The Ministry of the People, Social Development and Family Services (MPSDFS) has awarded a one-off grant of $40,000 to the Caribbean Centre for Human Rights (CCHR) to support the rollout of a new tele-legal assistance programme aimed at improving access to justice for vulnerable groups across Trinidad and Tobago.
The funding will go toward CCHR’s “Right to Reach: Expanding Access to Justice Through Tele-Legal Support” initiative, which is designed to connect people who face barriers to traditional legal services including distance, mobility challenges, stigma or safety concerns with confidential legal guidance.
The grant was formally presented to CCHR Executive Director Jennisa Nandoo by Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services the Honourable Vandana Mohit on Thursday at the organisation’s office at Plaza de Montrose, Chaguanas.
Under the programme, persons seeking help will be able to access legal guidance and referrals through WhatsApp, telephone hotlines and virtual consultations, removing the need to travel to a physical location. Legal officers and trained support personnel will provide trauma-informed and gender-sensitive assistance to those who reach out.
Set to launch on October 1, 2026, the initiative is expected to benefit approximately 1,000 people across the country.
Speaking at the presentation, Minister Mohit praised CCHR’s continued commitment to protecting rights and expanding access to justice, noting that support should never be limited by a person’s circumstances or location. She said the partnership reflects the Ministry’s broader effort to ensure every citizen has the opportunity to have their voice heard and their rights respected.