Chairperson of the Rights of the Child Commission, Mrs. Aleema Nasir, in an invited comment, said the Commission had its sixth statutory meeting Monday and is presently looking at setting the stage to move forward.
“We are working out our plans,” said Chairperson Aleema Nasir yesterday.
Nasir explained that the Commission’s role is to oversee agencies and groups, both public and private, responsible for dealing with children and ensure that the interests of the young ones are addressed in the way they should be.
At a recent meeting, the Commission focused on formulating administrative systems and getting the Commission’s Secretariat operational.
The Chairperson noted that the Commission is presently getting au fait with all the relevant legislative provisions as they relate to children’s rights and meeting with stakeholders.
She acknowledged that there is the criticism that the Commission is not doing enough, but pointed out that the group is fledgling, and there is the need to ensure that when it does get going it does so in the right direction.
On March 13, 2009, the motion moved by Chairperson of the Committee on Appointments, Gail Teixeira, for the appointment of members of the first Rights of the Child Commission was approved by the National Assembly.
The legislation that supports the setting up of the Commission, stipulated that the Commission’s functions would be to promote initiatives that “reflect and enhance the well-being and rights of the child.” The Commission is tasked with ensuring that the rights and interests of children are taken into account at all levels of Government, other public bodies and private organisations.
The current Chairperson of the Commission, with 12 others individuals, were sworn in during May last year.
Since then, two Commissioners have resigned and three new appointments have been made.
At present there are 14 Commissioners. Apart form Nasir, the other Commissioners are Pamela Nauth and Yvonne Fox (representing Service organisations); Kwame McCoy (representing the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security); Sarojanie Rambarran, and Colleen Anthony (representing religious organisations); Michelle Kalamadeen and Suelle Findlay-Williams (representing youth organisations); Sandra Hooper, Rosemary Benjamin-Noble (representing women’s organisations); and Shirley Ferguson (representing the National Commission on the Rights of the Child.)
The newest additions to the Commission are Marissa Massiah (representing youth organisations), Hyacinth Massay (other) and Mrs. Bibi Shariman Ali, the Assistant Chief Education Officer Primary.