Minister praises social workers’ commitment |18 March 2010

  
Minister Lloyd addressing the social workers and guests. VP Belmont is 4th from right, seated front row

Minister Marie-Pierre Lloyd made the statement on Tuesday during a special ceremony at the International Conference Centre to mark World Social Work Day.
 
The event, which was attended by Vice-President Joseph Belmont, cabinet ministers and members of the diplomatic corps, among other guests, was also a chance to reward long-serving social workers.

Mrs Lloyd noted that Social Workers’ Day is a time to pay tribute to the contribution made by professionals in the field, and also to reflect on the critical role of social work in the current challenging socio-economic situation.

She explained that since the beginning, social work has focused on meeting and developing human needs, while human rights and social justice have been its motivation and justification.

Social work needs to evolve and adapt to the more complex challenges that families and society as a whole are now facing, she added.

“There is increasing demand for innovation in finding solutions and an increased focus on the empowerment of the vulnerable to help them enjoy their rights,” said Mrs Lloyd.

To make human rights real, social workers need to be in the field, identifying problems and solutions together with the community, she added.

Mrs Lloyd reminded the social workers that they should always take the lead to ensure that concrete action is taken to empower those people who are most affected and help them make the right choices.

She also promised more opportunities for the professional development of local social workers.

During the ceremony, Mr Belmont presented long-service awards to Brenda Dick and Una Chang-Time for 25 years spent in the profession.

Six social workers – Carina Albert, Veronica Bonnelame, Rose-Mary Delorie, Mirose Govinden, Veronica Jeanne and Winnie Racombo – received awards from Mrs Lloyd for 10 years of service.

The new logo of the Social Work Council was also launched, before Andre Didon presented Mr Belmont with a copy of the fourth edition of the Social Work in Action magazine.

A few words of reflection from Barney Elizabeth of the Anglican Diocese were also part of the programme.

World Social Work Day is celebrated on March 16, and this year’s international theme was Making human rights real: the social agenda. The local theme was Together, working for a better future.