1st Edition Newsletter 2016
ESCTT Hosts AU/CPAN /CARICOM Tripartite Meeting
Participants of the 2015 AU/CPAN/CARICOM Tripartite Meeting
(L-R) Mr. Khafra Kambon, Regional Coordinator of CPAN, Dr. Folajinmi Adisa former Director of CIDO, Mr. David Commissiong Chairman of CPAN & Ms. Nadia Raveles, Executive Member of CPAN
The Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (ESCTT), in its capacity as the secretariat for the Caribbean Pan African Network (CPAN) hosted an AU/CPAN/CARICOM Tripartite Meeting on December 5th-6th 2015 at the Trinidad Hilton & Conference Centre. The meeting was held in collaboration with the Citizens and Diaspora Directorate of the African Union (AU-CIDO). Participants comprised twenty-three persons representing fourteen organizations from across the Caribbean. Also taking part in the meeting was Dr. Folajinmi Adisa now former Director of CIDO, Mr. Ahmed El-Basheer El Madani, Head of the Diaspora Division, CIDO and Mr. Kyeretwie Akwasi Osei, Desk Officer for the Americas and the Caribbean, CIDO. Special invitees included Dr. Julius Garvey, son of the late Marcus Garvey, a cardiovascular surgeon who sits on several boards including The Zumbi Foundation of Brotherhood and the Marcus Garvey. Committee. Also present were Dr. Claudius Fergus, Head of the History Department at the University of the West Indies, St.
St. Augustine, H.E. Ambassador Sir Edwin Carrington, former Secretary General of CARICOM and H.E. Ambassador Patrick Edwards, High Commissioner of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to Uganda. The aim of the two-day meeting was to arrive at strategies to revitalize and strengthen CPAN and identify ways to develop and operationalize a tripartite relationship between CPAN, AU and CARICOM. In addition, participants discussed ways to increase involvement of the African Diaspora in the Caribbean in the African Union (AU) Economic Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC). In an effort to strengthen the reparations movement globally, discussions also explored the inclusion of the African continent in the struggle for reparations and observation of the United Nations International Decade for People At the end of the meeting participants agreed to host a regional launch of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent and in 2017 a Youth Conference in collaboration with CIDO and the Pan African Youth Council. Some of the other activities scheduled for 2016 include, drafting a proposal for the expansion of the ESCTT National African History Quiz for Secondary Schools and Spoken Word Competition for Primary Schools into the Caribbean region, establishment of a National Reparations Consortium in each Caribbean state to facilitate national popular tribunals, the creation of a Caribbean database of skilled persons and the next CPAN General Meeting. ESCTT sees its role as the secretariat of CPAN, as a critical one for Pan Africanism in the Caribbean region and is committed to continue to work towards the continued growth and development of the Network and realization of its goals and objectives.
ESCTT Launches PROJECT ‘Gender Equality and Fatherhood – Empowering Single Fathers in
Trinidad and Tobago to Play an Equal Part in Parenting Their Children’
Project Team (From L- R) Dr. Peter Weller, Mr. Rhondall Feeles, Ms. Natasha-Helena Zoric, Ms Tiffany Hercules-Jerome, Ms. Zakiya Uzoma Wadada and Mr. Chike Lone
On March 22nd the ESCTT launched the project Gender Equality and Fatherhood – Empowering Single Fathers in Trinidad and Tobago to Play an Equal Part in Parenting Their Children, at a Media Launch held at Emancipation House, ESCTT Secretariat, 5B Bergerac Road Maraval. The project aims to raise public awareness and influence policy as regards gender inequality, in the assessment and adjudication of parenting privileges and promote the institutionalisation of shared parenting. It also seeks to contribute towards a better quality of life for boys and girls who are denied the opportunity to benefit from equal parenting by both father and mother, due to legal custody arrangements. In addition, through the establishment of a multi-sectoral committee and research, the project will assist in the advocacy and lobbying for policy and practice towards equitable shared parenting. Funding for the project, which targets single fathers and their families, is being provided by the Delegation of the European Union to Trinidad and Tobago. In this regard the Single Fathers Association of Trinidad and Tobago is the key beneficiary and will also benefit from training and organisational development towards better delivery of
(From L-R) Ms. Natasha-Helena Zoric, Mrs Hazel Thompson-Ahye, Mr. Khafra Kambon and Mr. Rhondall Feeles
delivery of its services to their clients Speakers at the Launch included, Mr. Khafra Kambon, Chairman of the ESCTT, Ms. Natasha-Helena Zoric, International Cooperation Adviser from the Delegation of the European Union to Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Rhondall Feeles, President of Single Father’s Association of Trinidad and Tobago (SFATT), Mrs Hazel Thompson-Ahye, Child’s Rights Advocate and Family Law Practitioner, Ms. Zakiya Uzoma-Wadada, Executive Director of ESCTT and Project Manager and the consultants Dr. Peter Weller, Training, Ms Tiffany Hercules, Research, Marcus Williams, Public Relations and Communication and Chike Loney, New Media Technology. The ESCTT is acutely aware of the negative impact that the absence of fathers can have on families and more specifically on their children’s life. Tackling issues surrounding parenting and families is one of the strategies of the ESCTT to address the issues of youth delinquency and the rise of criminal activity in Trinidad and Tobago.
Stay tuned for details on the upcoming 2016 AHQ & SWC !!!!!
