Candace Honore’s Body Found in Suitcase: Former Minister Urges Continued Action Against Gender-Based Violence

July 17, 2025 – The gruesome discovery of the missing 22-year-old Candace Honore’s body in a suitcase has sent shockwaves across the nation, reigniting urgent calls for action against gender-based violence (GBV).

In response to the heartbreaking incident, former Minister of Gender and Child Affairs, Ayanna Webster-Roy, offered condolences to the victim’s family and made a powerful call for renewed national commitment to ending such brutality. Reflecting on her tenure, the former Minister highlighted several key initiatives implemented under her leadership aimed at combating GBV:

• The 2020 launch of the UN–EU Spotlight Initiative in Trinidad and Tobago.
• The development and Cabinet approval of the National Strategic Action Plan on Gender-Based and Sexual Violence (2023–2027).
• The launch of the region’s first Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan on March 26, 2025.

Despite these significant strides, she emphasized that more needs to be done. Calling on the new administration and the current Minister of Gender Affairs, Webster-Roy urged the continuation and expansion of key programmes. These include strengthening the GBV registry, maintaining the vital 800-SAVE hotline, and ensuring continued training for first responders.

She passionately stated, “This is a fight for all of us, government, police, faith leaders, civil society.” She continued, “We must do more to prevent these horrors before they happen. No family should ever have to bury a daughter like this. Every woman and girl in this country deserves to feel safe.”