The following is the address (verbatim) delivered by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Mrs. Angella Jack at Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day celebrations in Maloney.

Master of Ceremonies

Your Grace, Archbishop Barbara Burke

Archbishops and Religious Leaders of the Council of Elders of the Spiritual Shouter Baptist Faith of Trinidad and Tobago

Representatives of other Religious Organizations

Honourable Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Leader of the Opposition

Invited Guests

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.

As the Spiritual Baptist community celebrated Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day across Trinidad and Tobago on March 30, 2010, government reminded Laventillians that it still plans to develop the area at a cost of $300 million. In delivering the feature address during celebrations at the St. Augustine Senior Comprehensive School, Laventille West MP, Nileung Hypolite stressed that there must be collaboration among the various Baptist churches in the area as to how the funds should be used. Hundreds turned out for the event, creating a sea of vibrant colours under the theme “God is Watching Us.”

In Maloney, the atmosphere was even more festive, as the Council of Elders celebrated the day with song and dance. Among those in attendance were Ambassador Joan Yuille Williams, Diego Martin West MP, Dr. Keith Rowley and former PNM MP, Fitzgerald Hinds. The Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, the Honourable Marlene McDonald was not present, but was represented by her Permanent Secretary Angella Jack.

Celebrations for International Women's Day came to an official close on Sunday March 28, 2010 during a Cookout which was hosted bythe MInistry of Communit yDevelopment, Culture and Gender Affairs. The event took place at Mission Beach Toco, where staff of the MInistry joined various communities from Toco and environs to participate in a day filled with fun for the entire family.

Sixteen groups participated for the title of Best Tasting Dish as they presented their meals, accompanied by decor, delicious dessert choices, including East Indian and African delicacies, and superb customer service when they served their dishes to patronizing members of the public.

The official results are as follows:

1st Place - Pine Settlement Village Council
2nd PLace - Vega De Orupuche Village Council
3rd Place - Husbands can Cook Too

- Best Dish Presentation - Husbands can Cook Too
- Group with Best Team Spirit - Cargual Village Council (Caroni)
- Best Tasting Dish and best curried Duck - Guaico Tamana Village Council
- Best Beverage Vega De Oropuche
- Best Overall Menu - Husband can Cook Too (Dumplings and Salted fish)
- Best Dessert - Pine Settlement
- Originality - Federation of Women Institute - St Andrew

According to Monica Williams, Director of the Gender Affairs Division, the MInistry was pleased to have hosted a month of activities in commemoration of International Women's Day. The director joined other Heads and officials of the Ministry in thanking all for their participation in the activities.

Here are some photos which highlight the participating groups and some of the dishes which were available at the cookout.

In its ongoing efforts to empower people and communities to achieve optimal health and well-being, the Ministry of Health recently launched its 2010 programme of "Healthy Communities" with the theme entitled "Move into Shape T&T". It was officially launched at St. Mary's Village, Moruga on February 27, 2010, followed by Valencia on March 7 and then on Pinto Road, Arima on March 13.

"Healthy Communities" is a health promotion initiative that encourages full participation of the public in partnership with health care providers and other stakeholders. From February to December 2010, the programme will engage communities throughout Trinidad and Tobago to build sustainable partnerships and implement community led action for population health and well-being.

A primary area of focus is the prevention and control of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancers and strokes which account for 60 percent of the total causes of death in Trinidad and Tobago. During the opening ceremony in Moruga, Senator, the Honourable Wesley George, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health, reminded over 250 Health Fair participants that the "Move into Shape" campaign is built on five steps toward a healthy lifestyle, which spell the word SHAPE:

There was a mixture of information and entertainment, as the St. George West District Office of the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs hosted its booth display and cultural bonanza this morning on the Brian Lara Promenade to celebrate International Women’s Day 2010.

In delivering the keynote address, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Arima MP, Penelope Beckles noted that although great strides have been made by women worldwide in the last two decades, she lamented the fact that many women still earn less than men doing the same job. Ms Beckles also noted that women make up 70 percent of the world’s poor and that half of all HIV/Aids cases in Africa and the Caribbean are women. But looking at the positive side, she said there are now 17 female Heads of State internationally and women are employed in 10 percent of all legislative positions worldwide.

