Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says she has no problem giving the Child Protection Task Force more time to prepare its report and recommendations to protect children. Persad-Bissessar gave the assurance yesterday in response to chairman of the task force Diana Mahabir-Wyatt, who said the six-week deadline was “unrealistic.” Mahabir-Wyatt made the statement in a television interview on Tuesday night on CCN TV6 evening news.
Speaking with reporters yesterday after distributing 441 residential and agricultural land leases to former employees of Caroni (1975) Ltd, the Prime Minister promised to work with the task force and give members the time they needed to do their work. The land distribution exercise took place at the Couva/Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce Hall, Camden, Couva.
“I will be guided by her (Mahabir-Wyatt’s) advice on the matter. If she is of that view (more time is needed) I will respect that view and let them indicate when they meet how much time they need. I do not see that as a problem,” Persad-Bissessar said. The task force is expected to hold its first meeting tomorrow at 10 am at the Ministry of Gender, Youth and Child Development, International Waterfront Complex, Port-of-Spain.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister announced the plan for the task force after she met with relatives of murdered six-year-old Keyana Cumberbatch, of Maloney. Persad-Bissessar also attended Keyana’s funeral yesterday.