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Informing The Uninformed....
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DR. JACQUI QUINN-LEANDRO SPEECHES
Hon.
Dr. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro
Minister
of Labour, Public Administration & Empowerment
Launch
of Leadership Management International Programmes
Jolly
Beach Hotel
March
10, 2006
Thank
you kindly Mr. Chair,
Mr.
Dorbrene O’marde, Director of Kingdome Consultants, Mr. Anthony Liverpool,
Director of Kingdome Consultants; Dr. Lucien Naarden, Master Licensee for the
Caribbean, Other LMI Associates; Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
I
deem it an honour and a special privilege to have been asked to address this
august body on leadership and management development in
When
we accepted the mandate to govern some two years ago, we were acutely conscious
of the negative reputation surrounding the public service. We were aware of the
cries of the public for greater accountability, professionalism and efficiency
from public servants. This was one problem which we knew we had to fix and we
realized that there had to be some infusion of fresh, new ways of leading,
administering and managing the most precious and valuable resources in any
organization- it’s Human resources.
I
wish to focus first on the relationship between the executive and the
legislative arms of government, because this is critical to the kind of quality
management and improved competencies within the public service which we as a
government envisioned.
As
a new government, coming into office on the heels of one which dominated the
political landscape for decades, we realized that it was/ and is absolutely
essential for Ministers and Permanent Secretaries to forge a harmonious working
relationship with each other in order to move policy from paper and ideas to
tangible programmes to be implemented.
In
the Westminster-Whitehall system of political democracy which we adhere to,
policy formulation is seen as the exclusive right of the legislative arm of
government and the implementation of those policies, which are held as a
non-political function, as the proper task of the administrative agencies.
However,
Public policy formation and execution require that policies and administration
do not exist as two mutually exclusive boxes or absolute dichotomies; but that
they are two closely linked aspects of the same process. Public policy to put it
flatly is a continuous process, the formation of which is inseparable from its
execution. In order to execute
policies however, there should be mutual respect for the role of the politician
and the role of the civil service in the governance of the nation.
I
daresay the synergy between both politician and administrator is a symbiotic
relationship which should be girded by mutual respect in working in the best
interest of the people of this nation. Politicians and Senior administrative
staff, such as permanent Secretaries, for instance,
are leaders in their own right and my government is of the view that the
old system of longevity and long service and moving up the ranks without the
requisite qualifications or leadership capacity is not only outmoded, but it is
counter-productive.
If
my presentation appears to concentrate more on the public sector, forgive me; It
is where my head and heart are at present.
Our
vision is to transform the Public sector into a leaner, more efficient, more
professional and competent service which reflects the ideals of good governance,
transparency and integrity which are espoused by this new government.
“Government in the Sunshine” did not arise as an empty, sweet sounding cliché;
it has become the metaphor which symbolizes a new paradigm shift, a new modus
operandi, if you may, for good governance, sound management, transparency and
visionary leadership.
Allow
me to share with you some of the systemic problems and the root causes of the
dysfunctions of the Public service which undermine leadership capacity and
management competencies: (and some of these findings emanate not from my own
assessment but from the 2002 Price Water House Coopers study as well as follow
up work in the office of Public Sector Transformation in my Ministry)
Firstly,
(i)
the persistence
of long term over-employment, inefficiency and mis-allocation of human and
financial resources in the public sector;
(ii)
Archaic, labour-intensive,
manual methods of record-keeping, data storage and retrieval;
(iii)
The continuance
of long service as the criteria for promotion and transfer with no regard for
ability and qualification;
(iv)
The general
absence of modern computerization, thus keeping the sourcing and compilation of
data inefficient and far from current;
(v)
The rudimentary
information management machinery that hampers the budgeting, expenditure control
and decision-making systems, with
the result that even the simplest governmental process is both glacially slow
and needlessly costly;
(vi)
Historical
failure by the Public Service Commission to enforce
regulations with regard to recruitment, with the result that hiring
policies and practices governed by the Civil
Service Regulations 1993, No1 have been randomly applied;
(vii)
A duality in the
Public service created by the existence of “established and
“non-established” workers governed
by differing legislation and consequently differing pay policies, with the
result that pay for similar
positions may differ widely and irrationally;
(viii)
The absence of a
job evaluation program and a performance based pay structure, rendering it
impossible to identify merit and reward performance;
(ix)
Salary increases
that apply across the board as determined by union negotiations, thus rewarding
non-performance and incompetence as much as- and often more than- merit and
ability;
(x)
Lack of
operation and effective middle management, which burdens senior Public Service
officers with a host of unnecessary administrative details.
