For Release Upon Receipt - October 2, 2007
St. Augustine
The University of the West Indies (UWI) Centre for Gender and Development Studies (CGDS) will host a panel discussion on The Equal Opportunity Bill 2007. The panel discussion, which is part of the Centre’s ongoing Lunchtime Seminar series, will take place on Wednesday 3 October, from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES).
Panelists will include Professor Rhoda Reddock, Head of the CGDS; Mr. Anthony Jackman, Head of the Academic Advising and Disability Liaison Unit; Mr. Luke Sinnette, Programme Director, Friends for Life; and Ms. Gaietry Pargass, Attorney-at-Law.
Discussion will focus on the Equal Opportunity Act (No. 69 of 2000), which was enacted by Parliament in 2000. The Act provided for the establishment of an equal opportunity tribunal. In 2004, an application was brought by Kenneth Suratt and other to compel the government to constitute and appoint persons to the Equal Opportunity Commission and Tribunal. The Attorney General exceptionally defended the government’s refusal to do so by arguing that the legislation was in violation of various provisions of the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Centre for Gender Development Studies (CGDS)