Category: columns2014

columns2014

Govt must help ‘correct’ youth

Post author By Web administrator
Post date July 5, 2014

by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI

Clinical therapist/ trauma specialist and CEO of the Centre for Human Development, Hanif E Benjamin, said recently: “The country has become a very cold and uncaring one… We are not taking charge in protecting our children, the most vulnerable. We are not treating the children like our future… we need to say to ourselves we are the responsible ones, our children cannot protect themselves, they are not just a mother’s or a father’s responsibility, but a society’s responsibility…there are families in crisis and there is no proper support system in place” (Newsday, June 20).

Tags Youth

columns2014

Working in the Lord’s vineyard

Post author By Web administrator
Post date June 28, 2014

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 16:13-19), we read about Peter’s profession of faith. By our baptism we accept that Jesus Christ is the “Son of the living God”. Peter was the rock on which Jesus built his Church. Today, Jesus expects us, His followers, to continue Peter’s work.

Tags capital punishment, Greater Caribbean for Life

columns2014

Re-engineering the Criminal Justice System

Post author By Web administrator
Post date June 21, 2014

On Saturday, June 14, I was a panellist at a Symposium held at UWI in honour of the late Dana Saroop Seetahal SC. It was organised by The Foundation for Politics and Leadership and the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (UWI) and had as its theme Re-engineering the Criminal Justice System.

In his opening address, Sir Dennis Byron, President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, rightly reminded us that “crime flourishes when the environment is conducive to people behaving in a certain way.”

columns2014

A child is not an accessory

Post author By Web administrator
Post date June 16, 2014

Today is both Father’s Day and World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. One of the greatest gifts that God gave to humankind is FATHERS.

I shall miss the Father’s Day party for my father who will be 89 years old in July. He is currently in London with all my siblings, his ten grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. I thank my father for the tremendous impact he continues to have on my well-being and development. It’s my birthday tomorrow – say a prayer for me.

Tags elderly, fathers

columns2014

A refreshing break

Post author By Web administrator
Post date June 8, 2014

At the time of writing this article, my team and I at the CCSJ are preparing for our annual one-day retreat on the theme: Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied (Mt5:6).

Too often we get caught up with the many activities of our daily lives and do not take enough time to withdraw in prayer to ask God for spiritual direction. Over the years, CCSJ members and staff have found that annual retreats provide an opportunity for us to refresh ourselves; to reflect on our goals; and to draw closer to God – asking Him for His grace – to open our hearts to the gifts of the Holy Spirit as we seek to promote His reign here in T&T.