Clearly,
ladies and gentlemen, what is desired by this government is ONE PUBLIC SERVICE
THAT IS CUSTOMER- ORIENTED, EFFICIENT AND PRODUCTIVE. The concept of VALUE FOR
MONEY has become the order of the day as tax payers are being called upon to
bear some of the burden of revenue generation.
It
is now seen as imperative for the growth and development of the national
economy, that the Public Service be transformed into a professional body, a well
trained, efficient, and productive and customer oriented service organization.
The
raison d’etre of this ONE CUSTOMER ORIENTED, EFFICIENT AND PRODUCTIVE PUBLIC
SERVICE should be to assist the government of the day in the professional
execution of the government’s social policies and also to skillfully support
government in its drive to facilitate the private sector in its proper role as
the DRIVING FORCE behind the growth and development of the national economy.
Our
mission is multifaceted and includes but is not limited to transforming,
exploring, implementing, wealth creating and rising together. Our mission
includes the following objectives:
a.
to see a more
professional, efficiently run Public service;
b.
to
implement one service, to do away
with the dual track “parallel service” and merge both streams of workers.
c.
to give greater
prominence to training and enhancing the Human Resource capacity.
d.
to strengthen
the role of the Public Service
Commission to make it more responsible for managing Heads of Departments and
delegating its employment powers (appoint, promote, transfer, discipline, and
terminate) for all other public officers to the Heads of Departments.
e.
to promote
effectiveness, efficiency and productivity. (and I can’t underscore these
more)
f.
To arrive at a
collective set of virtues, values and principles, a collective vision, a
collective mission and a collective integrated sustainable, dynamic national
strategic development programme.
As
you are all aware by now since we have been repeating this ad nauseum since our
election to office, we are faced with a severe challenge to reduce the size of
the public sector, to transform the public service and to reduce the enormous
wage bill which is about $21 million dollars monthly and $250 million dollars
annually.
The
previous government created an anomaly in the dual- track system of
“established” and “non-established” worker. This system allowed
politicians to be actively engaged in hiring, promoting and firing workers,
rather than the organization set up for that purpose- the Public Service
Commission. This gave rise to a large number of political appointees many of
whom were not qualified for the positions they held and their promotions in the
system were not based on merit, but on political loyalties. The
“non-established workers” have now long outstripped the established civil
service by over 4:1 (four to one). As a result,
1.
different modes
of recruitment- the Civil service via the Public Service Commission and non
established by political appointment.
2.
different
rules/regulations governing both bodies of workers- Civil Service Regulations,
the Labour Code and the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
3.
different levels
of remuneration where qualified workers in the Civil service are paid less than
unqualified employees in the Non-established sector.
The
aforementioned inconsistencies create problems for discipline, for employees’
self worth and for the proper functioning of the Service; for the management
capability of the leaders in this organization. A “culture of mediocrity”
has blanketed the entire service and many workers are stuck in a mode of
laissez-faire, have given less than sub-standard effort and simply do not care
about the kind of service they offer to the public.
