Woman, keep on rising

THE EDITOR: "Woman...keep rising," a powerful statement from a young male calypsonian during our 2024 Carnival season, serves as both a compliment and a call to action.

Despite this inspiring message, a 2022 report by HRC Associates stated only one in every five board directors is a woman. This statistic highlights the minimal presence of women in leadership roles in our country, underscoring the need for greater gender parity.

Women can play a role in reducing crime and violence in our country, but they must act.

Every criminal has significant women in their lives – a mother, partner, and sister – who could potentially influence their behaviour. What prevents women from taking an active role in reducing crime?

The sight of women mourning after violent incidents raises the question: why didn't they intervene earlier? Addressing this issue requires deep reflection and societal support to empower women to take proactive measures.

The influence of women extends beyond crime to the realm of corruption. When men engage in corrupt activities, their mothers, partners and sisters often remain silent.

Why don't these women emphasise the importance of integrity and the long-term harm that corruption causes? Temporary financial gains from corruption are outweighed by the societal destruction it brings. Women must play a role in promoting honesty and integrity within their families and communities.

Data indicates that the public-service sector has more women than men, presenting a unique opportunity for transformation. Women can lead by example, ensuring adherence to key performance indicators (KPIs) and improving public-service delivery.

If every woman in the public service arrived on time, served customers respectfully, and performed her duties diligently, the impact could be transformative.

Why do women continue to take a back seat and observe societal destruction? The answer is complex, but it seems women have lost their voices and are content to follow instructions passively.

The command-and-control management style inherited from colonial times, focused on income-generation, persists post-independence and contributes to women's passive acceptance of incompetence.

Shifting from a command-and-control leadership style to one of collaboration can significantly affect our society. Women have a critical role in this transformation.

What will inspire women to take leadership and drive this change? This question needs urgent attention.

I began with the calypsonian’s quote, "Woman… keep rising." Whether taken as a question or a compliment, it should be viewed as an instruction.

Women, it is time to rise. Embrace leadership, influence positive change, and help transform our country. Let’s seize this moment to empower women and create a more equitable and just society.

DENNISE DEMMING

Port of Spain