Dragonfly Centre: Women Out in Force

Mission

Non-Profit, 501(c)(3)

Mission: The Dragonfly Centre is committed to the elimination of domestic violence against women and their children by providing victim friendly services that promotes the empowerment of survivors; through advocacy, public awareness and education and community based initiatives.

Vision: The Dragonfly Centre envisions a world free of violence against women and their children and social justice for all. We are founded on the vision and belief that every person has the right to live in a safe environment free from violence and the fear of violence and strive to work collaboratively with the community to provide victim friendly services to support domestic violence victims, survivors to the stage of thriving.

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Saturday, March 9, 2013

Women Out in Force

Women out in force

By RALPH BANWARIE Friday, March 8 2013

IN AN ACT to commemorate today’s global observance of International Women’s Day, women police officers supervised and carried out a major roadblock and traffic control exercise along the streets of the eastern town of Sangre Grande.

The show of female power caught shoppers, businessmen, passers-by and motorists by surprise. Not one policeman was present. Officers stopped motorists and in one case, two women officers searched a driver who meekly complied with instructions to “assume the position” (to be searched).

The women police officers were supervised by ASP Odette Lewis, Operations Officer of Eastern Division while the actual exercise was led by Acting Insp Beverley Paul. The officers were seen regulating traffic at the corner of River Road and Ojoe Road, the corner of Eastern Main Road and Railway Road, Brierley Street, Foster Road and Southern Main Road and along the Eastern Main Road.

Lewis said yesterday that this exercise, where only women police officers were involved in carrying out traffic and other related roadblock duties was in commemoration of today’s observance of International Women’s Day.

Lewis said a similar exercise was carried out in Rio Claro on Wednesday. Lewis reported that this was the first time in recent memory that only women officers were seen at one time carrying out a specific exercise. Lewis boasted that the traffic flowed smoothly so much so that she is seriously contemplating having more women officers out on patrol and overseeing regulation of traffic.

Lewis said her women officers worked efficiently and effectively with over 100 traffic tickets being given to motorists who contravened the Road Traffic Act.

“My female officers are boss! They were successful in carrying out roadblocks, checked several suspects and issued tickets to offending motorists. All in a day’s work for us,” said Lewis.

Lewis complimented all her officers and she was happy that her female officers

made an impact in the execution of their duties.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,174541.html

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A Little Background…..

In 2007 I was introduced to the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It is a beautiful tropical country located in the southern most part of the Caribbean archipelago. However, the opportunity to travel to this part of the world would not present itself until March of 2009. It was an incredible experience to be able to visit a country where I had never been before and I literally knew no-one. I had the privilege to experience a new culture and meet many wonderful people who made my trip an amazing experience. Although the purpose of my visit was recreational, something happened that changed all of that. One evening while on a hike with my tour guide and one of the locals at The ASA Wright Nature Centre, one of the men asked me where I was from and what I did for a living. It was at that moment that I disclosed that I was a Domestic Violence Advocate. He paused, looked at me and replied,… “we need you here”. At that moment I did not fully understand what he meant or how I could help.

A few days after this I visited one of the local court houses to learn about how someone could obtain a protection order. What I discovered disturbed me greatly, to say the least. The process by which abused individuals could obtain legal protections left much to be desired. This sparked grave concern for victims coupled with a desire to learn more about the local system and services. After I finished my travels all I could think about was the need of the people in Trinidad and Tobago. It was shortly after my return to the United States that the Dragonfly Centre for Women’s Empowerment and Transformation began to take form. While completing my Bachelors degree at Evergreen College, I developed an Individual Learning Contract entitled “Domestic Violence in Trinidad and Tobago” and was awarded The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. This allowed me to return to Trinidad and Tobago for my final quarter at the end of December of 2009 for my nine week study. My focus was on services addressing domestic violence. What I came away with was the echoing cries for help by the people who freely shared their personal views and stories. Although I wasn’t quite sure what, I knew I had to do something. As a consequence, it was these cries that gave birth to and helped shape the Dragonfly Centre to be what it is, a multifaceted institution with a focus on public education, shaping public policy and providing direct victim friendly services to support families dealing with domestic violence.