PM on International Youth Day: Gang culture is wiping them out

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Guardian - There are close to 100 gangs operating in the country, according to data from the Police Service. Most of the members are young men between the ages of 14 and 25 and they look up to their gang leaders, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said yesterday. “They love the culture. They feel they are not wanted by their parents or teachers. They feel no one cares too much for them,” Persad-Bissessar said in her message on International Youth Day. The theme of this year’s International Youth Day was “Youth Migration: Moving Development Forward”, and focussed on youths migrating to the great beyond. The day was observed to raise awareness of the opportunities and risks associated with youth migration. Persad-Bissessar, acknowledging this, added: “We have another problem at our doorsteps.” She said a section of T&T’s young population is attracted by gang activity and youth involvement in criminal activity was a major problem. She added: “But what is the spin-off effect? They are being wiped out. Just look at the television news at night or read the daily newspapers. “Our young men are being dealt a deadly blow because of their association with gangs. Look at the police statistics, most of the victims of gangland activities are youths between 14 and 25.