By COREY CONNELLY Sunday, August 22 2010

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INDEPENDENCE TIME: Acting Prime Minister Winston Dookeran, centre, shares a handholding moment with, Bishop Hodwin George, right, and Mother Ivyleatha...

Acting Prime Minister Winston Dookeran yesterday called for a “new energy” in parenting to combat the numerous ills in the society.

He made the appeal while addressing celebrants during a special service to commemorate the 48th anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago’s Independence at the Holy Trinity Spiritual Baptist Church in Chinapoo Village, Morvant.

The event, which was also attended by new Arima Mayor Ghassan Youseph, was held in collaboration with the Chinapoo Village Social Welfare Organisation. Reverend Stephen Douglas officiated.

Speaking before a congregation of mostly young adults and children, Dookeran said parenting was the bedrock in building a solid nation and durable society, “one that would withstand all the chaos sometimes around us”.

“We must be prepared to walk in the rain without getting wet and that is the job ahead of us. Notwithstanding the difficulties around us, it is time for a new beginning and we must be able to walk with our heads held high.

“That is why I am here, to bring the message of good parenting in 2010. The new beginning to which I refer can only be built if we return to good parenting and family life.”

The Finance Minister admitted, though, that people of his generation often took good parenting for granted.

“But, for some reason, we have lost focus in a broad sense and now we must return to building the values for good family life and to ensure that we are familiar with the duties and the responsibilities of parenting,” he said.

“It would take some time for us to become comfortable with the dimensions that will, in fact, be required as we celebrate independence, by going back to family life and parenting.”

Dookeran, who is also the Tunapuna MP, brought smiles to the faces of many in the audience when he used Chinapoo as an example of sound family values.

“This is not to say that it (good parenting) does not exist, especially in villages like Chinapoo. There is strong family connections.”

Dookeran said he had attended a function in the area several months ago and was very impressed with the extended family structure in the district.

“We have to go back to our own history, our own heritage, our own culture, our own beginnings where we cared for each other in the family, where we cared for our uncles, our aunts, our grandmothers, our grandfathers, when we felt that that was part of our responsibility,” said Dookeran.

“I can say that one of the reasons why I am so touched by Chinapoo Village is that I feel there is a deep community spirit in this village that we must use as an example for the rest of Trinidad and Tobago to follow.”

Urging parents to raise their children with proper values, Dookeran said part of his motivation for seeking political office was to assist in creating the next generation of political leaders and to “get back to the hearts and minds of the people.”

Earlier in his address, Dookeran said it was Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s wish that this year’s Independence observance be celebrated at municipalities across the country “to rekindle a new beginning”.

“This would be a departure from the past and we would embrace all citizens of equal stature in Trinidad and Tobago, including the Spiritual Baptists,” he said.

After the proceedings, Dookeran met privately with residents to get a sense of the problems they encounter on a daily basis.