Representative of Empowerment, Quality, Unity, Acceptance, Love and Strength (EQUALS), Alpheus Lythcott accepting the course certificate from Commandant of the Regional Police Training Centre, Sylvester Louis.
Representative of Barbados Gays and Lesbians Against Discrimination (BGLAD), Didi Winston accepting the course certificate from Captain Thomas Decker.
LGBTI ‘Awareness Training of Trainers’ course ends
Commandant of the Regional Police Training Centre, Sylvester Louis has described as timely the training of police officers and community service providers in how to work with members of the LGBTI community.
“I have been a police officer for many, many years and I have witnessed how we react to that community, and I thought that this course came at the right time, especially with a populace wave right around the world… .I think that we had to get on board – and we have gotten on board.”
He further shared his hope that more officers of agencies under the Ministry of Home Affairs would be exposed to this training.
“This is only the first… .I do hope that this course is taken to the other disciplinary forces within this country. It is necessary, it is definitely necessary. I thought that some members from the army, fire service [and] prisons; I thought that they should have been here.”
Louis was at the time addressing the Closing Ceremony for the LGBTI “Awareness Training of Trainers for Police and Community Service Providers” course. This occurred on Friday at the Regional Police Training Centre. During the four-day workshop, the 22 participants covered areas, such as the Principles of Policing, Marginalised Communities, Human Rights and Domestic Violence in the Community. The session was held under the Movement Against Discrimination Action Coalition (MOVADAC).
Also speaking during the Closing Ceremony was the Canadian High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Marie Legault. She urged participants to be conscious of discrimination, as well as thanking them for being involved in the course.
“There is also discrimination based on sexual orientation and how one defines its own identity. It takes place here in Barbados. I know people who have been victims. It takes place in other countries around the Caribbean, and unfortunately, it also takes place in Canada. So I think we all have to be conscious of that. Again, I just want to thank you sincerely for taking time in this training to be more sensitive, and understanding better where everyone comes from and understanding also what role you can play; what change you can bring to the Barbadian society.” (MG)