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For four decades, The University of the West Indies’ Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) has served as a beacon of progressive change throughout Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean region. What began as the Women and Development Studies Group in 1982 has evolved into a premier institution driving gender justice, equality, and research-informed advocacy.

Under the guidance of Dr. Sue Ann Barratt, the institute’s director and senior lecturer, IGDS brings together academic, professional, and technical teams to advance meaningful dialogue, scholarly investigation, and community engagement. Their work illuminates how gender dynamics influence both visible and concealed challenges affecting diverse populations across the nation.

The institute’s intellectual foundations rest upon the pioneering work of Caribbean feminist scholars Professors Patricia Mohammed and Rhoda Reddock, now emerita faculty members. Their extensive scholarship—spanning over 100 publications—has fundamentally shaped Caribbean feminist discourse and women’s movements, providing critical insights into the intersecting identities and experiences of women throughout the region.

Dr. Angelique Nixon, senior lecturer and researcher at IGDS, emphasizes the necessity of intersectional analysis: ‘We do not just exist as one aspect of our identity. These dimensions—race, sexuality, class background, and others—overlap and mutually influence one another.’ This framework reveals how socioeconomic status, education, geographic location, and access to resources collectively determine social positioning and experiences of privilege or oppression.

IGDS has launched numerous transformative initiatives that created tangible societal impact. The groundbreaking ‘Break the Silence’ campaign brought national attention to child sexual abuse and its connections to HIV transmission. Another flagship program, ‘A Sexual Culture of Justice’ led by Dr. Nixon, addressed gender-based violence, homophobia, and bullying through its influential #PullUpYuhBredren awareness movement.

The institute’s reach extends beyond traditional academia through youth empowerment programs like the Reach for Rights camp and a global Massive Open Online Course on feminist transformational leadership that attracted participants from over 80 countries. Current research priorities include climate justice, aging populations, and gender-responsive policy development that informs national planning strategies.

Recently, IGDS commemorated its 40th anniversary alongside the Department of Creative and Festival Arts at their new Gordon Street location in St. Augustine. The institute continues its advocacy through international campaigns such as the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, hosting walks, student exhibitions, and collaborative events with organizations like the Hindu Women’s Organisation.

Through its integrated approach combining scholarship, education, and community engagement, IGDS remains at the forefront of efforts to bridge social divisions, challenge systemic inequalities, and foster a more equitable society for all Caribbean people.

The Zika Foundation has issued a compelling appeal to Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe, urging the immediate cessation of the government’s planned appeal against a landmark 2023 High Court judgment. The ruling had affirmed the constitutional rights of children born with Zika-related disabilities, mandating state support for their specialized care needs.

Dr. Karen Sohan, Head of the Zika Foundation and former Chief of Staff at Mt Hope Women’s Hospital, emphasized that affected families seek only practical measures to manage their children’s complex care requirements. “These are modest needs, but they carry immense significance in easing daily burdens and preserving dignity,” Dr. Sohan stated, citing examples such as covered parking facilities to protect vulnerable children during hospital transport in inclement weather.

The case centers on eight-year-old Davyn Ragoo, one of 17 Trinidadian children born with congenital Zika syndrome during the 2017 outbreak. Born with microcephaly, Davyn is non-verbal and immobile, requiring round-the-clock care including specialized nutrition, constant physiotherapy, and mobility assistance. His mother, Kavita Ramkissoon-Ragoo, has developed an intricate system of gestures to communicate with her son—mouth opening indicates hunger, tongue twiddling signifies thirst, leg stretching suggests abdominal pain, and leg rubbing signals the need for diaper changes.

The original lawsuit, filed in 2019 against former Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, resulted in Justice Joan Charles’s groundbreaking 34-page judgment. The court found the state had violated Davyn’s constitutional right to life by failing to provide appropriate healthcare, ordering immediate specialized medical provision, financial assistance, and protocol implementation within three months. The state was also mandated to pay damages for constitutional breaches.

Despite the court’s clear directive, Ramkissoon-Ragoo reports receiving no communication regarding the appeal process nor any state assistance. Families continue to shoulder enormous financial burdens, often abandoning employment to provide full-time care while relying on charitable support.

While expressing confidence in the government’s commitment to children’s welfare, affected parents urgently request implemented procedures rather than prolonged legal battles. “Our kids were born with lifelong disabilities,” Ramkissoon-Ragoo emphasized. “My dream is for them to receive first-world treatment. We make it look easy, but I admit it is overwhelming at times.”

Minister Bodoe has acknowledged the inquiry but requested additional time to respond substantively to these critical concerns affecting some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.