Protecting religious rights of everyone

The action taken by the Thusian Institute for Religious Liberty (TIRL) in a case involving a student of the St. Vincent Teachers’ College and her superiors is said to be the one example of the activity in which the Institute will be involved – the protection of the religious rights of all Vincentians.{{more}}

This was made clear at the Launch of the Institute, at an official ceremony on Sunday, October 12th, at the Peace Memorial Hall in Kingstown.

General Secretary and Public Relations Officer of the Institute Ann-Marie John, speaking at the ceremony, revealed that the organization had provided advocacy for the student, whose religious rights, John said had been violated by the school.

According to John, the student had made a religious remark to a Lecturer, which led to her being suspended.

Attempts by the Institute and the student to resolve the matter with the school proved futile, which led to legal intervention; as a result, the student was reinstated and is continuing her studies.

John noted that although the Institute was founded by the Thusia Seventh Day Adventist Sabbath Church, its services are for all denominations, as they seek to educate all about their rights and freedom with special emphasis on the first right: Religious Liberty.

John said that the First Right is not subject to due process, as with other rights, and should not be compromised.

She indicated that the Institute is a human rights education services provider, which has provided advocacy, consultation and legal services to persons since its incorporation in February this year.

The Institute celebrated its first anniversary this June.

At the ceremony, Nyron Medina and Shannon Bartholomew, of the Trinidad and Tobago arm of the Institute, praised the group for its work.

The group’s official website: www.firstfreedomthink.com was also officially launched.

The organization hosts a weekly radio programme: “The Rights of the People” on Star FM, and is scheduled to commence a television programme of the same name next month.(JJ)