radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
“The way out of crime is not through the gun but through the pen, through education.”
So said the chairman of the San Fernando SDA Primary School and Pastor at the San Fernando SDA Church Lyndon Lewis as students and teachers participated in a march through the streets of San Fernando yesterday to celebrate their 70th jubilee anniversary.
The pupils carried placards encouraging positive societal values as they encouraged the population to live with love and cohesion.
Speaking to Guardian Media, Lewis said it was important to inculcate strong spiritual values in children from a tender age.
“With all that is taking place in our nation’s schools in terms of violence, the situation with families, the murder rate and we believe that education is transformative,” he said.
He added: “Education is not just academic but there is a spiritual component as well.”
Lewis said people should not depend only on the police and the government to fight crime but must work together as leaders to train children to pursue excellence as they make a positive difference in the lives of others.
“We are making a clarion call for our leaders to partner and seek to make Trinidad and Tobago a better place,” he said.
Lewis said it was unfortunate that children were being killed.
“Children are a heritage of the Lord. They are little people with tremendous potential. We don’t know what they will become when they are cut down we are robbing our nation and the world of our most valued possession,” he said.
For those involved in crime, Lewis had this message:
“Crime is a dead-end street. Those who believe crime will make their lives better, but that is not so. Remember what Jesus said—he is coming to give us life and to be involved in crime is to be involved in destructive activity,” he added.
Lewis also encouraged citizens to pray.
“We believe the way out is not through the gun but through the books and the pen—through education,” he added.
He said while the authorities were doing what they could to reduce crime, this was not enough.
“I believe the answer (to solving crime) is in the home. Criminals are bred in the home. From a social and spiritual standpoint, we are failing Each of us as parents, guardians, and neighbours have an integral part in reducing crime,” he added.