Opposition Leader Message on the Occasion of International Women’s Day 2024
Today, as we commemorate International Women’s Day, I recognize that many women in Trinidad and Tobago have been fully recognizing their progressive, egalitarian status in society and committing to investing in self-empowerment by taking charge of their destinies instead of perpetuating the myth that men are our nemesis.
I state this in light of the fact that the United Nations has designated this year’s theme as ‘Invest in women: Accelerate progress, with a focus on addressing economic disempowerment and a campaign theme of Inspire Inclusion.’
Such a theme gives pause for reflection on our tremendous strides over the past six decades as an independent, developing, democratic nation. This includes achieving legal, social, and economic gender equality that surpasses many other countries worldwide.
In Trinidad and Tobago, our women and girls are fortunate to have equal access to educational opportunities and healthcare, the right to own property and earn an income, and the freedom to participate in politics and decision-making at all levels.
Admittedly, these tremendous opportunities took time to achieve. They result from generations upon generations of men and women who laboured under an oppressive status quo for decades, aiming to achieve equal opportunities for their daughters and granddaughters in the future.
On a day dedicated to commemorating women’s achievements, it would be remiss of us not to acknowledge this great result of their tremendous, trailblazing work. And we can best do this by honestly acknowledging and embracing our democratic freedoms.
The time has long passed for some women and women’s groups, especially those fond of embracing radical philosophies, to stop engaging in self-victimhood dialogues that encourage the unnecessary and dangerous blaming of men due to a misplaced belief that men are our nemesis and responsible for all our problems. This is simply not true.
According to an old Chinese Proverb, ‘Women hold up half the sky.’ This reiterates that both genders are vital in the human race’s progress and development.
Indeed, women represent half of humankind. Statistics from the World Bank show that we are half of the global population, and here in Trinidad and Tobago, our numbers have passed 49 percent of the total population.
As a politician who has dedicated over four decades of my life to public service, who has been credited with breaking some proverbial gender glass ceilings, and who has consistently implemented social, legal, and economic policies to ensure gender equality in our nation, I state without fear of contradiction: There is no gender domination in Trinidad and Tobago today. I reiterate—men are not our enemy, neither legally, socially, or economically.
In Trinidad and Tobago, women have had it much better than in other nations in our Latin American and Caribbean regions and the wider world, particularly regarding leadership. We have women leaders, role models, and icons in every sphere.
In our education system, girls continue to outperform boys at most levels, and the tragic reality today is that our young males are the main victims of crime and violence.
The truth is that the pervasive problems facing our nation today have nothing to do with gender inequality, but rather a crisis of Governance.
Therefore, in keeping with the UN’s theme of ‘investing in women to accelerate progress and inspire inclusion,’ I call on all women to make a conscious effort to embrace their democratic, constitutionally enshrined freedoms and opportunities, and take charge of their destinies to inspire our nation’s future progress.
Like our forefathers and foremothers, we must not be afraid to do our duty, raise our voices, and engage in hard work for upward mobility.
Instead of engaging in unwarranted gender blame games and self-victimhood, we should acknowledge that men and women have complementary strengths. No successful society can be achieved unless both men and women work together in unity of purpose, respecting and relying upon each other’s strengths.
We can achieve ultimate success as a nation only by investing in each other’s inherent strengths as men and women and standing together for good governance, justice, and progress.
I wish all a happy, safe International Women’s Day.
May God bless us always.