The Trinidad and Tobago Police Retirees Association is stepping up to guide the next generation.
In the rural community of Four Roads, Tamana, members of the association say too many young people are falling through the cracks and they’ve decided to do something about it.
On Saturday, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Retirees Association led a Youth Peace March, hoping to unite the community and start a conversation about crime, mentorship, and youth empowerment.
They once served in uniform and now they’re serving with purpose. The members of the association are walking for peace and progress.
Among them, Laura Pierre, Trinidad and Tobago’s first female Olympian, who said the idea for the march came after seeing too many young lives drifting without direction.
“The impact that the youth are having in this area it is not all positive, there are the youths who as I mentioned are not going to school, there are the youths who staying home, there are the youths who just decided that they’re just going to shut down and not do anything for the community so therefore we need trade, we need some help to ensure that our youth do get desensitized in understanding that good citizenship in this community will make a world a difference.”
Another member, Carlton Williams, said the elders of the community have a duty to lead by example and show young people that they matter.
“You will only get the type of community you want depending on the input the input that you give. The youths would follow you, you will have to speak with them constantly don’t despair…. Because you would understand that even in your parents time, how many times they would have spoken to you all for you to get on the short and narrow way.”
But leadership, he said, is only one part of the puzzle. He believes the youth need designated spaces to thrive, like community centres and recreational grounds.
“Sporting activities has build our communities in many many ways , we have our Brian Laras, Keshorn Walcott and all the others top sportsmen and you know what they came from rural areas like this.”
Residents in the wider area are echoing the call for change. One Arima resident, Dolly, said there’s a need to create alternatives to life on the block.
“There’s too much killing too much crime and that is what we want off the street. The smoking, the alcohol, the liming on the block that is what we want, to be off the street.”
With passion and persistence, the retired officers hope this is just the beginning of a broader movement.