Trini Social Worker

  Over the past 11 months, we have been dealing with a lot of change. Changed to the point that not everything we know has changed. ‘The chirren home all d time’; ‘we cyah go for a Lil lime’; ‘I working from home’; ‘we hadda wear this sickening mask’; ‘d church service is only one hour’. Hell, we cyah even shake hands no more. Not to mention the long list of persons that sadly lost their jobs. Many of us hated change so much, we avoided changing jobs, or vehicles just because we couldn’t stand facing the ‘unknown’. Some of us made macaroni pie, calloo and stew chicken every Sunday for the past 10 years because we hold on to tradition. Our rationale ‘’Daz wa I know’’. That being said, how d hell are we coping with all this? I think that’s what worries me the most. Some of the things we did, even the ‘toxic ones’, keep us together, which probably kept us sane. At least, that is in lay terms. Truthfully, it has been a concern of mine since the start of this pandemic. How would thi...

  Carnival 2021 – CANCELLED ! Over the decades of our country’s history, Trinidad and Tobago has been known for ‘the greatest show on earth’, Carnival. Month of fetes, and events that builds up the momentum leading to the 2 days of revelry and purge. Many on onlookers see beautiful colours, designs and more; but participants feel freedom. Freedom from all the high expectations, and boxes that society places them in. It is acceptable to walk the streets of our beautiful twin Island Republic, in ways that we cannot do on other days. But, trying to put the feelings and experience of this event into words would be an injustice to say the least. Who would have thought that the year 2020 would caused a shattering to our reality like it did? Who would have thought that Carnival 2020 would be our last Carnival for the foreseeable future? Carnival 2021 came by, and it was met with one word ‘CANCELLED’. This weekend went by like no other in the lifetime of many. The ‘greatest show on ear...

 Over the past few weeks, Trinidad and Tobago has been in pain. The gruesome kidnapping and Death of Andrea Bharatt has rocked our world. Hundreds have taken to the streets to grieve the death of Andrea, and the many more women and girls that have died painful deaths caused by selected males in our society. Even though protests and vigils have its place in the process of change. It is paramount to ensure that we have an agenda for what change we want. It is important to itemize what change we would like to see as to address matters of Gender based violence (GBV).  In 2020, the Domestic Violence Act was amended, and TTPS established a Gender based violence Unit. But somehow, I am afraid that this isn't enough. Even more, the Office of the Prime Minister has facilitated the creation and operationalization of numerous safe spaces and shelters  for women to take refuge. But yet, this has proven to not be enough.  Is it that we are missing something ? In our pursuit to fi...