TT WOMEN NOT READY FOR PM

A brief look at the history of the region’s political landscape in terms of women political leaders is rather dismal.

It took just over a decade, 11 years to be exact after Dominica’s Eugenia Charles demitted office in 1995 for another Caribbean woman, Portia Simpson Miller, to attain the position of Prime Minister of Jamaica. She was sworn in last Thursday at King’s House, Kingston before a massive crowd of dignitaries and supporters.

During that period Guyana had for a brief period, 1995-1997, Janet Jagan as their first female president following the death of her husband Dr Cheddi Jagan, and while both countries will have the distinction of having a woman at the highest levels, TT with its booming economy and arguably a better educated citizenry and social conditions seems destined to remain without a woman leader for a long time to come.

Some former ministers like Dr Daphne Phillips and Kamla Persad-Bissessar under the UNC regime and lately Community Development Minister Joan Yuille-Williams have acted as PM, but it is not the same.

Political scientist and Independent Senator Dr Ramesh Deosaran argues there is “no woman in the near horizon” who can follow the Jamaican “Sister P” in Trinidad and Tobago.

“And this largely because the party politics in this country is not ready to accommodate their kind of ascent. Our women, either through accident or design, are very reluctant to confront, compete or move themselves up the hierarchy in the party, because without the party they cannot be prime minister. “Our women cannot seem to build their own constituencies as Portia Miller did in Jamaica. Her strength is in her constituency, as a woman she is strong and is able to mobilise.

Deosaran said there were glimpses of one or two like “ Joan Yuille-Williams and Kamla Persad-Bissessar,” who seem promising but “in Kamla’s case it is clear that she is going to stay at Panday’s side while the men like Ramesh Maharaj muscle their way in.”

Like Deosaran, former transport minister Jerlean John, known for her no-nonsense, sharp, independent posturing, believes that Portia Simpson Miller has been able to work from below and carve her support, so much so that when she went up against the muscles and Phds in the Peoples National Party in February, her grassroots support kicked in.

“I think there are quite a few women who can be prime minister, but are they ready?” John asked.

“Portia deliberately stalked it over time. She carried the poor and downtrodden with her, making them feel there is hope and belief… I feel the women here can do it. Jennifer Baptiste is no nonsense, competent, brave… there is Camille Robinson-Regis who I believe can do it and Kamla could do it, she is bright and intelligent. Angela Persad, who is in the private sector, and has no political ambition, but she can do it. I don’t think she would like me calling her name but…”

What about you, are you hungry for it?

“I am done with politics…. I am happy with what I am doing.

“ I get into direct contact with people and touch their lives, one at a time and that make a difference,” John said.

She argues that the “electorate wants a gentler leader, more nurturing and understanding — Portia proved that,” the Chief Executive Officer of the Pizza Boys group said.

Pamela Nicholson — “Sister Pam ” — a former MP who won the Tobago West seat about three times, chuckled when asked who is likely to follow Portia’s footsteps in TT.

“When I look at the PNM I do not see a woman emerging as the prime minister from within the confines of that institution,” Nicholas said.

What about Joan Yuille-Williams?

“Of course they use her to act but she is a senator not an elected member, so I don’t think about her, but I think Arouca South MP, Camille Robinson-Regis might be capable.

“The Public Utilities Minister Penny Beckles I think had great potential but for some reason she has been silent.

“From the Opposition, you have Kamla who looks like she wants to be leader but I do not really see any women emerging in Trinidad soon, certainly not the way in which Portia has done by telling the grassroots I am there.” Nicholson said.

Social activist and former Independent Senator Diana Mahabir Wyatt feels that the political machinery will not allow a woman leader because “the political parties chose men.”

She said a lack of women wanting the position does not seem to be the problem.

“Hulsie Bhagan tried but was sliced to pieces by the political leadership.

“Several in the PNM as well that have been sidelined, it is who is chosen by the political leader… look what happened to Penny Beckles, she was something like a Portia when she came in, now she is decimated, completely sidelined,” Wyatt said.

She said what has worked in Jamaica for Simpson Miller was that she found the favour of both sides, good political base and within the party itself. “Hulsie had a great base but that came to nothing. This country does not welcome women in high places and I think there are fewer women in parliament today. When you look at Diane Seukeran, who once had a strong voice, now she is sidelined. I wish Portia well,” Wyatt said.

“If ever the time was right, it is now for a woman prime minister of this country,” according to regional political scientist Deryck Ramsamooj.

“I think the country needs a compassionate leader.

“ Every single woman in any society has those innate qualities to heal the social fabric, enhance economic development, to understand the need for thrift, for saving and decisive leadership. There are a number of women in leadership roles that can step to the political plate but within the existing political fray a limited selection is available,” he admitted.

Ramsamooj added that unlike Simpson Miller, who served for three decades, and who is connected with the grassroots, there are few who can measure up to her. “Not only does she have a political track record but she maintains grassroot connections and the ability to be populist, to champion the cause of the poor in Jamaica.

“Now she has to move from being a woman leader to distinguish herself as a national leader like Indira Ghandi and Margaret Thatcher,” Ramsamooj said.