Senate President says

SENATE President Dr Linda Baboolal yesterday maintained that women were the backbone of families and society, but refused to comment on criticisms by her recent statements regarding the role of East Indian women in the home.

Baboolal was speaking at the fifth anniversary luncheon and souvenir publication launch of the National Muslim Women’s Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago at the Centre of Excellence yesterday.

The Senate President, who had recently come under heavy criticism after what appeared to be her support of one of former Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday’s defence strategies during his trial and the controversy involving the Chief Justice’s alleged interference during the trial, said she was “tired of the issue” and would not comment.

She had, at a recent sitting of the Senate, agreed that East Indian women were traditionally responsible for running the home, including managing the finances.

Baboolal told the hundreds of women and few men present at yesterday’s luncheon that women should be aware of their roles both in the home and in society. She commended the organisation, which she said had seen the need for strong Muslim women to have a voice and to uphold the moral, intellectual and spiritual values of Islam.

With the prevalence of violence against women, Baboolal said, it was important for Muslim women to know there was help available from the organisation, which served as a support system for its members.

Describing the magazine as having good “depth and content,” Baboolal expressed optimism that its popularity would increase.

Education Minister Hazel Manning, who also spoke at the function, suggested that copies of the publication be placed in the secondary school system as a learning resource of the social culture of Trinidad and Tobago.

Also in attendance were former First Lady Zalayhar Hassanali, wife of the Indian High Commissioner Anita Sapra, Senator Noble Khan and Reverend Cyril Paul, president of the Inter-Religious Organisation.