In response to recent concerns raised within its community about principal Sister Renee Hall, Holy Name Convent Port-of-Spain has announced the establishment of an Independent Review Committee and a Professional Care Unit. The Board of Management outlined the steps being taken to ensure transparency, accountability, and emotional support during this period.
The Independent Review Committee will operate separately from both the Board and the school administration. Its mandate includes reviewing submissions, identifying recurring themes, conducting interviews, and presenting findings and recommendations to the Board. The committee is chaired by Vincent Pereira, a seasoned governance and leadership professional. He is joined by attorney Raphael Ajodhia, retired principal Paula Moses, corporate executive and attorney Frances Bain-Cumberbatch, and clinical psychologist Isolde Ali Ghent-Garcia. Together, they bring expertise in law, education, governance, and mental health.
The Board expressed gratitude to the professionals for their willingness to contribute to what it described as an important process. The committee’s independence is intended to foster confidence in the fairness and confidentiality of the review.
Acknowledging the emotional impact of recent public discussions, the Board also announced the creation of a Professional Care Unit. This unit will provide psychological and emotional support to students, faculty, staff, parents, and other members of the school community. Importantly, it will function independently of the review committee and will not engage in investigative work. Instead, its role is to offer confidential care to those who wish to access it.
The Samaritan Movement, led by Fr. Gerard J. McGlone, S.J., Ph.D., has been engaged to provide these services. McGlone and his team bring expertise in trauma, loss, clinical psychology, spirituality, and culturally rooted healing practices. The Board emphasized that participation in these services will be voluntary and confidential.
To facilitate the review, Lucent Research of Tunapuna has been contracted to manage submissions. Community members are invited to share concerns or experiences through a confidential online portal. The portal will remain open until July 10, 2026, after which the committee will continue its work and prepare a report for the Board before the start of the September school term.
The Board encouraged respectful engagement with the process, underscoring its commitment to independence and responsibility. By combining structured review with professional care, Holy Name Convent aims to address community concerns while supporting the well-being of those affected.
The committee has opened a confidential complaints portal for people wishing to submit concerns and information as part of an independent review into allegations and experiences shared by members of the school community and the wider public.
The Board is encouraging members of the community to use the formal process and allow the committee and Professional Care Unit to carry out their work independently.
The confidential submission portal can be accessed here: https://www.dooblocawi.com/client/Survey.aspx?Ticket=APOOWT4R
The portal will remain open until July 10, after which the Independent Review Committee will continue its work and prepare a report for the Board of Management before the start of the September school term.
