An Independence commitment
A toddler waves a miniature national flag at the 2015 Independence Parade. Photo: Elmo Griffith. By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI “It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of […]
Stop pillaging our common home
File photo: A Leather Back turtle prepares to lay its eggs at Matura, May 2009. By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI “A Christian who doesn’t safeguard creation, who doesn’t make it flourish, is a Christian who isn’t concerned with God’s work, that work born of God’s love for us.” Pope Francis, February 9, […]
Youth building peace
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI Saturday, August 12 is International Youth Day. The theme this year is: Youth Building Peace. As the UN states, “there is growing recognition that as agents of change, young people are critical actors in conflict prevention and sustaining peace. International Youth Day 2017 is dedicated to celebrating […]
The rights of Indigenous Peoples
An indigenous woman greets Pope Francis during a meeting with participants in the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum of the International Fund for Agricultural Development February 15 at the Vatican.(CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano, handout) By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI “We must not ignore those who claim the status of First Peoples in this country as […]
Create conditions to develop our people
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI On July 4, the Daily Express reported that Attorney General, Faris Al-Rawi, expressed concern about the high levels of poverty still existing in Trinidad and Tobago. He said: “San Fernando West, for those of you who don’t know, has some areas of poverty that would shock the […]
Have we lost our educational compass?
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ (http://rcsocialjusticett.org) & Director, CREDI From a Catholic perspective, T&T is not promoting authentic integral human development of our children, that is, the development of the young person in all his/her dimensions and of every young person. As a former Deputy Director of Education/Head of Quality Assurance in a London borough, […]
Working to lift our people
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ & Director, CREDI Which one of you did not weep at the heart-rending cries of Veena Subar, the inconsolable mother of 13-year-old Videsh Subar, when she saw the dead body of her only child – his hands tied behind his back and his throat slit? She had conceived him after […]
A sentinel goes to Grenada
By Leela Ramdeen, chair, CCSJ (http://rcsocialjusticett.org) & Director, CREDI “Just as the tabernacle lamp always remains lit in your majestic cathedrals or humble chapels, so your flock must always be able to see in your eyes the flame of the Risen Christ.” Pope Francis to Bishops, 2014 I share with you an extract from the […]
Showing hospitality to widows
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ (http://rcsocialjusticett.org) & Director, CREDI On Friday, June 23 the world observed International Widow’s Day. It was first celebrated in 2011 “in an effort to empower widows and help them regain their rights, which have long been ignored and violated. After their husbands have passed, many widows are forced to fight […]
The Eucharist, a call to action
by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI “If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the Church door, you will not find Him in the Chalice.” (St John Chrysostom) Every Corpus Christi we are reminded that “Holy Mass… concludes with the sending forth of the faithful, so that they may fulfill God’s will […]
