Jamaican PM:

JAMAICAN Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller said the face of regional politics is slowly changing with more women penetrating the highest echelons of government that were previously the domain of men. Interestingly, the Jamaican PM’s comments came against the backdrop of Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar being chosen by the UNC to replace Basdeo Panday as Opposition Leader.

Addressing a business luncheon at the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) at Barataria on Tuesday, Simpson-Miller said she and other women now involved in Caribbean politics owed their advancement to former Dominica PM, the late Dame Eugenia Charles, who was a role model to all women who wished to become involved in regional decision-making at the highest level. Later that same day, the UNC announced that Persad-Bissessar was tipped to replace Panday as Opposition Leader and the relevant correspondence was being dispatched to President George Maxwell Richards.

Simpson-Miller said it was an honour for her to follow in Charles’ footsteps and she was happy to see that women were now beginning to “break that ceiling” in regional politics and hoped that their male counterparts would be able to adapt to this change.

She added that since being sworn in as prime minister on March 30, she has informed Prime Minister Patrick Manning that he now has “a sister” to work with in Caricom.

Noting that crime was an issue of mutual concern to TT and Jamaica, Simpson-Miller said it was her government’s commitment to “change the face of Jamaica forever” and this was evident by the fact that today a woman “is in charge of Jamaica.” She expressed her desire to continue to strengthen partnerships at the regional level to address issues such as crime, health and trade.

TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce president Ian Welch said he was certain that Simpson-Miller would bring a new and fresh perspective to Caricom and its affairs. TTMA president Paul Quesnel expressed confidence that Jamaica and Caricom as a whole would continue to “make tremendous strides on every front” through Simpson-Miller’s leadership.

“We also know that the cause of regional integration is in good hands,” Quesnel added.