Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander says a child’s success is not determined by the type of home they grow up in, but by how they adapt to their circumstances.
Speaking during a visit to the St Peter’s Home for the Elderly on Wednesday, Minister Alexander stressed the importance of understanding one’s roles and responsibilities.
He insisted that family structure does not determine a child’s outcome.
“Contrary to what you’re seeing on social media, I understand my role and responsibility. If it is my role and responsibility, I understand what I have to do. So when you hear a person say, you know, you at a disadvantage, you’re not, you know. Whether you have your father around or you have your father alone and you don’t have a mother, you’re not at a disadvantage.”
According to MP Alexander, children should be encouraged to surround themselves with positive influences.
“You find yourself now, shouldering persons who you see as mentors, who you see as persons who can really help you in some way or another. Who wouldn’t encourage you to go and commit crime and all these things, but to tell you, listen, go and take this exam, go and learn to do this, go and learn to do that. So that’s the persons who you try to put yourself and circle yourself around.”
The Minister also noted that within the Tunapuna constituency, significant emphasis is placed on caring for children and supporting families, particularly those facing challenges.
“We in the Tunapuna constituency, we take care of over 600 and more children and ever so often somebody drops by. We took care of 2,000-something for Christmas, the toys drive. So tell me, a man is taking of all the children that he doesn’t know, you think he will leave his child alone?”