Advancing women’s equality
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI On March 8 the world observed International Women’s Day (IWD). The 2019 theme is: Think equal, build smart, innovate for change. As the UN states, the theme “focuses on innovative ways in which we can advance gender equality and the empowerment of women, particularly in the areas […]
Keeping former offenders on the straight and narrow
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI On Tuesday, February 20, I attended Vision on Mission’s (VOM) Preparation for release launch 2018, entitled: ‘Changing the Criminal Thinking’ — held at the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca. Wayne Chance and various speakers spoke with passion. Having spent a few days at a workshop in Tobago […]
A moment of grace
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI IT was with great joy that many of us gathered at the Church of St Philip and St James, Chaguanas, on Saturday, February 23 to celebrate the ordination to the Order of the Diaconate of Stephan Alexander, Kwesi Alleyne, Kenwyn Sylvester and Mikkel Trestrail—conferred upon them by […]
‘Listen to Him’ is a call to action
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Today’s Gospel, Mark 9:2–10, tells the story of the transfiguration of Jesus. God’s message to Peter, James and John via the voice from the cloud, applies to us also, particularly in the times in which we live. He said: “This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to […]
Don’t let your love grow cold
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI In case you did not have an opportunity to read Pope Francis’ Message for Lent 2018 in last week’s CN (page 7), here is a summary. The theme he has chosen is: Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold (Mt 24:12). […]
Addressing the plague of human trafficking
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “WHAT TO DO? WHAT TO DO?”, cried my friend in frustration after reading about the 19 young Venezuelan women, between 15 and 19 years old, who were rescued following police operations in West Trinidad. The media reported that police have cracked a major drug and prostitution ring. […]
Let’s celebrate World Day of Social Justice
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “None of us can think we are exempt from concerns for the poor and for social justice…Jesus tells us what the ‘protocol’ is, on which we will be judged. It is the one we read in chapter 25 of Matthew’s Gospel” (Pope Francis). On Tuesday, February 20, […]
No to privatising prisons
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI It is with great sadness that CCSJ noted the suggestion made by former National Security Minister, Gary Griffith, in Newsday on Friday, January 26. As reported, during a discussion on ISAAC 98.1 FM, entitled: Looking for Solutions, on January 24, and in light of the video on […]
Celebrating the life of a statesman
Professor George Maxwell Richards – served T&T with dignity, compassion, and dedication. By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ, & Director, CREDI On Wednesday, January 17, T&T said farewell to one of our country’s great statesmen, our fourth president, Professor George Maxwell Richards who passed away on January 8, at the age of 86 years. He served […]
Bullying must never become the new normal
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI In March 2017, Diane Montagna reported on Pope Francis’ plea to about 80,000 young people, parents, and educators in Milan, Italy. He expressed “his concern about bullying, which he called ‘an ugly phenomenon in education these days.’ “He warned parents and teachers to be on guard against […]
