Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 18, 2018 (SKNIS): Crime Reduction Specialist, Dr. Neals Chitan, believes that the objectives of the Explorer Movement can help to push three fundamental concepts that will mold children into responsible and respectful adults.
The concepts – discipline, purpose and resolve – would also need to be taught at home by parents who can assist with reinforcing the lessons learned at group meetings. Dr. Chitan shared these concepts with members of the St. Peters Explorers Club and the parents who were present at the launch of the club on April 12.
“Because, of course, ladies and gentlemen, you will agree with me that discipline starts in the home, and so today we challenge parents, mothers and fathers, to hold the discipline of children, hold them accountable, teach them respect at home,” Dr. Chitan said.
He added that it was also important to help children understand their purpose.
“And parents, we’ve been asking you, and teachers, to help children to find their purpose because without purpose a child is like a boat on the sea – no rudder, no engine – just being tossed back and forth in the waves and at that time anybody and anyone could influence them. So it’s important to teach them their purpose,” the Crime Reduction Specialist added.
Dr. Chitan ended by saying that strengthening the resolve of children would strengthen their characters.
“On our explorers T-shirt is a slogan I’ve come up with decades ago “Stop. Think. Proceed”; always stop and think before you proceed. That’s resolve right there because our children would get into situations; some of them would fall down…So, the message today was to help young people understand that despite whatever happens to them they will fall like parents; they’ve fallen; I’ve fallen too,but don’t stay down, get up, be resolved – stop, think, get up and move on.”
Some 60 children were present at the launch of the group. They now join their counterparts in Shadwell, St. Paul’s, Molineux and Phillip’s where groups already exist. The Explorer initiative is part of the Ministry of National Security’s broader Crime Prevention and Reduction Strategy and its Social Intervention Programme. The groups are being created and implemented through a partnership with the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF). For the St. Peters Explorers, Officers Aidan Hendrickson, Denise Harrigan and Denver Harrigan will oversee the operations of the group.
