OUR leaders need to realise that family life is the key to the development of our nation. In recognition of such, it is important to raise our children to serve God since that is the only way we, as a people, can move forward.

Additionally, it is also imperative to plant seeds of integrity, love and honesty in the family system, which essentially will positively affect personal development of the youth.

We see our young people dying because of the wickedness and greed of man in all walks of life. Many seek the love of money as their god. This country has faced a pandemic of crime, where people are willing to murder their own family and friends for the love of money.

In retrospect, every family has a member that is considered a black sheep. But knowledge and love for God allows us to speak and encourage them to overcome their challenges and walk the path of success.

One decision of a family member can cause lives of many to be lost due to bad lifestyles. In comparison, every decision that is made in the Government, whether good or bad, has consequences that affect the myopic circles within the society, one of which we focus on-the family.

The leaders of our beloved Trinidad and Tobago have sold the soul of our country for money.

They have coveted and stolen what does not belong to them, and have placed their country in a dark and secluded place where churches, schools and other institutions are unable to see what lies before them.

What is the solution? Our organisation is requesting a focus change where we can return to the days where our children understood the importance of respect, discipline and authority.

Extreme anger continues to shape our society, causing violence and death. Seemingly, our leaders have given up on the quest to fight crime, and I believe we are fighting a losing battle if we think adequate body cams and guns can slow down or stop crime.

It is a lose-lose situation because the youth who Dr Eric Williams had prided to take our country into the future are dying. The law enforcement agencies, which as a people we have learnt to trust over the years, aren’t that trustworthy anymore.

Corey Joseph

chairman, Youth Empowerment Foundation