Penny praises KamlaBy Leiselle Maraj Tuesday, March 9 2010
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Kamla Persad-Bissessar...
Deputy House Speaker Pennelope Beckles and former trade union head Jennifer Baptiste-Primus yesterday called on all women to unite and support Opposition and UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
The two were among several speakers at the International Women’s Day observance held by the Advocates for Safe Parenthood Improving Reproductive Equity (ASPIRE) under the theme “Women in Power” at Cascadia Hotel, St Ann’s yesterday. Beckles, who is also the PNM Arima MP, said there is a need to foster unity among women, develop a strategy to maximise woman power and gain the support of men.
She said Persad-Bissessar’s victory is not only a triumph for East Indian women but all women as she can be seen as an example for all young women to emulate.
“I am quite certain she can do the job. My expectations are high for her but we as women, if you want to walk the walk, then you need to give your support,” she said.
Baptiste-Primus, former president of the Public Services Association (PSA), said she saw similarities between herself and Persad-Bissessar as women bold enough to present a challenge in the domain of men. She said she was aware of Persad-Bissessar’s intention of becoming the first woman prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago and advised, “The road ahead will not be easy and she needs the support of all women. It is not easy for women to take up male dominated positions and I wish sister Kamla well.”
Baptiste-Primus explained women have held powerful positions in biblical and historical times and more recently in the global political sphere.
“Women have made tremendous progress over the ages but we still have a long way to go,” she said. She noted that women in power may seem tougher than men but that is because people, especially other women, are tougher on women than men and women in power have to prove their worth.
In her own experience as head of the PSA for 12 years, Baptiste-Primus said she had to put up with unnerving actions from other trade union leaders in what she referred to as the last bastion of male domination.
She said machismo exists in the trade union movement and at times decisions were made without her and she was expected to go along with them.
When she did not, this often placed her at loggerheads with her male counterparts and created enemies who nicknamed her the “Iron Lady”.
She was not offended by the nickname saying it reflected purposefulness.
Women in power, she said, have to make several sacrifices and unpopular decisions but a supportive spouse or family network is essential. She called on Government to declare International Women’s Day a public holiday in honour of women everywhere.
