The Principal of UWI St. Augustine Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine has denounced the death of their staff member Marissa Edwards. She stated that “Words are often inadequate, especially when we are speaking about someone so young, vibrant, and much loved, with so much yet left to offer her family and friends. It is even worse when the circumstances surrounding her passing are tragic."
The following is a press release from the University of the West Indies:
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the St. Augustine Campus, The University of the West Indies, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, denounces the death of their staff member Marissa Edwards as yet another example of gender-based violence in Trinidad and Tobago, one that hits home.
“Words are often inadequate, especially when we are speaking about someone so young, vibrant, and much loved, with so much yet left to offer her family and friends. It is even worse when the circumstances surrounding her passing are tragic. Such acts are irrational although we understand they point to deep-seated defects in our society which we must address”, she said.
Dr. Sue Ann Barratt, Lecturer and Head of The UWI’s Institute for Gender and Development Studies, agrees, noting that Gender-Based Violence, particularly Violence Against Women, is a persistent threat to the lives of all women.
“Violence in all its forms must come to an end. We at the IGDS / UWI call on the national community to reflect on the far reaching consequences of the diverse forms of violence we often deem as societal norms. We advocate for law enforcers to partner with civil society and other.
actors to inform and deepen their responses. Most importantly, we call for an ‘all-of-society approach’ in identifying, and eliminating all forms of tolerance that facilitate the growth, expression and acceptance of these interlocking and varied forms of violence”.
Marissa Edwards was a dedicated staff member in the Department of Paraclinical Sciences at the Faculty of Medical Sciences. The University Community extends sincere condolences to her family, friends and team members at the faculty.