Our
Mandate for re-positioning the leadership and management
capacity in the public service is to do the following:
a.
reduce the size
of the current public sector; and you that we have begun the process of
right-sizing with our voluntary separation offer for which we have over 1,000
applicants.
b.
reduce the size
of the annual wage bill.
c.
engage in
training and re-training of public servants to improve the human resource
potential at all levels. (and here we are enthused by the prospects of having
Kingdome Consultants on board)
d.
boost morale
through the implementation of performance management systems.
e.
review the
contracts and working conditions of public sector workers.
f.
introduce
performance appraisals for all workers.
Human resources expert, Dave Ulrich states that the key to
transformation is to understand the culture of the organization, the
capabilities the organization possesses, and the needs it is trying to address.
And I want to just quote him here: “Keeping up with the GEs or the Microsofts
of the world or even the IRSs does not mean your approach to leadership
development will mirror the outcomes of theirs.”
We
have got to find the best way for our culture, to make the shift. How best do we
convince workers in the public service that performance evaluations and regular
job fit assessments are not only the norm in the private sector but they are
quintessential in leveling the playing field and applying standardized methods
of job analysis and performance based promotions.
When
I tell public sector workers that the work ethic in the private sector should be
the same or similar in terms of the principles we uphold; that a public sector
worker should be able very easily to slip from the public sector into the
private sector without too much displacement or without too much of a culture
shock; some people claim it is impossible. But if we nurture and maintain the
core values of punctuality, efficiency, honesty, loyalty, reliability,
dependability and trust, the crossover does not have to be a painful sacrifice.
I
have said this on numerous occasions and I wish to reiterate that in our new
transformation quest, our sound management thrust in the public service, gone
are the days of public servants working for years, decades even and never being
evaluated throughout the life of his/her work. Gone are the days when subjective
criteria or whether somebody like you will be the basis for that promotion or
salary increase; gone are the days
when being in management means merely sitting at a big desk and wielding a big
stick.
Distinguished
Ladies and Genetlemen, Public Sector Transformation is but one segment of a
complex of structural changes that are designed to establish a healthy economic
climate in
If
the economy of
Ladies
and Gentlemen, I have to say that I rather admire what I have been reading and
learning about LMI and your Total Leader concept in which you suggest that the
organization of the future is an organization where everyone is a leader. I
applaud your new approach of the total leadership development process where each
leader develops her/himself personally in terms of her/his productivity and then
focuses on personal leadership, motivational leadership and strategic
leadership.
Would
that these concepts be infused across the public sector. Would that even 40% of
our public servants caught that vision. Indeed the transformation process would
be less daunting and more achievable.
I
am going to take the liberty to say
here that your launch today is two years too late. My reason for saying this is
that you exemplify the kind of partnership my Ministry would have liked to
engage when we began this process two years ago. But it is never too late.
I
envisage that with the launch of your organization, we will have an incredible
amount of assistance in making that paradigm shift, in nurturing and developing
leaders throughout the public service and ultimately achieving our goal of ONE
CUSTOMER ORIENTED, EFFICIENT AND PRODUCTIVE PUBLIC SERVICE.
I
wish you well in all of your endeavours and I look forward to working with your
organization in our quest to transform the public sector of
Congratulations
once again and please accept the highest assurances of my Ministry.
Thank
you for your kind attention.
Dr.
Hon. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro
(Minister
of Labour, Public Administration and Empowerment
CONGRATULATORY LETTER TO THE NEW LEADER OF THE JAMAICA LABOUR PARTY (JLP), MRS. PORTIA SIMPSON-MILLER
Female
Minister in Antigua Barbuda congratulates Portia Simpson Miller
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua February 27, 2006. Minister of Labour, Public Administration and Empowerment in the
government of Antigua and Barbuda Dr. the Hon. Jacqui Quinn Leandro has
acknowledged and congratulated Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller on her recent success
as leader of the Peoples National Party of Jamaica.
We reproduce below the full text of Minister
Leandro’s letter to Mrs. Simpson Miller.
February
27, 2006
Dear Mrs.
