By STACY MOORE Sunday, June 7 2009

WITH just six more months before the much anticipated meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) where leaders will gather and discuss global and Common-wealth issues, members of the public were yesterday given an opportunity to voice their concerns at the Common-wealth People’s Forum workshop at the San Fernando City Hall.

The workshop, which is one of four to be held in Trinidad and Tobago was launched in preparation for the Commonwealth Forum in which persons would be allowed to air their views on issues affecting society such as governance, trade, finance, democracy, culture, health, education, disability, gender, environment and other issues in our daily life.

The issues and concerns would then be directed to ministers.

Speaking to Newsday yesterday in an interview, communications officer Marcie Shaoul, said that the aim of the workshops is to mobilise people to come together to discuss the issues affecting them.

“It is about trying to create a smooth way for people to have dialogue with governments,” Shaoul explained, adding that yesterday was just the groundwork.

Yesterday’s workshop started promptly at 9 am with the theme “Partnering for a more equitable and sustainable future”.

Many persons were given the opportunity to act out scenes on issues affecting them. From playing the role of an autistic child, to an abusive father, incest in the home, the drama scenes varied but it was entertaining for the small crowd that gathered.

Three more workshops are to be held in Chaguanas (June13), Sangre Grande (June 27) and Tobago (July 4) and the actual Forum will take place November 22-26, a few days before the CHOGM, November 27 to 29, 2009.