Salutations
• Mr. Ryan Ramcharan and Mrs. Wendy Guy –Hernandez, Permanent Secretaries (Ag), Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services
• Mrs. Vera Deonanan–Balkaran, Deputy Permanent Secretary
• Ms. Cindy Heeralal, Coordinator, NGO Unit
• Mrs Nirmala Maharaj-Sawh- Director, Disability Affairs Unit
• Ms. Ramona Ramsawak, Director, Finance and Accounts
• Heads of Division and members of staff of the Ministry
• Mrs. Christine Mayers, President, Lady Hochoy Centres of Trinidad and Tobago
• Mr. Nicholas Cumberbatch, President, Trinidad and Tobago Association for the Hearing Impaired
• Mr. Kenneth Suratt, Chief Executive Officer, Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association
Good afternoon, everyone.
It gives me great joy to welcome each of you to this most meaningful occasion, one that goes beyond ceremony, beyond numbers and signatures because today we reaffirm a promise.
A promise that every citizen, regardless of physical ability, circumstance or challenge, will always have a place of belonging, a space of dignity, and the full right to live a life of purpose and possibility in Trinidad and Tobago.
Today’s ceremony stands as a reflection of our Government’s abiding commitment to inclusion, a cornerstone of our vision to build a nation that sees every person, values every voice, and embraces every ability.
This afternoon, as Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services I have the honour of presenting subventions to three extraordinary institutions whose work exemplifies compassion in action:
- The Lady Hochoy Centres of Trinidad and Tobago,
- The Trinidad and Tobago Association for the Hearing Impaired, and
- The Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association.
Together, they are the lifelines of care, skill, and advocacy for thousands of our differently-abled citizens.
To the Lady Hochoy Centres, I extend heartfelt appreciation.
For decades, you have embodied love and resilience, nurturing children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, teaching them not just how to live, but how to thrive.
From classrooms to workshops, from therapy to training, your work transforms lives daily.
The subvention of fifteen million, six hundred and ninety thousand, six hundred and ten dollars ($15,690,610) is therefore not a grant, it is an investment in human potential; a recognition that every child deserves the chance to shine.
Your teachers, caregivers, and administrators are quiet heroes of this Republic, ensuring that no child is ever defined by limitation, but rather by the boundless possibilities of love and opportunity.
To the Trinidad and Tobago Association for the Hearing Impaired, this Government acknowledges and celebrates your extraordinary efforts in giving voice to the voiceless.
You have championed access to education, skills training, and communication through sign language, opening doors for those whose silence society too often overlooks.
With your subvention of twelve million, eighty-five thousand, five hundred and eighteen dollars ($12,085,518), we are not simply funding a programme, we are amplifying the sound of inclusion.
You remind us that silence does not mean absence.
Our hearing-impaired brothers and sisters speak through their actions, their art, their excellence, and their courage.
We, as a Ministry and as a people, must continue to listen, not only with our ears, but with our hearts.
And to the Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association, whose work spans generations, empowering those who are blind or visually impaired to navigate life with dignity and independence, I salute you.
Your organization has taught us that vision is not merely what the eyes can see, but what the heart can imagine.
This Government proudly allocates thirteen million, five hundred and ninety-nine thousand, four hundred and eighty dollars ($13,599,480) towards your continued service, knowing that each dollar represents empowerment, training, and restored hope for our citizens.
You have proven, time and again, that darkness cannot dim determination, and that with the right support, our visually impaired community will continue to light the way for others.
My friends, today’s total investment of forty-one million, three hundred and seventy-five thousand, six hundred and eight dollars ($41,375,608) is a bold declaration that our differently-abled community is not a group to be pitied, but a force to be empowered.
This is the philosophy that guides our new regime, one that listens, learns, and leads with people at the centre.
We are redefining the social contract, ensuring that equity, accessibility, and opportunity are not privileges, but rights.
Under my stewardship as Minister, the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services is embracing a new era of compassion, one that is not robotic or bureaucratic, but people-centred and purpose-driven.
To every organization represented here, I thank you for being our steadfast partners in building an inclusive Trinidad and Tobago.
We trust you to continue upholding the principles of good governance, accountability, and transparency, ensuring that every cent entrusted to you becomes a ripple of change in someone’s life.
Let us, together, continue to break barriers.
Let us continue to champion the cause of those often left unseen or unheard.
And let us remind this nation that disability does not define destiny, ability does.
Together, we are crafting a Trinidad and Tobago where inclusion is not an afterthought, but a foundation where no one is left behind.
Thank you, and may God bless you all.