News Releases

UWI and The Children's Authority Strengthen Partnership for Child Protection and Wellbeing

For Release Upon Receipt - August 10, 2023

St. Augustine


Professor Indar Ramnarine, Deputy Principal, The UWI St. Augustine Campus and Mr. Sheldon Cyrus, Director/C.E.O. of the Children’s Authority sign the agreements. Looking on are (L-R) Chairman of the Board of Management the Children’s Authority Dr. Carol Logie, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister The Honourable Ayanna Webster-Roy and Dr. Talia Esnard, Head of The UWI St. Augustine Campus, Department of Behavioural Sciences

ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. August 10, 2023 –The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St. Augustine Campus and The Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago have taken an important step towards reinforcing the safety and care of the nation's children. On Monday, August 7, 2023, the two organizations came together at The UWI St. Augustine Campus to formalize the signing of two pivotal agreements that underscore their steadfast commitment to child protection and safeguarding. 

The two agreements comprise of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a service contract for the Children’s Authority and the Department of Behavioural Sciences, The UWI St. Augustine Campus. The first agreement (service contract) is an extension of an initiative that started on May 8, 2023. This initiative aimed to train 100 staff members who work with children in residential care in Trinidad and Tobago. The training provided care workers with a better sense of preparedness and sensitivity to the matters that feed into the care and protection of the nation's children as well as access to networks, support systems, and opportunities for professional growth. This recently signed agreement continues this effort by providing training for another 100 child support officers and supervisors at The Children's Authority. 

The MoU for Internship and Research Support, outlines a cooperative plan for the next three years, which could potentially expand further. Dr. Talia Esnard, Head of The UWI St. Augustine Campus, Department of Behavioural Sciences highlighted the innovative nature of the MoU, which facilitates on-the-job training opportunities for postgraduate students within the Department of Behavioural Sciences. She explained, "The MoU also allows for collaborative research projects, joint submission of external funding proposals, community-based intervention programmes, capacity building training and professional development exchanges with an opportunity to examine, connect and address some of the perennial issues that continue to threaten the rights and wellbeing of our children." 

“So, to illustrate, imagine for a moment, that we are constructing a strong, unshakable bridge to carry our children safely from childhood into adulthood. This MOU in essence serves as the foundation, and both CATT and The UWI are the pillars that will uphold this bridge, securing and ensuring its stability and reliability. Through this collaboration, we are empowering graduate students of the Department of Behavioural Sciences with the tools they need to become advocates and protectors of our children's well-being,” said Professor Indar Ramnarine, Deputy Principal, The UWI St. Augustine Campus.  

Chairman of the Board of Management of the Children’s Authority and former Director of the UWI Family Development and Children’s Research Centre, Dr. Carol Logie, said the Authority recognises that child care professionals are so important in the development of childhood experiences. “Unfortunately, care workers find themselves at times, in situations where their competency may not lead them to effectively manage a child’s trauma – be it physical, sexual, emotional abuse, neglect or maltreatment…We want our staff to understand their duty-of-care towards children and enhance their skills in child care, as they support children who have experiences trauma,” said Dr. Logie. 

Other specially invited guests at the ceremony included Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister The Honourable Ayanna Webster-Roy, Members of the Board of Management of The Children’s Authority, Director/C.E.O. of the Children’s Authority Mr. Sheldon Cyrus and Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr. Acolla Lewis-Camera. The UWI St. Augustine Campus in collaboration with The Children's Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Gender and Child Affairs Division of the Office of the Prime Minister, is committed to providing care, protection, and rehabilitation to children facing risk or abuse. The signing of these agreements indicates a significant stride towards achieving these goals.

Professor Indar Ramnarine, Deputy Principal, The UWI St. Augustine Campus Chairman of the Board of Management the Children’s Authority Dr. Carol Logie, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister The Honourable Ayanna Webster-Roy and Mr. Sheldon Cyrus, Director/C.E.O. of the Children’s Authority at the signing ceremony

About The University of the West Indies 

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for the past 75 years. 

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe. 

The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world. 

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean in the World University Rankings, it is also in the top 25 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action. 

2023 marks The UWI’s 75th anniversary. The Diamond jubilee milestone themed “UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising.” features initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on the past, confront the present, and articulate plans for the future of the regional University. 

Learn more at www.uwi.edu   

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