Simpson Miller;
Heartiest
and soul felt congratulations on your fait accompli. This historic day will
forever be branded in the memories of not only Jamaicans but of Caribbean
peoples and women everywhere.
As the
first and only woman elected to the House of Representatives in Antigua and
Barbuda; and as Minister of Labour and Gender Affairs; I view your achievement
as a symbol of the pinnacle of women’s struggle for gender equality and
representation at the highest decision making levels.
Today, as
a Caribbean woman I stand a little taller and a lot more proud. In the eyes of
women, you are a beacon of faith on the hill that is becoming less distant and
less formidable. You have shortened the journey by strengthening the
determination of all women who believe we can. You have toiled long and hard and
energetically in the vineyard and are most deserving of the reward.
May your
leadership of the Peoples National Party and of your country, Jamaica be guided
by God’s richest blessings and may you find strength and support knowing
that we are praying for you.
Please
accept the highest plaudits and assurances of my office.
Sincerely;
Jacqui
Quinn Leandro PhD. MP
Minister
of Labour, Public Administration & Empowerment
Antigua and Barbuda
Statement
by
Dr.
Hon. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro
Minister
of Labour, Public Administration and Empowerment
To
The
50th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
Monday
27th February, 2005
Madam
Chairperson, Your Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, Distinguished Delegates, The
government of Antigua and Barbuda would like to reaffirm its strong support for
and commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome document of the Beijing + 10
review.
Madam
Chair,
As
this is the 50th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, as
the first elected female Member of Parliament in my country, I am deeply honored
to address you. While it is important that we use this meeting to shape the
agenda for women for the next five years we should also make it a platform for
rededication and commitment to goals and principles espoused in the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action.
The
two themes – enhanced participation of women in development: an enabling
environment for achieving gender equality and the advancement of women and the
equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels
are essential for the achievement of the goals of equality, sustainable
development and peace. Without an enabling environment the Beijing Platform for
action cannot be realized.
Madam
Chair,
The
Beijing Platform for Action and the CEDAW Convention call on governments to take
appropriate measures to promote women in politics and decision-making. The under
-representation of women in decision-making deprives countries of talent and
wisdom, as well as diverse styles of decision-making.
Poverty, lack of access to basic resources, lack of access to political
party lists and low salaries are some of the causes of women’s
under-representation in political decision-making.
The
under-representation of women as key decision-makers in the political process
continues to be an issue of critical concern for the Directorate of Gender
Affairs in
Madam
Chair
This
session is being convened about the same time that my government is preparing
for the celebration of two years in office after more than two decades of one
party rule. In reviewing the
achievements of my government, I am pleased to apprise this august gathering on
the progress made.
Recognizing
that equality in decision-making is essential to the empowerment of women, my
government believes that the full and active participation of women in all
spheres of public life is paramount. The unwavering commitment of the government
of
The
positions of Speaker of the House,
President of the Senate and clerk to Parliament are held by women. Two female
Ambassadors have also been appointed as well as a female Commissioner of Police.
Our Accountant General and Auditor General are women. They are all influencing
agendas and helping to change the culture in public life.
This will in turn help to make careers in senior public life and politics
much more attractive and gender sensitive.
Madame
Chair,
Violence
against women is one of the challenges that my government faces.
The multifaceted and complex nature of this problem makes it necessary
for us to put in place a comprehensive programme of action.
With the support of agencies such as UNIFEM Caribbean Area Office, the
Commonwealth Secretariat and FAVACA, I am pleased to say that the close
collaboration of the key actors in this area has begun to show progress, but
there can be no stemming in our efforts to eradicate this scourge from our
society.
