00:00Former Trinidad and Tobago football captain Kevin Molino is speaking publicly for the first time
00:05after being detained and questioned by police earlier this week.
00:08In a statement released today, Molino said he fully cooperated with investigators
00:13and was later released without charge.
00:15He described the experience as a difficult and emotional one for both himself and his family,
00:21especially his children.
00:23The footballer also thanked teammates, supporters and members of the public
00:26for their prayers and encouragement during the ordeal.
00:30Molino said throughout his career, including representing Trinidad and Tobago
00:33as national captain and playing professionally overseas,
00:36he has tried to conduct himself with discipline, humility and respect.
00:41He also appealed to the public to avoid speculation and rushing to judgment
00:45based on incomplete information.
00:48The statement follows an incident earlier this week in which Molino and several other footballers
00:53were reportedly detained after police officers found them at a location linked
00:57an ongoing criminal investigation.
00:59Reports indicate that a group was discovered at a residence that later became an active crime scene.
01:06Police have not publicly accused Molino of any wrongdoing and no charges have been laid against him.
01:11Molino says his focus now remains on his family, his football career and moving forward positively.
01:19Education Minister Dr. Michael Dowlatt said the school fight in Chagona South recorded in a viral video
01:26is being investigated by police.
01:29The Education Minister spoke on the matter in response to an urgent question from Opposition MP Dr. Nian Gatsby-Dawley
01:35in the House of Representatives today.
01:39Madam Deputy Speaker, I thank the Honourable Member for the question.
01:44Madam Deputy Speaker, the Ministry of Education has received a preliminary report
01:51from Chagona South Secondary School on the incident shown in the video footage.
02:06The Education Minister also said the school has commenced its disciplinary process and is to convene disciplinary hearings.
02:20With respect to the students who participated in the beating, the school has commenced its internal disciplinary process.
02:29Written statements have been obtained from the students involved and from eyewitnesses,
02:34and the parents of the students involved have been contacted for a conference at the school.
02:39The school has also been directed to convene disciplinary hearings in accordance with the Ministry's policies
02:47and National School Code of Conduct, following which appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.
02:54The former Education Minister says she is deeply concerned about the state of the nation's youth
03:00following the recent school fight in Montrose-Chagona, which left one student hospitalized.
03:06Dr. Nian Gatsby-Dawley says incidents of violence among students point to a troubling trend,
03:11which requires urgent attention from parents, schools, and the wider society.
03:18Dr. Nian Gatsby- We have BOAs still waiting for renewed contracts.
03:21These put extra pressure on schools.
03:23And also the issue of what's happening at home.
03:26We have over 50,000 people being sent home.
03:29That has caused a lot of problems within the home.
03:32Students are angry, frustrated.
03:33They don't have what they need to come to school.
03:35A lot of the parents can't even send their children to school regularly.
03:38These things must have an impact on how children behave.
03:41And so it is more than just putting police in schools, which is what we said at the start.
03:45But it really means that you have to ensure you have your restorative practitioners that we have put in place.
03:50You have to expand these programs.
03:52And you also have to find a way to deal with the persons that are unemployed.
03:55It is a country problem that needs a multifaceted solution.
03:59And what concerns me is that you're not hearing anything from the Minister of Education on this matter,
04:04or even the Prime Minister herself in terms of what is being done at all levels.
04:08What's happening at the Ministry of Social Development?
04:10What's happening at the Ministry of Youth Development?
04:12To ensure that we have somewhere.
04:14We were speaking about expanding my lap, increasing it for girls as well.
04:17Not hearing anything about that.
04:19The youth camps that were being built, they have not been opened.
04:21And those are the places where you could send children that need extra attention and help.
04:27Dr. Gatsby-Dolley says increased suspensions and expulsions do not address the root causes of school violence.
04:35Those may be very, very short-term answers.
04:38And they help more the people that are in this school.
04:41Because the fact is you can't have a school with a lot of violent children
04:44and nothing is being done to remove them from the environment because they do affect those who are trying.
04:49But that doesn't go through the root of the problem.
04:52In response to a question in the House of Representatives from Opposition MP Dr. Nian Gatsby-Dolley,
04:58the Education Minister said a zero-tolerance approach continues to be applied to threats to students' safety.
05:06The Ministry has revised and strengthened the National School Code of Conduct,
05:10including clearer provisions related to violence, bullying, cyberbullying, gang-related behavior, weapons, and serious misconduct.
05:23A zero-tolerance approach continues to be applied to serious acts of violence and threats to student safety.
05:33The Police in Schools program continues in 51 high-risk secondary schools,
05:41supported by additional police patrols and inter-agency collaboration where required.
05:48The Student Support Services Division continues to provide counseling.
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