FEATURE SPEAKER JUSTICE VASHEIST KOKARAM AT JOINT MEETING

The club was privileged to have the Honourable Justice V. Kokaram, Judge of the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago and Chairman of the Mediation Board of Trinidad and Tobago deliver his feature address on the topic “A blueprint for national development - A humanistic philosophy on the rule of law justice and peace: "Zombieland" or "La La Land"” which touched on one of Rotary’s 6 areas of focus “Peace and conflict resolution” and which was well received by all present.

The Judge’s presentation was interactive starting with the auction of a $20.00 bill in which the audience participated, with the live auction demonstrating the adversarial nature of the process. Attendees were invited by the Learned Judge to consider and question the fairness of process and outcome of the auction.

Using factual examples of situations where conflict is healthy so as to bring about change the audience was also asked to consider what are the drivers of negative conflict and whether we can embrace positive conflict. The Learned Judge imparted that Trinidad and Tobago is presently ranked 84 out of 163 countries on the Global Peace Index for 2016 and Rotarians were encouraged by him to keep up their efforts to achieve peace through their projects and activities.

In special attendance were District Governor Roger Bose and Assistant Governor Michael Kangaloo and the Rotary Club of Princes Town took the opportunity to inducted it’s 5th new member for the Rotary year, Pharmacist Ravi Ramanand, who was pinned by District Governor Roger Bose and enthusiastically welcomed as a Rotarian by all present.

The Presidents of each club in attendance brought greetings, and took the opportunity to highlight the major works and upcoming fundraisers of their respective clubs.

The evening was one of education, celebration and wonderful fellowship among all present.