Social activist cum UNC Senator Verna St Rose-Greaves, who has moved on from the post of special adviser on children's affairs to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, is on a new mission. St Rose-Greaves said she was choosing to focus on an event that she and singer, Ella Andall will be staging on December 10 at the Brian Lara Promenade, Port-of-Spain. It coincides with Human Rights Day. It marks the end of 16 days of activism from November 25, the Day of The Elimination of Violence to Women and including World Aids Day which was celebrated on December 1.
St Rose-Greaves, asked to comment on her move, said: "You ain't think I get in enough trouble already. Maybe I might comment on the Promenade if the spirit moves me." She has teamed up with Andall to stage Yemoja Giving Thanks-Celebrating Women and their Families. A release said: "The greatest evil facing us today is indifference. To know and not to act is to contribute to injustice." It said: "Communities of faith, community organisations and groups are invited to bring a piece of fabric. Bring something to share, fruit, food, drink, foodstuff, lights, plant, a flower. Walk with your percussion instruments of all cultural traditions. Be it bell, chac chac or drums." Greaves said the "move" was born out of a desire to change the difficult period T&T is experiencing.
"The pervading mood in the country needs to be changed. It is when times are most difficult that we need to dig deep and to be creative and innovative in our problem solving. Voices must speak to affirmation, hope and healing, and a willingness to take action. People need to be infused with positive energy, words of encouragement, to be inspired and motivated." Both Andall and Greaves stressed the need to give thanks. "Time must be set aside to give thanks for the often taken for granted strengths that we have and utilise them as tools of liberation.
We must give thanks for those who shared our lives and who are no longer with us; and to honour their memory by working towards the creation of a better society." Greaves said: "As a first step, people must be mobilised to come together in their own interest and to organise towards the reclamation of our families, homes, neighbourhoods, villages, and our country. A true and sustainable sense of security and well-being, the protection of our children will come, and must come from a place of consciousness, solidarity and a deep desire to defend our freedoms."
• Additional information can be obtained from Verna St Rose-Greaves at 317-1646 or efuwape@gmail.com