Post-Cabinet Media Briefing - Thursday 9th June, 2022

Education Minister Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly assured that school indiscipline is something officials are dealing with. So far for Term 3 of 2021-2022, 1,318 suspensions were issued with most being for fights without weapons, tobacco possession, assault with/without weapons, disrespect/defiance to authority, alcohol possession, sexual misconduct, and misuse of technology. The Minister noted that 21 serious fights were recorded since schools reopened on April 19th, 2022. She said by April 21st, the Ministry wrote to the TTPS asking for police presence at 17 identified schools. Both the MOE and TTPS met on this matter on April 25th and by April 28th, police patrols were instituted at the schools. Minister Gadsby-Dolly said although violence is decreasing at the 17 schools due to police patrols, students are now taking their issues out in the streets. She also noted that school violence has been occurring at other schools and as a consequence, officers are now being asked to patrol all schools in all districts. Most students committing infractions this year are in Forms 1-3. Minister Gadbsy-Dolly said the Student Support Service is helping students and their families. Minister of Tourism Randall Mitchell provided an update on the Royal Caribbean Seafarer Recruitment Exercises. The cruise line is looking for at least 2,000 employees from T&T and had designed a recruitment process which involved an online application, uploading documents etc. Applicants who successfully completed this process were then invited to attend the recruitment drive this week. However, Minister Mitchell stated that persons who did not submit online applications also turned up to the recruitment drive. Minister Mitchell said those persons were not turned away but were asked to leave their information with officials on site at NAPA and SAPA. Minister Mitchell assured that persons who were not interviewed will be interviewed at a later date. He also assured that there are other opportunities coming up for TT Nationals to work as other cruise lines have expressed interest in recruiting citizens.