Evidently,
a gender equality perspective is both effective and efficient as a development
approach and a fundamental tool necessary for the attainment of the MDGs and
other global summit goals and outcomes. As a result, my government espouses a
rights- based approach to health, particularly with respect to reproductive
health. In the fight against
HIV/AIDS,
Last
year, a national taskforce has been established in recognition of
the importance of the MDGs for the advancement of gender equality. My
government has recognized that considerable gender gaps still remain and has
decided to develop a national gender policy that will address those gaps.
This policy will be inspired by the spirit of the Beijing Platform for
Action.
Madam
Chair
As
a State Party, my government has taken steps to ratify CEDAW’s Optional
Protocol. Emanating from the Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Meeting this past
weekend, my government fully and unequivocally endorses the Commonwealth
Ministers statement to the this 50th Session of the UN Commission on
the Satatus of Women, which reiterates the Commonwealth’s commitment to the
principles of gender equality.
At
this juncture, I wish once again to express the deepest gratitude and
appreciation of my government to the United Nations’ agencies particularly
UNIFEM, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP and all organizations that have given support to our
gender equality programmes. We are
also grateful to the Commonwealth Secretariat, CIDA and
the CIM whose assistance have contributed to the technical capacity of
our Directorate of Gender Affairs in carrying out its mandate of spearheading
and giving strategic direction on women’s issues in Antigua and Barbuda. In
this endeavor, we shall continue to count on the support of the international
community.
Madam
Chair, Your Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, Distinguished Delegates,
In
closing, allow me to reaffirm my government’s commitment to the goals of the
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and remind us all that it is our
duty here at the 50th Session of the CSW to voice, reiterate and
secure those interests, basic human rights and freedoms.
Let
this be a year of truly decisive action, full participation and resolve to mark
a period of visible change for women all over the world.
I
Thank You.
DR.
THE HON. JACQUI QUINN-LEANDRO
MINISTER
OF LABOUR,
PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
AND
EMPOWERMENT
LABOUR
DAY ADDRESS
MONDAY,
MAY 9, 2005
˘
President of the
Trade Union Congress;
˘
Executive of the
TUC;
˘
Presidents and
Executives of member Unions of the Trade Union Congress;
˘
Trade Unionists,
Workers;
˘
Sisters and
Brothers of the working class:
In
my very short life in politics and public affairs, I have been afforded many
honours.
I
had not hoped for, nor did I expect, this special honour of addressing the Trade
Union Congress Labour Day Parade.
Thank
you, brothers and sisters, for this very special privilege.
I
think this is a fitting forum for expressing my appreciation to the Honourable
Baldwin Spencer - Prime Minister and Trade Unionist Extraordinaire - for
entrusting his beloved trade union movement to my ministerial portfolio.
I
am acutely conscious of the significance of this assignment. I have
responsibility for the Labour portfolio at a challenging time.
The
country is struggling to revitalize an economy in crisis.
Globalisation
and trade liberalisation present serious challenges to
Ours
is a country with a weak manufacturing base.
We
are dependent on imports for much of what we consume.
We
subsist on a virtual mono-crop, tourism.
In
the face of all of this, we are assembled here today to celebrate the
achievements of the trade union movement in the indivisible cause of workers
rights and social justice in our country.
You
the workers of this twin island nation are the salt of this bit of earth.
It is through your sweat, blood and tears that the economy of this
country has its life and its very being. In
every walk of life, in every profession, in every trade, you are making your
contribution to the development of this land; and today we salute you!
Brothers
and Sisters:
If
ever there was a time for trade union solidarity, now is that time.
When we look back at the history of Unionism in this country and the
efforts of the stalwarts who sought to bring workers together and who struggled
to form fledgling organizations, we must salute them and recognize their
sterling efforts to champion the cause of poor, working class labourers.
Were
it not for the labours of these stalwarts, I daresay we would not have made such
strides in the struggle for workers’ rights; we would not be celebrating here
today. geometry
Labour
Day, last year, opened a momentous chapter in the history of
For
me, that historic moment, one year and one week ago, invoked an image from the
Scriptures.
