Catholic Commission for Social Justice
Today Trinidad and Tobago celebrates our 41st anniversary as a Republic. My father was an MP in the first Parliament of Independent Trinidad and Tobago. After we gained independence in 1962, we gained republican status on August 1, 1976.
Pa died in December 2016 and, in assisting him in writing his autobiography, I recall how much it pained him that although we have made some progress, we are not living up to the fundamental principles outlined in our Republican Constitution.
By Leela Ramdeen, Chair CCSJ, and Director, CREDI
On Thursday, September 21, the world will observe the International Day of Peace. The theme for 2017, “Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All, honours the spirit of TOGETHER, a global initiative that promotes respect, safety and dignity for everyone forced to flee their homes in search of a better life” (UN).
Here in T&T, Ruben Barbado, Protection Officer at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, continues to collaborate with the Living Water Community. We can and must do better to meet the needs of our brothers/sisters who are refugees/asylum seekers from over 21 nationalities in T&T.
On Friday, September 15, the world will observe the International Day of Democracy. This year’s theme, Democracy and conflict prevention “focuses on the critical need to strengthen democratic institutions to promote peace and stability. A more integrated approach to foster resilient societies calls for effective and inclusive democratic governance with respect for human rights and the rule of law”.
“Unless those who call themselves Christians live to serve, their lives serve no good purpose” (Pope Francis).
On September 5, the world will observe the International Day of Charity. The day was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the death of St Teresa of Kolkata. The UN urges us “to commemorate the Day in an appropriate manner, by encouraging charity, including through education and public awareness-raising activities” as “charity contributes to the promotion of dialogue, solidarity and mutual understanding among people”.
If we are to do as Pope Francis said in his 2014 Lenten message and “bear witness to the Gospel message to those who live in material, moral and spiritual poverty”, we must do more than just give to the poor those things that we no longer want, or dole out a few dollars to those who beg on our streets.