Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment, Rural and Urban Development, Christopher Sinckler, addressing the official opening of the office of the??Barbados Association of Social Workers, in Belleville last evening. At right are Lionel Clarke and Hildegarde Weekes, who were honoured for their contribution to social work in Barbados. (Image: C. Pitt)
Social workers are making an invaluable contribution to this country.
This was underscored by Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment, Rural and Urban Development, Christopher Sinckler, as he officially opened the office of the Barbados Association of Social Workers, in Belleville last evening. The event was designed to mark World Social Work Day, which was celebrated yesterday.
In his address, Mr. Sinckler praised the social workers for their exceptional work throughout the community and made special mention of the relation of human rights to the social worker.
"The social worker is an integral part in the protection of human rights. People must be able to enjoy all the benefits of living in a free and just society, such as Barbados. Everyone in the country must have access to all human rights, and the benefits of our development must reach all," he maintained.
Mr. Sinckler also mentioned the need to honour those who have made a valuable contribution to the field of social work.
"The Ministry of Social Care is replete with officers, who have given many years to this profession; officers whose commitment to the people of Barbados, has been as outstanding as it has been unrecognised. In a few months, the Ministry will undertake to honour some of these outstanding public servants," he pointed out.
Minister Sinckler also applauded the social workers for their ability to cope with the dangers involved in that field of endeavour and disclosed that they are sometimes faced with threats and verbal abuse. He, however, assured them, that the Ministry of Social care would be investigating such incidents.
"I have had a discussion…to get to the bottom of this. We are not going to put our social workers out in the field to face peril threats and abuse from people who should, frankly, know better," the Minister stated.
Mr. Sinckler also commended the officers for their excellent response to the new social challenges facing the society, including the impact of growing cases of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and the increasingly ageing population, on the social care system.