Caption: Dr Desiree Murray. Photo: T&T Parliament
By Sue-Ann Wayow
INDEPENDENT Senator Dr Desiree Murray is commending the government on its proposal to amend the Children’s Life Fund Act.
Praises came not only from Dr Murray but also from independent and opposition senators for the law, which was the brainchild of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in her first term as prime minister back in 2010.
In her maiden contribution to the Senate on Monday, Dr Murray, an ophthalmologist, said the Act both in original form and the proposed amendment must be commendable as children were amongst the most vulnerable in society.
She said, “The amendment being proposed are timely and appropriate interventions. They represent an empathetic, valid and generous evolution that must be supported by measures to ensure long term sustainability of their benefits.”
Dr Murray however proposed that that the term “life threatening illness” be replaced and further recommended that the word “illness” be replaced with the word “condition” throughout the bill.
“Using the term condition ensures that we capture the full spectrum of health states that may affect a child’s longevity or quality of life. This distinction matters as it may determine who is eligible for lifesaving, life extending or life enhancing treatment under the fund. It ensures that children are not excluded due to imprecise language,” she explained.
Visually-impaired independent senator Alicia Lalite-Ettienne was referenced as an example.
Dr Murray said, “In my field of ophthalmology, for example, the condition retinitis pigmentosa may not be considered an illness per say, but it is certainly life-limiting. A potentially curative treatment in the form of gene therapy is on the horizon.
“We need look no further than this independent bench for a clear example. Senator Lalite-Ettienne has lived with this condition her whole life. This condition has caused her blindness yet it would be wholly inaccurate and inappropriate to describe her as being ill.”
Government Senator and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services Dr Natalie Chaitan-Maharaj led the government’s side in putting forward the bill The Children’s Life Fund (Amendment) Bill 2025 in the Upper House.
Opposition supports the amended bill
In leading off the Opposition members, Opposition Senator Dr Amery Browne said it was a good move by government to deal with such a critical bill as its first order of parliamentary business.
He said, “I feel very hopeful for this debate and I am quite pleased that the government has .. I was going to say in its wisdom but let’s quite not go there…that the government has determined that this would be the first matter of business for us as a chamber.”
Dr Browne said, “It is our view that the health and well being and development of our nation’s children really should never be treated as a political football and certainly we will participate in a manner in accordance with that particular philosophy.”
Opposition Senator Janelle John-Bates shared a personal account of a friend of hers whose newborn baby benefitted from the Children’s Life Fund adding that if it was not for the fund, she would not be in the Senate sharing the good news that the child who was diagnosed with a life threatening congenital heart defect at birth was doing well.
And Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi also admitted the legislation was “landmark”.
He said, “I join in congratulating the Member for Siparia now the Prime Minister and that piece of law which I have on many occasions prior said, it is very good law.”
Al-Rawi, a former attorney general agreed with Dr Murray of the changing of the word “illness” to “condition.”
In her first Cabinet media breifing since winning the April 28 general election, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced that the amended bill would allow the Minister of Health to review an application for a grant that has been rejected by the board for further consideration.
