Tuesday 9 March 2021
A Mother of the Mt Paran Spiritual Baptist Church rings the bell as she performs the last rites at the funeral of Isaiah Thomas on Monday in Bethel. At left is Thomas s uncle Barrington Skippy Thomas. PHOTO BY DAVID REID -
The funeral of 21-year-old murder victim Isaiah Thomas on Monday focused on Thomas s bright future, cut short by violence.
Thomas, who lived in Lambeau, was found floating in water near the Lambeau bridge on February 27. He was reported missing a few days earlier.
An autopsy determined that he died from chop wounds to his head and neck and water was found in his lungs.
Tobago now has Association of Gender Support Groups
Tobago social activist Jaiye Melville. FILE PHOTO -
Social activist Jaiye Melville says he is excited that gender-based groups in Tobago have responded to the call to form an umbrella organisation to tackle issues affecting men, women and children on the island.
Melville was the driving force behind the men’s march against violence against women on February 14.
The march, Tobago Men Making A Difference: Let’s Show Love to our Women, was triggered by the abduction and murder of Andrea Bharatt.
The 23 year-old court clerk was kidnapped on January 29 after boarding what she believed to be a taxi at King Street, Arima. Her body was found at the Heights of Aripo on February 4. An Arima man has been charged with her murder.
Sunday 21 February 2021
Men lead the way in the Tobago Men Making A Difference march to end violence against women in Crown Point on February 13. Gender experts say TT s male-dominated culture must change to include acceptance of women s rights. File photo -
With Andrea Bharatt’s murder still fresh on many minds, gender expert Marcus Kissoon is calling for people to recognise the role TT’s male-dominated culture played in her death and many others.
For Kissoon, dismantling the patriarchal system and its beliefs are key steps towards curbing the spate of gender-based violence and femicide.
Patriarchy can be defined as a social system which creates inequality and inequity between men and women to men s advantage.
PDP deputy leader: Churches must do more to end violence in society
Sunday 14 February 2021
Michael Stewart, executive director at Communication Consultant Tobago Ltd addresses the Tobago Men Making a Difference rally at Store Bay, Crown Point, Tobago on Saturday. PHOTO BY DAVID REID -
Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) deputy political leader Farley Augustine says churches must play a greater role in the fight against violence in the society.
He made the statement on Saturday after participating in a men’s march against violence in Tobago.
The march, organised by social activist Jaiye Melville, was held in response to the gruesome murder of Andrea Bharrat.
Tobago men step up against gender-based violence
Sunday 14 February 2021
Activists under the umbrella – Tobago Men Making a Difference – lead a march against gender-based violence from Milford Road to Store Bay in Crown Point on Saturday. PHOTO BY DAVID REID -
Politicians, businessmen, community activists and religious leader led what some people described as a historic march on Saturday in Tobago, vowing to end crime and violence against women in all forms.
The group declared they had had enough of what they considered to be a threat to the fabric of society and promised a united front in combating the scourge.