Tuesday, July 10 2012

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Verna St Rose Greaves...

SEVERAL Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) are describing the removal of Verna St Rose Greaves as Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development as, “a crying shame”.

In a statement yesterday, the TT Chapter of the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action; Coalition Advocating the Inclusion of Sexual Orientation; Network of NGOs for the Advancement of Women; Support for Change; Women’s Institute for Alternative Development and Women Working for Social Progress all called on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to explain why she fired St Rose-Greaves.

The NGOs noted St Rose-Greaves’ removal came at a time when there are so many situations surfacing of families not coping well with childcare responsibilities; parents in distress driven to harming their children; and young people being drawn into negative choices.

They pointed out that the former minister has training and years of experience in the field as a social worker, activist in the women’s movement and children’s advocate; local, regional and international networks of support and deep sincerity in her vision of a humane, caring society.

The groups said her leadership and achievements in less than a full year in office made her close to the best fit.

The NGOs noted that reconstruction and improvement work was done on children’s homes and facilities for youth development, and support was given to the much needed drug treatment facility for women being constructed by Women in Action for the Needy and Destitute (WAND) in collaboration with New Life Ministries.