return to those values, regardless of your religious belief, and are guided by certain morals and values – for me as a Christian it is the Ten Commandments: Thou shall not kill, Thou shall not steal, Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbour, we can see a drop in murders, a drop in crime, and a drop in rapes.”

Crichlow-Cockburn said parenting styles have been altered, the divorce rate has increased exponentially and child and spouse abuse is now a feature of social media, in addition to the economic challenges of the day.

She said the campaign’s goal is to spearhead a return to attitudes and behaviour underpinned by morals and positive values, thereby facilitating the recovery of society and the economy.

“Hosting such a symposium represents another pivotal step, at the national level, towards the creation of a strong, nurturing and caring society.

“The main objective of these talks, as I see it, is to expose the issues that are contributing to this ‘new normal’ and explore solutions for accentuating the positive aspects as well as ways to confront and address the negative elements, both at the community and national levels.

“As observers, we see on a daily basis the impact of the digital world on family life.

“When last did you sit down to dinner with your family and not be distracted by the television or cellphone?

“What is the support structure for families today? Does it still take a village to raise a child?”

And Ayanna Webster-Roy, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, said in 2017 there were 4,232 reports of child abuse and maltreatment which required investigation by the Children’s Authority.

She said 27 per cent of the reports was related to child sexual abuse, 24 per cent to child neglect, 17 per cent to physical abuse and 11 per cent to lack of care and supervision.