ESCTTT & Dr. Julius Garvey Launches Breadfruit Propagation Project
Mr. Kambon and Dr. Julius Garvey presents Mr. Ricardo Bharat Hernandez with his certificate of participation
Following the July 2015 International Breadfruit Conference, held at the UWI, St. Augustine Campus, which had as its theme: Commercializing breadfruit for food and nutrition security, the Emancipation Support Committee of Trinidad and Tobago (ESCTT) in collaboration with Dr. Julius Garvey launched a propagation project on Friday December 4th at the Emancipation House, ESCTT Secretariat, 5B Bergerac Road, Maraval. The project aims at encouraging increased growth of breadfruit in Trinidad and Tobago and according to Dr Garvey in his presentation at the Launch, recognising that the “breadfruit has a greater nutritional value than potato, rice and wheat and can be used in many different ways. It can be the substitute to all our starch importation and is a way for us to become self-sustained while ensuring that the agriculture industry is attractive to the younger generation for continuance.”
Dr. Garvey with Akila Jaramogi and members of Fondes Amandes Community Restoration Program along with visiting students and the breadfruit trees donated as part of the project
Dr. Garvey, son of the legendary Marcus Mosiah Garvey sought the collaboration of the ESCTT, following the 2015 Emancipation Celebrations. to purchase 1,000 breadfruit plants from the Agricultural Services Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and the La Reunion Propagation Centre, for distribution to farmers throughout Trinidad and Tobago. Farmers from St. Ann’s to Biche, who were members of the ESCTT’s Community Mobilization Committee were given first preference. At the Launch recipients of the plants and partcipation certificates, included Akilah Jaramogi of the Fondes Amandes Community Restoration Project, Vikhana Maharaj, Ricardo Bharat Hernandez of the Community of Indigenous People of Arima, Trevor and Elizabeth Blake of the Biche Community and Dr. Shango Alamu of the Caura Community, who is also one of the consultants providing technical support to the project.
ESCTT UPDATES ESCTT has resumed its monthly meetings of the Community Moblisation Committee (CMC), the Youth Moblisiation Committee, the Working Committee for the International Decade for People of African Descent and the Rhythm and Voices of Africa in the Community groups. Last year the ESCTT took its African History Caravan to 8 schools across Trinidad and Tobago. The caravan has been to Rio Claro Secondary School, Siapria East Secondary School and Fyzbad Secondary School thus far for 2016. Interested in the caravan coming to your school? Contact us at 628 5008 ext 25 The Report of the Civil Society Conference on the IDPAD is completed and is available to the public upon request. Interested in getting a copy? Call us at 628 5008 or email us at info.emancipation@esctt.org Forty participants took part in an ESCTT Micro Entrepreneurship Workshop entitled ‘Sales strategies for Micro entrepreneurs in Challenging Economic Times’ on 23rd May 2016. 11th June: Registration for 2016 Kambule Procession 15th June: Registration for booths (Trans Atlantic Trade Exposition) CHECK OUT ESCTT CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2016 ON PG 4
consultants providing technical support to the project. At the event, Khafra Kambon, Chairman of the ESCTT thanked Dr. Garvey for his contribution and indicated that he demonstrated that, ‘the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree (pun intended).’ He further noted that the ESCTT was truly grateful to Dr. Garvey, for his support for and commitment to a better way of life not just for people in Trinidad and Tobago but throughout the African diaspora. He pledged that the ESCTT would ensure that the project achieved its goal.
EMANCIPATION THEME FOR 2016 EMANICPATION: CELEBRATING THE RESILIENCE OF A PEOPLE
HYE WONNHYE "That which does not burn "- imperishability and strength.
January—April Community Mobilisation Committee Meetings / IDPAD Working Committee Meetings Focus Group Meetings for 2016 -2021 Strategic Plan
Implementation of Project: Gender
Equality and Fatherhood
May
June
18th
Annual Micro Entrepreneur Development Workshop
11 th CMC Meeting / Registration for 2016 Kambule (Street Procession)
25th
Launch of Emancipation and Commemoration of African Liberation Day
15th
Community Mobilisation Committee Meeting / IDPAD Working Committee Meeting Implementation of Project: Gender
Equality and Fatherhood
Registration of Booths (Trans Atlantic Trade Exposition)
18th Annual Yoruba Village Drum Festival 26th Launch of the Kwame Ture Memorial Lecture Series 27th-30th Kwame Ture Memorial Lecture Series Implementation of Project: Gender
Equality and Fatherhood July 1-29th Kwame Ture Memorial Lecture Series
July
August
28th Grand Opening of the Lidj Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village
1st Re-enactment of the Proclamation of Emancipation ~ Freedom Morning Come, Emancipation Day Kambule 3rd Annual Emancipation Fashion Show 29th Youth Day & Pan Night - Lidj Yasu (Street Procession) and performances all day at the Lidj Omowale Emancipation Village Yasu Omowale Village 15th Rhythm and Voices of Africa on the Promenade 30th Rhythm and Voices of Africa Lidj Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village/ Pan African Festival
24th Blessing of the Grounds of the Lidj Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village 31st Family Day / Youth Pan / Youth Concert Implementation of Project: Gender
Equality and Fatherhood
Implementation of Project: Gender
Equality and Fatherhood
27th Youth Conference on the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) Focus Group Meetings for 2016-2021 Strategic Plan RAVOA / Community Film Festival Auzonville Park Implementation of Project: Gender
Equality and Fatherhood September Review / Appreciation Function Strategic Planning Exercise for 20162021 Strategic Plan Implementation of Project: Gender
October –November National African History Quiz and Spoken Word Competition
December 26th Kwanzaa Celebration Implementation of Project: Gender
Community Mobilisation Committee Meeting / IDPAD Working Committee Meeting
Equality and Fatherhood Implementation of Project: Gender
Equality and Fatherhood RAVOA / Community Film Festival
Equality and Fatherhood