Committee examines sexual harassment of schoolchildren

IMPROPER conduct by teachers towards schoolgirls will be examined by Parliament’s Joint Select Committee (JSC) on Human Rights on Friday at 10.30 am at the J Hamilton Maurice Room in the Parliament building.

The JSC, chaired by Culture Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, will meet for an “Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in the Education sector with specific focus on students.”

The meeting is open to the public, and submissions to the committee can be sent by e-mail to jschumanrights@ttparliament.org

Today the Senate will debate a private motion by Opposition Senator Wade Mark urging that the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) become subject to Parliament’s oversight. His motion asks the Senate to "call on the Government to take urgent steps to introduce legislation that would make the EBC accountable to the citizenry of TT by allowing parliamentary scrutiny of its administration, the manner of the exercise of its powers, methods of functioning and any criteria adopted by the Commission in the exercise of its powers and functions.”

The senate order paper lists 15 questions for answer. These include questions about a woman who was made to wipe her sindoor (red spot) off her forehead to take a passport photo at the Point Fortin Immigration Office. Also listed to be answered are questions about the death of a woman in childbirth at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH), possible harm to newborn babies from loud music outside the SFGH, and an 11 year-old girl falling from her upper-floor home in a Maloney apartment,

The House of Representatives sits tomorrow at 10 am to debate the Whistleblower Protection Bill.