‘Women in Harmony’ grads celebrated

Minister of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Joan Yuille-Williams, yesterday told the graduates, “All 310 women can now harvest the benefits of their participation, and achieve the goals they set out to accomplish. This event is significant because it signals two critical benefits for us individually and for our society — one — marketability of the graduates, two — contribution to the development of the society of Trinidad and Tobago.”

Implemented in 2002 to address the problems of women, the 2006 programme began February 15 and ended May 12 with participants from across the country benefiting from both theoretical and practical training. The programme was also restructured this year with the introduction of counsellors on hand at each centre to support the women in building new confidence, feelings of competence, of pride, new goals and of self-satisfaction.

Yuille-Williams advised the graduates, “Today I want to urge you not to slip back into the old scripts, the old messages that might have constrained you. Get going now, get into employment, advanced training, support one another, form associations that support and advance your skill and enjoy the freedom that your new skill gives you.”

She said with current statistics indicating that 8.6 percent of TT’s population is over the age of 65, she told the women to care for yesterday’s children as they have already made a contribution to our society.

Yuille-Williams warned the agriculture/landscaping graduates that we must guard ourselves in the event of a sudden disruption in the global food supply. This year the programme focused on short crops, where the women were able to experience a bountiful harvest. “I know of the feelings of pride that you experienced at seeing your produce and while you continue this work I also want to encourage you to teach neighbours in this direction so that as a society we could move towards the wholesome health that comes from fresh vegetables, root crops etc and exercise through gardening,” said Yuille-Williams.

Between the distribution of certificates and special awards, the women were entertained by violinist Anselm Walters, vocalists Denyse Plummer and Carlos James (Skatie), the Malick Folk Performers, the Shiv Shakti Dance Troupe and Phase II Pan Groove.