International Women’s Day: Kamla continues to empower women

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, centre, along with Government and Opposition MPs, from left, Vernella Alleyne-Toppin, Stacy Roopnarine, Patricia Mc Intosh, Ramona Ramdial, Paula Gopee-Scoon, Donna Cox and Alicia Hospedales set aside politics in Parliament yesterday to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Author: ROGER JACOB
Photo Courtesy: www.newsday.co.tt/

‎The Women’s Arm of the United National Congress wishes the national and international community a Happy International Women’s Day on Sunday 8th March 2015.

The United Nations has this year most fittingly chosen the theme ‘Empowering Women – Empowering Humanity: Picture It!’, as this day continues to be a hallmark of recognition of the promotion of women empowerment and gender equality globally.

We recognise that Trinidad and Tobago ranks amongst one of the 22 countries to have a female Head of Government or Head of State and we remain proud of this achievement of the Hon Kamla Persad Bissessar, as Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. We also recognise that while globally the representation of female parliamentarians is 22 percent, Trinidad and Tobago has 29 percent female representation in the House of Representatives and 20 percent in the Senate.

The UNC Women’s Arm remains committed to the encouragement and promotion of more women in the arena of politics and leadership positions and we recognise that the Hon Kamla Persad Bissessar, both as Political Leader of the UNC and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago has always given women an opportunity to serve. She has not only paved the way for more women to come forward and serve their country but she has also encouraged more women to serve in the Parliament, at Local Government level and State Boards.

The UNC Women’s Arm also recognises the contribution of those women before us who have toiled over the last decades and struggled for equality. However, global statistics show that gender parity in politics will be achieved in approximately fifty years if we were to continue at this current rate, therefore we all must continue to work together to make this happen at a faster rate.

We remain proud that the United National Congress has been the only major political party in Trinidad and Tobago to have its first female political leader and thereafter produce Trinidad and Tobago’s first female Prime Minister. We will continue to work with all men and women in order to continue to close the gender gap and have more women serve in politics.

Yours in Service,
Stacy Roopnarine
Chairman, UNC Women’s Arm
7/3/2015