How
wonderful it was when finally, “the Lion and the Lamb” did truly “lie down
together” in the trade union movement.
At
Chapter 11, Isaiah told us of a time when:
“…
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb;
“And
the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
“And
the calf and the lion, and the sheep shall abide together”.
Regrettably,
brothers and sisters, some of the sheep of the trade union flock have now gone
astray.
Let
us not dismiss this defection by saying, “Leave them alone, they will come
home”.
The
leadership of the Antigua Trade and Labour Union has made it “pellucidly
clear” that “Home”, for them, is not in trade union unity and working
class solidarity, but in a particular political party.
It
is evident that the leadership of the straying flock place their umbilical
connection to their mother-ship political party ahead of their obligations to
all of its rank and file members.
In
his Action Agenda broadcast, yesterday, Prime Minister Spencer lamented the
political action that has rent trade union solidarity asunder, one year after
the formation of the TUC. As you
know, our Prime Minister was a key catalyst in the formation of the
His
devotion to, and concern for, solidarity in the trade union movement remains
intense. His heart and soul are
committed to workers and their comfort in the workplace; and who above all else
regards himself as a Unionist first and foremost.
Hon.
Baldwin Spencer, our beloved Prime Minister has demonstrated by his life and
work that he is able to “walk with kings and not lose the common touch.”
He strides about like a veritable colossus but his humility, gentility,
love and genuine care for workers are the hallmarks of this Unionist, Hon.
Baldwin Spencer!!!
In
the first month of the Sunshine Government, last year, the Prime Minister made
an annual $50,000 cash grant to the TUC an urgent priority of his
administration.
Prime
Minister Spencer continues to do everything possible to foster trade union unity
and working class solidarity.
Brothers
and Sisters:
I
am sure you can imagine how painful the reckless fragmentation of trade union
unity and working class solidarity must be for the life-long trade unionist and
working class champion who is now the Chief Servant of the
In
his broadcast, yesterday, Prime Minister Spencer urged the trade union movement
to recognise the need for trade union solidarity in the face of the disastrous
effect of globalisation and trade liberalisation on trade union membership
around the world.
At
the turn of the century, the pundits told us that globalization would create
employment, protect fundamental rights of workers, strengthen social protection,
and broaden social dialogue.
We were told that trade
liberalisation would improve the lives of impoverished millions around the
world.
Well, it has not turned out
exactly as promised.
Globalization and trade
liberalisation are yet to function as a positive force for workers in
The reality is that trade
liberalisation, which is at the heart of globalisation, has thrown untold
millions out of jobs.
Massive job losses have
worsened the level of poverty in a number of countries.
For some developing
societies, trade liberalisation has become a matter of survival; the rich versus
the poor.
This has prompted Brazilian
President Luiz Lula da Silva to remark: "The most destructive weapon of
mass destruction in the world today is poverty."
Distressingly, young
people, and young women in particular, are especially hard hit; and are major
casualties of the current world economic order.
The ILO estimated last year
that of the 186 million people around the world without a job, 47 percent - 88
million - were persons between 15 and 24 years old.
Of the young people
employed around the world, 130 million were earning less than US$1 a day.
The ILO also reported that
in developing countries, young workers are 3.8 times more likely to be
unemployed than older persons.
Deep-seated and persistent
imbalances in the current workings of the global economy are now condemned as
ethically unacceptable, politically unsustainable, and a seedbed of global
insecurity.
Within this bleak global
landscape, the Sunshine Government is committed to targeted, integrated policies
such as skills training and support for young entrepreneurs to promote youth
unemployment.
It is significant that
“Empowerment” is a division of my Ministry.
Empowerment is the key concern of the Government.
This applies to my responsibilities as mediator for labour relations, as
well as to my role as employer in administration of the public service.
My Ministry is placing key
emphasis on training, retraining, and preparing our human capital for the jobs
of the twenty first century.
