Trinidad Social Services Minister Inspires Women To “Keep Striving For Success”

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (Tuesday, March 9, 2021) — Women must keep striving for success and sit at the table, where decisions are made, advised Minister of Social Development and Family Services, Senator Donna Cox.

She stated her firm belief that, as women, “We have superpowers, due to our ability to be nurturing, empathetic and motivated by challenges.”

The Social Services Minister made these inspiring comments, during her keynote speech at a breakfast meeting, hosted by the ladies of the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in Port of Spain, in observance of International Women’s Day, commemorated, globally, on March 8, each year.

Minister Cox urged the attendees to explore all facets of life that will make them better leaders, mothers, teachers and positive influencers in society.

Among those in attendance were the Minister of Education, Senator Dr. Nyan Gadsby Dolly; Chief Executive Officer of the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation, Diane Lackan; as well as female councillors and staff of the Corporation.

(From L-R) Councillor Jodi Johnson; Senator Donna Cox; Councillor Adanna Griffith; Minister of Education, Dr. Nyan Gadsby Dolly; Kimberly Small and Joy Benjamin, both Councillors of the San Juan/Laventille area.

During the event, the Minister interacted with the councillors and shared some insightful thoughts on how women are breaking the glass ceiling, as well as highlighting some of the ways, in which women have excelled in their leadership roles, in politics, and at the community level.

She also expressed that there is need for urgent collaboration for the appropriate and effective mobilisation of resources, at the local level, to provide assistance to those in need, especially those vulnerable groups living on the margins of society; as well as women and children, whose capacities to manage the impacts of COVID-19 may have been compromised.

In this regard, Minister Cox indicated her intention to meet with the Corporation soon, to present information on the various grants and services, offered by the Ministry.

She concluded the meeting by expressing: “I am confident that the transformative roles that many of us, here, today, undoubtedly continue to play, ensures that not a single one of our mothers, sisters, daughters or grandmothers is left behind.”