The Honourable Vandana Mohit, Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services, presented Letters of Appointment to members of the Guy Talk Trinidad and Tobago Steering Committee, signalling a strengthened, collaborative approach to male engagement, empowerment and social support.
The presentation took place at the Ministry’s Head Office, St Vincent Street, Port of Spain, on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026.
Guy Talk Trinidad and Tobago is a thirty (30) day, WhatsApp based programme that is being implemented by the Ministry, through the Gender Affairs Division (GAD), with technical and financial support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The programme engages men in practical conversations and activities focused on healthy masculinity, emotional regulation, espectful communication, conflict resolution, consent and help seeking.
In delivering the feature address, Minister Mohit stated that “the challenges facing our people are interconnected, and our response must be interconnected too. Guy Talk is an example of what can be achieved when Government, civil society, academia and development partners work together towards healthier relationships.”
The Steering Committee comprises representatives from the Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Culture and Community Development, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the University of the West Indies and the Single Fathers Association of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Committee will provide strategic guidance, strengthen referral and safeguarding arrangements, support implementation and help generate learning to inform future programming.
The Ministry, through the Gender Affairs Division, will continue to work with the IDB and partner agencies as preparations advance for the pre pilot and subsequent implementation of Guy Talk Trinidad and Tobago.
MPSDFS; Ms. Shelly Ann Hart, Director, Gender Affairs Division, MPSDFS; Mrs. Marsha SamarooCalcut, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.); Mr. Jevvon Brewster, Manager, South West Mediation Centre, Community Mediation Services Division, Ministry of Culture and Community Development; Mrs. Lyra Thompson-Hollingsworth, Director, National Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Programme (NADAPP) Secretariat, Ministry of Health; Senator Dr. Natalie Chaitan-Maharaj, Parliamentary Secretary, MPSDFS; Mr. Ryan Ramcharan, Permanent Secretary, MPSDFS; Mr. Ursan Phillip, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mental Health Unit, Ministry of Health and Mr. Roger Reyes, Assistant Superintendent, Special Victims Department, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.