Opposition senator Faris Al-Rawi was singled out yesterday morning by Senate vice-president Lyndira Oudit for his tremendous contribution towards the passage of the Children Bill 2012 in a 15-hour sitting, which began at 1.30 pm on Wednesday and ended at 4 am yesterday. After an almost nine-hour committee stage, it was approved with unanimous support. Al-Rawi, a lawyer, and Attorney General Anand Ramlogan played critical collaborative roles in ensuring the legislation, which was intended to protect children against abuse, was approved. Shortly before the adjournment, Oudit thanked Al-Rawi for his efforts. "I would like to thank, on behalf of all members, the efforts of Senator Al-Rawi. I believe you have guided legislation and assisted the Attorney General quite efficiently and competently towards the passage of this bill," she added. The Senate was then adjourned to next Tuesday.
Earlier, Gender Affairs, Youth and Child Development Minister Verna St Rose-Greaves urged legislators to approve the legislation and ensure the required "structures" were implemented to ensure children were protected as soon as possible. She said it was always expected that the bill would only be passed if there was collaboration. St Rose-Greaves said: "We know of people who would have been sexually abusing children. We knock glasses with them, we're selecting people to run for high office, we have the information," she added. She said many turned a blind eye to the abuse of children but it was happening all over T&T. St Rose-Greaves said she was aware of a man "on the outskirts of Port-of-Spain who had children with his daughter and then had children with those children." She said she was also aware of bestiality taking place. "A children's home in this country, where there was a pack of 12 dogs that the staff would sit and watch the children have sex with them. We have it right here and we have to start to hold the mirrors to ourselves to understand," the minister told legislators. St Rose-Greaves also spoke about an incident involving a 15-year-old Guyanese girl who was brought to T&T to escape incest in her country and was taken by a rich woman who was mentally and physically challenged.
She said the girl, who was supposed to work at the residence as a cleaner, was forced to have sex with the woman's son. The minister said parents must be educated so they can educate their children about sex and sexuality. She said people "have to stop being hypocritical, we have to face up to the ugly." St Rose-Greaves said she was bullied for seeking to speak about the problems children and women have had to deal with.
"Over the past few days, my relatives have been called, close friends have been called, people who they think I listen to have been called because somebody needs to beat up on Verna one more time...Well, bring on the licks," she said. "I will not be silenced. I refuse to be silenced. I have a job to do for the children of this nation and I intend to do it for as long as I can." St Rose-Greaves also said: "I have no desire to hold on to anything. I have no whims about I am the only person who can do it. I can run the first relay or the second relay and pass on to somebody else." She said the nation must engage in a discourse about the issues affecting women and children. The House of Representatives meets this afternoon at 1.30 at Tower D, Waterfront Complex, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.
