PNM Women’s League backs Makeda

The People’s National Movement’s Women’s League has thrown its support behind Makeda Antoine as she readies herself for the post of TT Ambassador to the Permanent Mission of the United Nations in Geneva.

This comes as Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has vowed to take legal action against government’s decision to appoint Antoine on the basis of her experience or lack thereof to handle such a position.

Chairman of the PNM National Women’s League Camille Robinson-Regis said the league believes that competence and ability could not be limited to one’s age, citing her own stint when she served as Housing and Development Minister at 33; Nafeesa Mohammed, who was deputy political leader at 35; Onika Haynes, vice-chairman of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation; and Laurel Lezama-Lee Sing was one of the youngest senators at 25.

In a statement, Robinson-Regis said Luanan Guerra, who served as deputy mayor of Arima at 27, and Malaika Blair, who was deputy mayor of San Fernando at 26, also provided sterling examples of the advantages of youth in power.

“The league knows that the Opposition is fully aware of the scrutiny and vetting that a candidate is subjected to from first-hand experience when one of their choices was rejected by a Caribbean neighbour. Notwithstanding the Opposition leader’s interest maybe because the last appointee was ill-suited for the position,” the release said.

Antoine, it said, was appointed to the post after her background and credentials were examined, and met the standards of the United Nations and various European governments.

The league said an ambassador’s duty was to represent the nation and required diplomacy, integrity, honesty, humility and the ability to inspire.