Child labour gets red card

‘Say Yes To Children, No To Child Labour’ was the theme of the walkathon held by the Grant Memorial Presbyterian Primary School yesterday through the city of San Fernando.

The event was intended to speak out against child labour, an ill but common practice around the world. Teachers, parents, students and past students took part in the event. The school’s principal Lennox Sirjusingh speaking to Sunday Newsday yesterday said the event was endorsed by the Prime Minister, TTUTA, Social Services Minister Christine Kangaloo, the Ministry of Sport and OWTU. In attendance were Lester Baldwin, Regional Co-ordinator for Child Labour Projects of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Roma Wong Sang, Information Officer of the ILO. Cascadia contributed $3,000 in banners and T-shirts for the event. Flavorite also gave a lolly and balloon to each child at the end of the event.

The school’s steelband performed before and after the walkathon and there were also dances. During the walkathon which got on the way at around 10 am participants gave the symbolic ‘red card to child labour’ at various intervals. The march took them from the school on Carib Street to Coffee Street, Cipero Street, Sutton Street, Independence Avenue, up High Street then back to the school’s compound. Sirjusingh said that it was also aimed at teaching the children to speak out against injustice. He further said that the problem was a worldwide one as shown in the international media.