Central Women Stand in Support of Defence Amendment Bill
UNC Women’s Arm
Press Release – Central Women Stand in Support of Defence Amendment Bill
The Women of the Central region of the United National Congress yesterday called on the Members of the Senate to support the Defence Amendment Bill (The Miscellaneous Provisions (Defence and Police Complaints) Bill, 2013). At a meeting hosted in Couva South Hall on Wednesday 20th March 2013, the women unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Senators to support the bill.
Moving the motion at the meeting was Mrs Indira Ramlogan Ali, which was supported by over 250 women who were present from the Central constituencies. The motion resolved that “the Regional Meeting of the Women’s Arm unanimously agree to express its fullest support to the Partnership Government for the introduction of the critical Defence Amendment Bill which seeks to provide the legal mechanisms through which members of the Defence Force, namely the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and the National Air Guard, will contribute to further addressing the levels of crime in the country”. The motion further resolved to “urge members of the Trinidad and Tobago Senate to listen carefully and consider the arguments made by thinking members of civil society including the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce, and to vote in favour to pass the Bill.”
Chairman of the Women’s Arm of the UNC, the Hon Stacy Roopnarine stated that the Women’s Arm were having a series of Regional Meetings to get the views of women across the country on issues which affect them. She said that thus far they held meetings in South and in the North Eastern regions where various issues were raised by women. Minister Roopnarine noted that Crime was indeed a major concern for many women namely mothers and grandmothers who feel helpless in protecting themselves and their families and noted that the Government’s steps to Amend the Defence Act was surely a measure to assist in the reduction of Crime.
In attendance at the meeting was not only women of Central but also the Minister of Gender Youth and Child Development, the Hon Marlene Coudray as well as Member of Parliament for Couva South the Hon Rudranath Indarsingh.
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Resolution for Women’s Arm of
The United National Congress:
Whereas the Women’s Arm of the United National Congress met at its Regional Meeting on Wednesday, 20th March 2013,at the premises of the UNC Couva South Constituency Office,
And whereas, this Regional meeting was attended by Women from the Central Constituencies of Couva North, Couva South, Chaguanas East, Chaguanas West, Caroni Central, Caroni East, Tabaquite and Point a Pierre,
And whereas, this Regional Meeting demonstrated the continuing activity of the Women’s Arm of the UNC, and its contribution to the United National Congress as a major political party in Trinidad and Tobago,
And whereas, the Regional Meeting discussed a wide ranging number of issues relating to the development of Trinidad and Tobago, and particularly the role and responsibilities of Women in national advancement,
And whereas, delegates at the Regional Meeting noted that the issue of Crime continued to be a serious deterrent especially for women, who as mothers and grandmothers, identify with the pain and suffering of the women in our society who feel helpless and defenseless in protecting our family and ourselves against criminal elements
And whereas, the women noted that the Partnership Government had achieved significant success in its thirty three (33) months of office, reducing the high incidence of crime in the country which had grown exponentially over several years of failure and lack of effectiveness by the previous PNM regime, but recognized that the level of serious crime, particularly murders, continued to be unacceptable,
And whereas, the women of the UNC noted that one of the far reaching and creative initiatives proposed by the Partnership Government was the effective deployment of personnel of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force to assist the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service in the national fight against crime,
And whereas, the regional meeting reviewed the salient points made by members of Government why the use of Defence force personnel was valid, right, constitutionally acceptable and downright sensible in using valuable national resources, otherwise not effectively maximized,
And whereas, members at the meeting recognized that the Government had consciously introduced additional measures, meaningful safeguards and controls to assuage expressed concerns of possible misdirection enunciated by civil society groups,
BE IT RESOLVED that the Regional Meeting of the Women’s Arm of the United National Congress, unanimously agree to express its fullest support to the Partnership Government for the introduction of the critical Defence Amendment Bill which seeks to provide the legal mechanisms through which members of the Defence Force, namely the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and the National Air Guard, will contribute to further addressing the levels of crime in the country,
Be it further resolved that, the UNC Regional Meeting of Women urges members of the Trinidad and Tobago Senate to listen carefully and consider the arguments made by thinking members of civil society including the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce, and to vote in favour to pass the Bill.