SALUTE TO THE LADIES IN LEADERSHIP

By editorial staff

It was noteworthy during last week’s meeting of the Finance Committee of the Cayman Islands Parliament to hear the former Premier and MP for Cayman Brac East, Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, appeal for more recognition and support for those women who ‘held the fort’, built the families and stabilised the communities back in the day when the men had to travel abroad in search of work.

That recognition, celebration and support for those ladies is justified beyond question.

Their leadership also laid the foundation on which women leaders in the Cayman community have built; in politics, business, the professions and community development.

The former Premier’s intervention also came in the week which saw female leaders from the Caribbean make their mark on the world stage - again - at the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.

In a series of powerful pronouncements on global developments and their impact on the region, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, President Sylvanie Burton of Dominica, President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons of Suriname and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago set the agenda for Caribbean voices and regional concerns in the global assembly.

It was a reflection of what is hoped to be an indication of a revitalised trend of women’s leadership in the region. This is evident in politics and business, in addition to the strong roles women have traditionally played in the community and the family, building strong foundations…but largely until recently, which the men have built on.

Across the region, women in political leadership are trending again, particularly given its high-profile nature and public service calling. This is noticeable in both government and opposition roles.

At the helm of politics in Trinidad and Tobago, both the Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and the Leader of the Opposition, Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, are women.

Uniquely in Antigua & Barbuda and Dominica, the spouses of the (male) Prime Ministers are women who are also part of the respective Cabinets.

In Antigua & Barbuda, Maria Vanessa Bird-Browne, the wife of Prime Minister Gaston Browne, is the Minister for Housing, Lands, and Urban Renewal, while in Dominica, Melissa Poponne-Skerrit, the spouse of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt, is also the  Minister of Housing, Land & Urban Development.

Anguilla recently elected Cora Richardson as its first female Premier, in Honduras is President Xiomara Castro, and in Grenada, Emmalin Pierre who took over the leadership of the New National Party in 2024, was this year sworn in as Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives.

Other female political leaders had previously stirred the waters across the region, and in their wake others are now riding this new wave.

We salute them all.

To paraphrase a calypso: Woman is boss.