Jennings-Smith: Youths are leaders of today

SOME people believe that youths are the leaders of tomorrow but for Parliamentary Secretary in the National Security Ministry Glenda Jennings-Smith, this is not the case.

“They are the leaders of today. What they can do today, can influence what goes on in the country today. That is what we are focusing on — making a difference today, letting the youths level up, letting them get involved in their communities, letting them take responsibility,” Jennings-Smith said.

She made the comments yesterday to the media at the National Crime Prevention Programme Youth Outreach Engagement held at the Naparima Boys’ College, San Fernando.

The initiative, she said, is geared at engaging the youths to feel committed and passionate about TT and encouraging them to make a difference especially to reduce crime.

The former assistant commissioner of police told reporters that gang leaders targeted youths to be part of different groups and that pattern must be broken.

Jennings-Smith said, “The gang leaders seem to be luring them in different directions and we want to change that. We want to hear from the youths about what is going on and what they think we can do to reverse that pattern. We have to listen and we have been listening.” The theme of the event, hosted by NCPP in collaboration with the Education and Sport and Youth ministries, was “Securing Our Future Together.”

Last Wednesday the ministries held its first engagement at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua. The next engagement takes place on February 19 at the Division of Community Development, Enterprise and Labour in Tobago. Launched in August last year under the National Security Ministry, NCPP is designed to engage, educate and empower communities to make crime prevention their responsibility.

Addressing the audience which comprised mainly of secondary school students, motivational speaker Kendell Valley encouraged to promote all things positive about young people. The executive chairman of TT Youth Ambassadors said youths were “leaders of now.” He encouraged the audience to do voluntary work and get involved in youth organisations.

“Be the change that you want to see. It is very important that as young people we worked together to secure our future together. As I always say, we are the leaders of now. Volunteering is very important,” Vincent said. Life, he said, can be difficult at times and he encouraged the youths to stay focus.

“Your current circumstances do not dictate what you can be. Whatever your goals are, continue to press on and keep working towards it. Whatever level you are right now, I encourage you to level up.”