Josiah another victim of national care crisis

The Women’s Institute for Alternative Development (WINAD) is calling on decision makers to support our labour market, by prioritising access to affordable care for the young, the elderly and people living with disabilities.

The story of Josiah and his family, as recounted in the media, epitomises the convergence of multiple insecurities bombarding the life of many in TT .

Our continued refusal to attend to the safety of our children is at the heart of the unfortunate death by drowning of five-yearold Josiah. A situation only made worse by the draconian response of what appears to be an extremely punitive State.

Why is it that the State response to Jerome Henry’s unfortunate decision to leave his children “on their own” is jail? What is the utility of the refusal of the Commissioner of Prisons to allow Jerome to mourn for his son at his son’s funeral? Jerome’s decision was misguided and he will live with the consequence for the rest of his life, according to law and conscience.

But he went to work. He did not go to fete nor to lime. How then does a State that is limited in providing options for care become so swift to punish what can only be the inevitable outcomes of persistent State neglect? Our public policy options must be more deliberative and mindful.

Public policy options must be founded on a commitment to expanding the life options available to all our citizens. Public policy options must be committed to protecting and advancing the quality of life for the disadvantaged and vulnerable among us.

Long-term and short-term care for the vulnerable among us must be central to how we understand expanding life choices.

Public policy must protect Josiah and his family, and others in similar circumstances. Government must ensure that it does.

WINAD calls on Government to inform the population about the impact which its current social programming has had on the targeted populations and its plans for improving the social landscape in TT .

Folade Mutota executive director