Journalists and cameramen of both the print and television media were invited to tour the indoor facilities of the National Academy for Performing Arts (NAPA), further to the invitation extended to the media by the Honourable Marlene McDonald, Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs. The tour took place at 10:00 am today, as media personnel received brief remarks from officials of the University of Trinidad and Tobago, UDeCOTT, the Performing Arts and Theatre fraternity, as well as the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs.

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CREDITS:

- Story by Natalie Walters

- Photo courtesy UDeCOTT

The Gender Affairs Division of the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, yesterday hosted a Distinguished Lecture Series and Panel Discussion on: “Gender and Climate Change” at the Ken Gault Hall, Centre of Excellence at 6:00 pm. This activity was one of the many being hosted in observance of International Women’s Day.

The Lecture was well attended by members of the public ,including University students and members of NGOs and CBOs. Distinguished economist and UWI Professor Dr Marlene Attz made quite an informative and interactive presentation on the topic, stating firmly that each individual had a role to play towards climate change and the negative impacts of it, especially on the future generation. She urged all present to become familiar with the Draft Document on Climate Change Policy which is now available for public comments and consultations.

Dr. Attz’s discourse highlighted the following:
- Distinction between gender and sex as well as socioeconomic data as it
relates to sex in the Small Island Developing States (SIDs);
- Global facts on poverty;
- Climate change and its impact on the Caribbean, including Trinidad and
Tobago;
- Mainstreaming gender into sustainable development; and
- Challenges, gaps and opportunities

Gender, she indicated, refers to the social roles, responsibilities and behaviours that one played in society. Climate change, she defined, is any change in climate overtime, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity. The Professor then presented some statistics as it related to gender and the population as well as life expectancy according to gender and sex. It revealed that women occupied a greater portion of the population and are estimated to live longer than men.

The statistics also revealed that although women comprised the majority of the services sector, eg. hotels, finance and administration, there were less women employed as compared to men in Trinidad and Tobago. As a result, women have been categorized in a ‘poverty group’. Dr. Attz also indicated that high temperatures and lower rainfalls are projected to increase by the year 2060, as well as rises in sea level in our region by the year 2090.

According to Attz, one thing which caused a natural hazard to turn into a disaster is lack of preparedness and reiterated that each individual should make an effort to establish their own carbon footprint.
Dr. Attz then revealed that according to the research conducted, climate change will impact:
- Sectoral Vulnerability – in the agricultural sector, e.g food security
- Human Health – Due to epidemics and diseases, health care costs are set
to rise and this will affect the availability of productivity due to loss of
workdays and eventually this will impact overall income generation
- Human settlement – flooding impacts from rising sea levels, health
implications
- Coastal zones – rising sea levels will promote coastal erosion and this will
affect the tourism sector
- Water resources – Temperature increase will result in loss of surface water
and overall decrease in rainfall.

The St George West District Office of the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs will host a Booth Display and Cultural Show on March 26, 2010 (tomorrow) at the Brian Lara Promenade, starting from 10:00 am. This event is one of the many events hosted in observance of International Women’s Day which was commemorated officially on March 8, 2010 in Trinidad and Tobago.

The celebrations will commence with a formal programme where greetings will be brought the Director of the Community Development Division at the Ministry, Susan Corbett as well as remarks will be brought from the Mayor’s Office on the occasion. A Feature Address will also be delivered by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Penelope Beckles and this will be followed by a short skit put on by Rapport on HIV/AIDs.

Booths will be on display to provide information to the public on services offered by various Ministries, Government Agencies and Private sector organisations. These include:

- The National Entrepreneurship Development Company (NEDCO)

- The Consumer Affairs Division

- The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM)

- The Ministry of Health;

- The Cancer Society;

- ASJA;

- The Reptile Conservation Centre;

- Imperial Optical; and

- Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs
- Community Safety & Enhancement Programme (CSEP)
- Community Development Fund (CDF)
- Geriatric Adolescent Partnership Programme (GAPP)
- Self Help Programme
- Handicraft

The public is invited to learn and share in this experience as entertainment will be provided by some local artists at a Cultural Show which is carded to take place after lunch.
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CREDITS:

- Story by Natalie Walters

- Photo by Crafitti

- Photo by