PM Kamla establishes Daniel Decree in memory of Daniel Guerra

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said on Tuesday the death of Daniel Guerra is a rallying call to the nation and a shared moment of collective grief. She added that it holds the potential for becoming a national resolve to participate in a process from which there must be a positive outcome.

Persad-Bissessar was speaking at a celebration to mark International Women's Day. She took the opportunity to explain The DANIEL DECREE, which is being launched in memory of the youngster whose body was found in a river near his home last month.

Persad-Bissessar said the DANIEL DECREE is an initiative with a social agenda that includes the involvement of all NGO’s partnering with government, the police and army and the private sector in tackling the issues of crime, and child neglect and abuse, in their myriad forms.

"It is also an educational programme through which the public with specific target groups such as children learn how to better secure and protect themselves and their environments," she said.

She said she proposes to establish a committee led by International Trade Minister Stephen Cadiz and co-ordinated by Minister of the People Glen Ramadharsingh to implement the Daniel Decree. 

She outlined the key objectives of the initiative:

• To create a synergistic relationship between Government, NGO’s, the protective services, the private sector and media on dealing with the critical issues of crime, child neglect and abuse
• To create a powerful, interactive educational environment that informs both children and adults on specific ways in which greater protection and responsibility for safety can be ensured
• To identify solutions, short term and long term, that addresses the deeper issues of crime and safer, more secure attitudes and lifestyles
• To identify specifically for children ways and means of protecting themselves and gaining assistance of resources designed to help them and to promote the availability of such resources so that they are familiar to every child

Persad-Bissessar said, "I am sure every woman can identify with the profound grief which Daniel’s mother will endure for the rest of her life."

She added, "Nothing we can do would be of greater significance than to embrace her with our prayers and empathy and resolve to do everything possible in ensuring tragic events such as this are prevented. 

"I am sure the Daniel Decree speaks to the heart of every woman as it must to every human being who learns of the sad events.

"Let us find the strength borne out of the will to honour Daniel and others, let this International Women’s Day, also proclaim that we will protect our children, that we will transform our society and reclaim it from the depravity that seeks to dominate."