Port of Spain: Minister of Social Development and Family Services Senator the Honourable Donna Cox today February 5, 2025 received a courtesy call from Her Excellency Maria Elisa Teofil de Luna Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
The meeting which took place at the Ministry’s Head office on St Vincent Street, Port of Spain included discussions on mutual areas of collaboration between the Ministry and the Embassy to improve the social services offered to citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.
Minister Cox spoke about existing social initiatives, programmes and services in both Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil. She said she met her Brazilian counterpart, Minister of Social Development and Assistance and Hunger Eradication, Wellington Dias at a conference last year and was impressed with the country’s innovative approach to reduce poverty.
The Minister explained that the Sowing Empowerment through Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) programme offered by the Ministry, focuses on empowering the poor and vulnerable who have an interest in starting their own business or improving their existing one, but are unable to gain access to funding on their own. She said the Ministry hopes to introduce more programmes like SEED which move people out of poverty.
Her Excellency Teofil de Luna extended an invitation to Minister Cox to collaborate with her counterpart, Minister Dias. She said Brazil looks forward to this kind of engagement and cooperation.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Development and Family Affairs, Mrs Lenor Baptiste-Simmons also attended today’s Courtesy Call. Her Excellency was accompanied by Head of Consular, Cultural and Social Themes, Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Mrs Carolina Azaredo Souzaq, and her Personal Assistant, Ms. Vinol Griffith.