Government of Trinidad and Tobagogov.tt

Media Release: The Blind Welfare Association of Trinidad and Tobago presents their Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS to the Ministry of Labour’s HIV Workplace Advocacy Unit

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - Tuesday 02 February, 2021

The Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association (TTBWA) presented its recently completed HIV and AIDS Workplace Policy to the HIV Workplace Advocacy Unit (HWAU) of the Ministry of Labour (MOL) on Tuesday 26th January, 2021. The presentation of this Policy has signified the commitment and collaboration of both organisations toward addressing HIV and AIDS in the Blind Welfare Association.  The completion of this Policy by the TTPBWA follows the signing of two (2) Memoranda of Understanding by both organisations in 2017 and 2020 respectively.

The Association embraced the technical support received by the team of officers at the HIV Workplace Advocacy Unit of the Ministry for the completion of this Policy. At the Presentation, Manager of the HWAU, Ms. Heather Rodney stated “the milestone reached with the presentation of the TTBWA’s Workplace Policy, truly represents collaboration, teamwork, and consistency on the part of both the Ministry of Labour and the Association and that the services provided by the HWAU are geared towards protecting the rights of persons living with HIV in the workplace, including those vulnerable groups of workers.” She added that organisations that develop a workplace policy on HIV and AIDS, ensures the organisations’ ownership and sustainability of the HIV and AIDS workplace programme. Ms. Rodney said the establishment of procedures to manage HIV and AIDS in the workplace promotes public education, non-discrimination, care, treatment and support for employees.

HIV and AIDS Advocacy Officer, Mrs. Kurlisha Mc Lean Roberts highlighted many activities in which both organisations were engaged. Noteworthy to mention is the TTBWA’s translation of the National Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS and the HIV Workplace Advocacy Unit’s Employee Brochure into braille in April 2019. Copies of these documents have been presented to the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS) for distribution to all Libraries throughout the country for access by the visually impaired.

Trinidad and Tobago Blind Welfare Association’s Executive Officer (Ag.) Ms. Lakhan Seepersad, reiterated the importance of developing an HIV and AIDS Workplace Policy, given that the visually challenged are also exposed to social issues.  Chairperson of the TTBWA HIV and AIDS committee, Mr. Shiva Ramroop expressed the organisation’s commitment to continued collaboration with the HWAU to ensure that the TTWBA operationalises its HIV and AIDS Workplace Policy through the development and implementation of workplace programmes.

It is to be noted that these developments coincide with the commemoration of World Braille Day which is observed on January 04 annually.

TTBWA 1

Ms. Yolanda Simon, Assistant Manager, HWAU and Mr. Shiva Ramroop, Chairperson TTBWA HIV and AIDS Committee

TTBWA 2

 Ms. Heather Rodney, Manager, HWAU, and Mr. Lakhan Seepersad (Ag. Executive Officer, TTBWA

 TTBWA 3

L-R: Ms. Yolanda Simon, Assistant Manager, HWAU, Ms. Heather Rodney, Manager, HWAU, Ms. Kurlisha McLean-Roberts, HIV and AIDS Advocacy Officer, Mr. Lakhan Seepersad (Ag.) Executive Officer, TTBWA and Mr. Shiva Ramroop, Chairperson TTBWA HIV and AIDS Committee

 

For further information on developing an organisation Workplace Policy on HIV and AIDS or to access the services of the HWAU, contact the HWAU at: 299- 0300 Ext. 2008, 2010, 2011 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Visit the Ministry’s website for more at: www.labour.gov.tt 

For further information, please contact:

Corporate Communications Unit
Ministry of Labour
International Waterfront Centre, Tower C, Level 6, 1A Wrightson Road,
Port of Spain
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Tel: 625-8478 exts. 1203, 1208 Fax: 623-1404
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

- END -