TTOC places emphasis on gender equality

Trinidad and Tobago has been competing in Olympic sporting competitions since the 1930s, but, to date, a Trinidad and Tobago sportswoman has never mounted the podium.

During the same period, no female athlete has ever earned a Commonwealth gold medal.

Recently, re-elected TTOC president, Brian Lewis, said that putting together a gender equal TTOC Executive Committee is an important step forward.

“The TTOC has to create an environment that respects and empowers women and girls,” said Lewis. “We (TTOC) can’t expect future is female to be taken seriously by stakeholders if the way we do business and make decisions does not take seriously the views, ideas and opinions of women.

“Our female athletes must see that the TTOC is serious about its Future is Female initiative; Action speaks louder than words.” The recently installed women on the TTOC Executive are Diane Henderson (vice president), Annette Knott (secretary general), Nadine Seemongal (assistant secretary general), Racquel Moses (trustee), former 1986 Miss World Giselle La Ronde-West (executive member) and Reyah Richardson (executive member).

The current staff at TTOC Olympic House headquarters is all female which includes Lovie Santana (senior administrative officer), Stacy Santana (administrative officer - accounts), Rheeza Grant (project officer, athlete services and programmes) and Chanelle Young (project officer, marketing and communications).

Both Young and Grant are former national sportswomen.