The gathering in the Conference Centre at the Cascadia Hotel, St. Anns for the PNM's
National Women's League International Women's Day Breakfast Seminar
TriniView.com Reporters
Event Date: March 05, 2007
Posted: March 07, 2006
The PNM National Women's League hosted their 4th Annual International Women's Day Seminar at the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre, St. Anns, on Monday 5th March, 2007.
The theme of the breakfast seminar was "Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women". The meeting was well attended by women from various areas throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
Before the meeting had begun, the gathering was served a buffet-style breakfast consisting of fruits and local dishes. The gathering, which included Senators, members of Parliament, Councillors, His Worship the Mayor of Port of Spain Murchinson Brown, Women's League representatives and other specially invited guests, engaged in chit chat while dining at their tables.
The breakfast session ended about 9.15am and the formal segment of the programme began with the National Anthem played on the Steelpan by Winesha Wilson of the St. James Government Secondary School. Following the National Anthem was an invocation in song by Ms. Andora French.
Deputy Political Leader of Policy Matters in the PNM, Nafessa Mohammed, chaired the proceedings and gave greetings on behalf of the party.
Senator the Honorable Magna Williams-Smith, Chairman of the PNM National Women's League gave the welcoming address and welcomed all on behalf of the PNM National Women's League to the 4th Annual meeting to celebrate International Women's Day. According to the Senator, the Women's League recognizes that in order for women to achieve their goals of equal opportunity and better treatment by the society, they need a symbolic reminder of the multidimensional functions of women. Thus, Senator Williams-Smith informed the audience that International Women's Day is a day to review the strides women have made for growth, freedom and development in the world.
Senator Magna Williams-Smith also said that this year's theme, Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women, speaks to an issue that is pertinent in society: a pervasive violation of women's rights, which was described as a universal problem of epidemic proportions. In her discourse she went on to lay out statistical data linking what victims of domestic violence may face to other dilemmas such as a higher propensity to be infected with HIV/AIDS.
Mrs. Williams-Smith further revealed that in Trinidad and Tobago, many NGO's as well as the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs have made attempts to help the situation of domestic violence such as campaigns for national awareness and releasing pamphlets to the public, hereby endorsing this year's theme. She ended by stating that we still need to find other solutions to abolish the indignity of violence against women.
Nafeesa Mohammed, who wore a third hat, gave remarks on behalf of Senator the Honourable Joan Yuille-Williams, stating that the breakfast seminar serves as an important service to society and reminded the gathering of the need to keep gender issues on the front burner of our national agenda. She then went on to give a brief legal overview of domestic violence laws in Trinidad and Tobago. Mrs. Mohammed stated that before 1991, domestic violence was treated as a social problem rather than a crime. However, in 1991, the Domestic Violence Act was passed to ensure that people who were guilty of domestic violence were charged as criminals. In 1999, she informed the audience, a new Domestic Violence Act was passed repealing the 1991 legislation and she further elaborated on the provisions of this act as it related to police powers when dealing with reports of domestic violence.
Mrs. Mohammed reassured the gathering that the women of Trinidad and Tobago have the law on their side in the event that they are victims of acts of domestic violence but they must also play their part by reporting these crimes should they arise.
Head of the Network of NGO's for Women, Mrs. Hazel Brown, stated in her address to the gathering that their network has celebrated International Women's Day for a long time and that she has seen a great improvement in the celebration. This year's theme is dear to them but in order to fulfill this theme fully they demand a national gender policy.
Director of Gender Affairs, Mrs. Monica Williams, spoke on behalf of the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs and expressed that we cannot expect development if one sex goes ahead of the other but instead, we need to be on an equal footing. Therefore she intimated that the U.N.'s theme of ending the impunity for violence against women needs to be addressed.
Mrs. Folade Mutota of the Women's Institute for Alternative Development stated that we need to remember the mothers of the fallen and of the perpetrators so that the women can have the support so healing can begin.
Susan 'Lioness' John entertained the audience with a song titled "Give Us a Chance" which was about the tremendous contribution of women and the fact that they still need to be given a chance to rule the world. Women in politics, according to 'Lioness', is a step in the right direction.
MP for Tobago East, Minister in the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Mrs. Eudine Job-Davis gave the feature address. She begun by saying that domestic violence has remained the family secret for too long and the time is now to put an end to heinous acts of domestic violence. She spoke of several incidents of domestic violence cases made known to the public, including the recent resignation of Grenada Opposition Member of Parliament, Kenrick Fullerton, amid allegations that he abused his wife.
According to the statistical data that she provided, 95 percent of victims of domestic violence are female, 50 percent of the domestic violence victims were physically abused and 24-30 percent undergo battering on a regular and ongoing basis.
Mrs. Job-Davis also explained that the National Domestic Hotline in conjunction with the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs have been working together to curb this social evil and that their clients have been benefiting from their services. The government, said Job-Davis, has passed laws, enforced hotlines and established safe houses, but if people do not report crimes then these services would be of little or no use.
Also, she spoke about the plight of domestic workers and the abuse that they face. She said that they are currently fighting for legislation to include them as workers under the IRA.
Finally, the Tobago East MP stated that other institutions such as the media must do their part by creating ways to eliminate domestic violence and violence against women. She made a final appeal to women to let their conscience be their guide and ended her discussion with an inspirational poem. She received a standing ovation.
The PNM National Women's League surprised the audience by including an award segment honouring two members of the league in attendance. Mrs. Rose Janiere described the profiles of the awardees in detail, mentioning many of their contributions to the league and to society. The first awardee was Mrs. Hazel Rogers-Dick who later thanked the league for her being honored and the second was the Honourable Mrs. Eulalie James who was visibly emotional while accepting her token.
Councillor Denise Aleong-Thomas gave the Vote of Thanks and ended the breakfast seminar.
PNM Women's League International Women's
Day Breakfast Seminar in pictures:
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