Prime Minister Stuart Young SC has committed to addressing the issue of bullying at a national level.
At Thursday’s Post-Cabinet Media Briefing, the Prime Minister was asked about a bullying incident that occurred 33 years ago and was recently raised in the public domain.
He maintained that sharing the details of the incident, which occurred while he was a student at St. Mary’s College, is not a conversation he wishes to have at this time; instead, he would rather address the current issue of bullying.
“I have absolutely no problem standing here today and saying that, as the Prime Minister and as an individual, at my stage of life, 50 years old, I am sorry for any child who had to endure bullying, which as we now know is an issue. With respect to that specific issue, I have already addressed it and I am not going to do anything to affect persons’ recollection of the incident or to water down, for want of a better word, their feelings, how they feel because it was a traumatic incident not only for Mr. Khan but for me and many other people.”
He said issues like cyberbullying must also be addressed.
“Today, 33 years later, the issue of cyberbullying is something that I intend to take up. And that is where I’d like the population to focus on as well because the issue of cyberbullying is very real. Me, now as an adult, me as a person who’s come into public life, like many others, I’m subject to cyberbullying. I’m subject to a lot of bullying by some on the other side.”
Mr. Young is hopeful that the incident will encourage more discussion on the topic.
“So, the positive that has come out of an incident that took place 33 years ago is that it has brought to the forefront of conversation this concept of bullying. And what I invite all of Trinidad and Tobago to do now, including colleagues, including members of the Cabinet, members of all political parties, is let’s be a little bit more sensitive. Let us understand everyone is a human being that we’re dealing with.”
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Young met with several heads and leaders of religious organisations to begin work on the reform of Trinidad and Tobago’s education system.
The topic of bullying in schools came up for discussion. He added that solutions to treat with bullying in schools will be garnered through consultations.