Dr. Douglas says representation of females in Caribbean parliaments must be increased

Photo: The Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, St. Kitts and Nevis’ distinguished former Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition (right) and Hon. Julian Robinson of the PNP in Jamaica at the Commonwealth Women in Politics Forum in Barbados
 

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 9TH 2017 – Former St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas has called on Caribbean women to ensure that their voices are heard in lawmaking bodies when legislation is proposed and debated.

Addressing delegates to a “Women’s Political Leadership and Participation in the Commonwealth Caribbean” Commonwealth Expert Validation Workshop in Barbados, Dr. Douglas said planning and work will be required on many levels in the unrelenting commitment to ensure that representation of females in Caribbean parliaments remain on an upward trajectory. 

Dr. Douglas, who was invited to be the featured speaker by Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General (Political), Dr. Josephine Ojiambo, in order for Caribbean women to benefit from his experience and wisdom, noted that in the short-term, throughout the region, senior positions become available in an ongoing basis – in both the private as well as the public sectors.

“And throughout the Caribbean there are females who have had both the training and experiences to qualify them to fill these positions. Studies show, however, that for cultural and other reasons, men worldwide tend to be more aggressive in pursuing job openings, with the result that equally qualified females often end up being overlooked. In addition, males tend to have more opportunities to interact with each other outside of the work environment, making it easier for males to become familiar with the strengths, the capabilities, and the interests of their male colleagues. Those of us with the authority for staff placements, therefore, have to make a special effort to undertake staffing searches that are both wide and deep. We must ensure that the best interests of the department in question – and, as a result, the best of interests of our nations – are advanced, as a result of all qualified candidates being given fair consideration,” said Dr. Douglas.

“We must do this by ensuring that where the facts warrant, qualified females are given every opportunity to assume positions of senior responsibility, with opportunities for ongoing development and advancement. This is one way in which, short-term, we can all adjust our habits to ensure that qualified females within the Commonwealth Caribbean are given every opportunity to advance as readily as their male counterparts do,” he added.

He suggested that in heightening the opportunities open to women in CARICOM member-states in general, and in the political arena in particular, one must recognize that competence and leadership skills in one area of professional activity are often transferable to other areas of professional activity.

“Whenever we seize opportunities to facilitate the professional and leadership abilities of the region’s women, we are at the same time expanding the pool of qualified women to serve as advisers, technocrats, bureaucrats, and candidates for political office. The provision of training opportunities is key medium-term,” said Dr. Douglas, a fourth-term prime minister and now Leader of the Opposition.

He said that the immersion of females in political organizing, canvassing, research, mobilization, strategizing and other activities would increase the level of hands-on experience in the region’s females and enhance and expand the skills available to them which can then be placed at the disposal of the political arena.

The former prime minister stated than in overcoming the challenges and opportunities for political leadership at the parliamentary level, the approach must be done with utmost care and respect – regardless of the gender of the persons involved. 

“We all look at our individual nations in the context of the region as a whole, and as we look at our nations in the context of this rather complicated and increasingly challenging world, we have to be mindful of the traits, the strengths, the attributes, the personal characteristics that are most urgently needed if our nations are to be well-run, properly managed, healthy environments in which to live and do business,” he said.

Dr. Douglas told the Caribbean women that when one encounters individuals of self-discipline, vision, commitment, compassion, energy, and genuine concern about the future of their countries, it is incumbent upon to encourage them to enter lives of public service, to use their special skills in the building of their nations and grapple with the myriad social, political, and economic issues which responsible political leadership entails.

“It it is not enough to merely encourage them along this path. There must be consistent and sustained mentorship and guidance. There must be dedicated commitment to those persons’ development. Because recognizing these individuals’ potential is not enough. Developing this potential into substantive and indisputable capabilities is what the building of our nations demands. And so, we must recognize, work with, and promote the political prospects of women of promise as a part of an ongoing long-term program,” Dr. Douglas said.

The seven-term parliamentarian noted that girls of ages ten, twelve, and fourteen must also be encouraged to assume positions of leadership as well.

“To be captains of their sports clubs, and their nature clubs, their music and debating and whatever extracurricular organizations to which they may belong. Those of us who are in government must promote and fund activities that encourage young girls to recognize that their voices matter. Just as those of us who operate outside of government can use our resources, our contacts, and our expertise to do the same,” said Dr. Douglas.

He said women had been excluded from the social, political, and economic leadership of much of the world for much of human history but in recent decades nations around the world have been striving to correct this failing – not as an act of compassion toward women, but due to the recognition that societies and nations do best when the capabilities and potential of all their inhabitants are recognized.

He said from the days of our enslavement to the long struggle for universal suffrage and worker rights, women have played a key role in the forward movement in the Caribbean.

“Let us build on this indisputable fact by ensuring that the voices of our women are heard in our boardrooms, in leadership capacities on our building projects and our college campuses, in our surgical theatres and our agricultural enterprises. Let their voices be heard in our banks and insurance companies. And when legislation is proposed and these measures debated, when those in elected office step forward to decide which policies will and will not be in the best interests of our people, let us ensure that today more than yesterday, and tomorrow more than today, the capable, compassionate and wise women of our nations will be present,” said Dr. Douglas.