Caption: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar shares a moment with a pupil of the Happy Haven School in Signal Hill in Tobago recently. Photo: UNC Facebook page
By Nalini Sudama
EVERY child in Trinidad and Tobago must “feel seen, feel valued, feel protected and feel empowered to succeed.”
This was according to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar delivering the feature address at the United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) World Children’s Day on Thursday.
“Children are thinkers, children are creators, children are problem solvers, and leaders in their own right,” she said.
Quoting Nelson Mandela, she said, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way it treats its children,” urging the nation to reflect on the environment being shaped for children.
Persad-Bissessar commended the children who participated in the photography exhibition, saying that “through your work, you remind us that children are gifted storytellers whose voices deepen our understanding of our nation.”
She recalled her experiences of working with the Church of England’s Children Society in the UK and as a secondary school teacher.
“These experiences taught me that investing in children uplifts families, strengthens communities, and builds a better nation and a better world,” the PM said.
Persad-Bissessar spoke of the long-lasting partnership between Trinidad and Tobago, the United Nations (UN) and UNICEF.
She said, “Your collaboration has advanced child protection, education and the overall well-being of children across our nation.”
The prime minister noted that several initiatives are being undertaken to improve the lives of children.
These initiatives include quality education, digital access, safe environments, health and well-being support, inclusivity and equality, Persad-Bissessar said.
She also highlighted her previous administration’s achievements between 2010 and 2015, speaking of the expansion of early-childhood education, provision of laptops, counselling services, improvement of the Children’s Authority and the impact of the Children’s Life Fund.
Persad-Bissessar announced that the Couva Children’s Hospital is set to open in December to facilitate paediatric and adolescent care.
