Minister for Education, Youth Development, Sports and Digital Transformation, Hon. Kenson Casimir, has called for deeper collaboration between the Ministry of Education and faith-based institutions, including the Catholic Church, in shaping youth development and strengthening conflict resolution efforts.
Speaking at the weekly pre Cabinet presser, Casimir said he welcomes engagement with all religious bodies, not just the Catholic Church. “I would want deeper engagement with the Pentecostal Church, the Evangelical Church, and others as well. The Church still has a major role to play in society,” he said.
He encouraged alumni of Catholic schools such as St. Joseph’s Convent and St. Mary’s College to return and support educational initiatives. “Where are the individuals who passed through these schools and are now executives and professionals? They should come together, raise funds, and give back,” he urged.
Addressing rising youth violence following the killing of a 16-year-old, Casimir said conflict resolution must be a collective responsibility. “Crime is not something you can deal with only at the school level, or only through parents, or only through churches. It requires every sector,” he said.
He revealed plans for a new initiative, Project One, aimed at reshaping how children see themselves from an early age. “The idea is to remove the mentality of joining gangs or ‘six or seven’ groups. We want children, from infant and primary school, to see themselves as ‘one’ as individuals with value and purpose,” Casimir explained.
He added that teachers, principals, and parents also need retraining to better identify and prevent conflict before it escalates.
Saint Lucia has to date recorded five homicides.
