On 9 April 2018, I blogged: “How would things have been different for the minister of sports had the GOTT implemented a sexual harassment policy throughout all state enterprises and ministries and piloted relevant legislation? Women’s rights are human rights and once again this government is failing us.” Eighteen months …
Read More »Fixin’ T&T: Dr Rowley, taxpayers deserve to know contents of ‘Darryl Smith report’
“No, Dr [Keith] Rowley, the ‘Smith Report’ must be made public. Taxpayers’ money [is] involved.” The following press statement was issued by civic watch group, Fixin’ T&T, in response to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s decision not to release independent report on MP and former Sport Minister Darryl Smith, who …
Read More »Dear Editor: Is Rowley hiding Smith sexual harassment report so disgraced MP qualifies for pension?
“It is certain that both [Darryl] Smith and the Prime Minister are aware that once the issue is postponed sufficiently, and this disgraced legislator is allowed to remain in office for five unbroken years, he will automatically qualify for a Pension paid for by the taxpayers of approximately $8,900 per …
Read More »Day in the life of a CEPEP worker: People’s opinions don’t put food in your fridge
“[…] Management issues and problems receiving salaries [caused me to leave my previous jobs to work at CEPEP]. Some employers treat you like dogs, talking to you anyhow, making you work long ridiculous hours for little money. “My last full-time job, I worked for three months as a cleaner without …
Read More »Demming: T&T women need sexual harassment legislation not policy! #Metoo passed us by
In 2017, Barbados passed legislation which will provide for the protection of employees in both the public sector and private sector from sexual harassment in the workplace. The Bill further provides a framework for the reporting of sexual harassment cases by employees and a method of resolving such cases. In …
Read More »Dear Editor: Where is the Darryl Smith Report? Rowley administration hypocritical on sexual harassment
“What can be taking the [Dr Keith] Rowley Administration almost a year to deal with the contents with an already completed report [on former Sport Minister Darryl Smith]? “Why the hesitancy by Prime Minister Rowley to make public the committee report?” The following Letter to the Editor on the government’s …
Read More »I was 17 when a man first threatened to rape me in Tacarigua: Letters on domestic violence in T&T
“I was 17 when I was first verbally accosted on the street. I was standing on the PBR at the Tacarigua intersection, when a man—probably in his 20s—who I had seen at the corner before, approached me. “He began: ‘Next time yuh come ’round here looking so sweet…’ Or maybe …
Read More »Demming: Requiem at Angostura; Bharath is the chief celebrant…
You are cordially invited to The Daily Requiem for all victims of sexual harassment at Angostura Holdings Limited and indeed throughout Trinidad and Tobago. The chief celebrant will be Mr Terrence Bharath Chairman, Angostura Holdings Limited. In anticipation of his sermon here are two quotes from previous sermons. On July …
Read More »Dear Editor: Baldeosingh knocks Amar’s “#MeToo sales pitch” on workplace sexual harassment
“Clearly, Mr Amar believes there is a significant customer base for the [MeToo] hashtag, since at the launch on Tuesday he stated that sexual violence and harassment are prevalent in T&T. “In fact, the available data says otherwise, since a 2017 IADB-funded National Women’s Health Survey found that ‘Sexual harassment …
Read More »Demming: Why new Angostura chairman, Bharath, must face up to Balgobin affair
Since 2005 there have been allegations of sexual harassment levelled against Dr Rolph Balgobin. To quote a Trinidad Express Newspaper report of 4 January 2017: “Former (Arthur Lok Jack) ALJ Chairman and (at that time) University of the West Indies Principal Clement Sankat yesterday confirmed that he had inherited the …
Read More »Not Condemning: T&T’s Angostura Farm, where all animals are holy but only cows are sacred
“Doudou!” “Darling! “Darkie!” “Red ting!” “Sweet ting! “Slim ting!” “Tick ting!” “Tall ting!” Their catcalls come at us from all sides, across the street, across the room, in the Stadium, in the Oval, in City Gate, at the taxi-stand, everywhere. Their candid remarks about our bodies are delivered without hesitation, …
Read More »Not Condemning: Will T&T’s first #MeToo help dynamite lasting bastion of male power?
Congratulations are in order for the Minister of Labour, Senator Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, on becoming the first Trinbagonian woman to stand up and be counted in the #MeToo epidemic! The good Minister took the brave step of announcing in a Sunday Express article that she too had been a victim of …
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