Connected to this, the
Sunshine Government is driving a revolution in education, targeted at rapidly
transforming
Prime Minister Spencer has
called for a social compact involving labour and business and the other sectors
of civil society, in a partnership to enable
This will be critical if we
are to hold our own with trade liberalisation in the Caribbean Single Market and
Economy, in the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and in the new world order of
the WTO.
Brothers and Sisters:
The spirit of working class
solidarity is the unchallengeable legacy of the trade union movement in this
country.
We have any option but to
continue to work together to ensure that a unified trade union movement will
lead the national mission to make life better for everyone in
I sincerely hope that our
absent flock will see the light and respond to the need to put country before
party.
As your theme suggests, let
us together embrace the challenges with confidence.
In this spirit, I call on
you to let today’s celebration of trade union unity and working class
solidarity continue.
Solidarity!
Solidarity!
Solidarity!
God bless you all.
God bless
Thank you.
Press
Statement
Hon.
Dr. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro
Minister
of Labour, Public Administration & Empowerment
May
02, 2005
As
Minister of Labour, I am deeply concerned by the turn of events within the
Antigua and Barbuda Trade Union Congress, as it now appears that there are deep
divisions within its ranks with regard the celebration of Labour Day. This
decision by one of its members to celebrate separately is a most retrogressive
step since the TUC has made significant strides since its formation in uniting
labour across Antigua and Barbuda.
I
have stated before in another forum that this action smacks of politicization of
Labour Day activities. It indicates that rather than unity, camaraderie and
fellowship, the AT&LU is bent on divisiveness.
For so many years, we have fought and struggled for the labour force
coming together in one march on Labour Day; and we were able to achieve this one
year ago, and collectively the nation rejoiced that this major feat was
attained.
When
we look at the rest of the region and the world where Labour Day is celebrated
as a day for workers’ solidarity and there is no politicization and
segregation; it begs the question whether we want to move forward or not. I have
had dialogue with the General Secretary of the AT&LU and I got the
impression that some consideration was being given to abandoning the stance of
separation. It is also sad that workers represented by that Union were not
consulted or informed of this action in an organization that by its very
existence ought to thrive on consultation.
FEATURE
ADDRESS FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
March 08th 2005
“Gender
Equality 2005: Building a More Secure Future”
Dr.
the Hon. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro
Minister of Labour, Public Administration and Empowerment
Madame Chair, Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Wilmoth Daniel, Hon. Senator Joanne
Massiah, Hon president of the Senate, Senator Hazlyn Francis,
Her Excellency Ambassador Ren, Her
Excellency Ambassador Rosalyn Hazelle, Director of the OAS, Cicely Norris,
Distinguished Facilitators, Ladies and Gentlemen,
“You
declare you see me dimly
Through a glass which will not shine
Though I stand before you boldly
Trim in rank and marking time
You do own to hear me faintly
As a whisper out of range
While my drums beat out the message
And the rhythms never change.. “
These
are the opening lines of a poem entitled “Equality” written by famous
poet Maya Angelou. Listening to the message it speaks clearly of inequality.
Regrettably, the message that women have been beating on their drums since
the beginning of time has changed very little. It is a well-known rhythm that
has been infiltrated into all aspects of societies all across the globe. It is
a
rhythm that transcends race, religion, culture and language.
Somewhere across the waters a woman's punishment for infidelity is to be
beaten, burned or stoned to death. Somewhere on a continent, right now, a
young woman is sold by her family for marriage. Somewhere, in another time
zone, a woman is not allowed to uncover her hair or meet a man's gaze.
Everywhere, right now, in offices, women's responsibilities equal men's but
their cheques never balance. Women tolerate sexual harassment just to keep a
job. Right here, right now in
school because of pregnancy while the expectant father pursues his
education.
It is a fact that women are the backbones of families with and without
fathers and husbands. So when society says to a young woman who has had a baby
that she can no longer be educated at their expense they are setting
her up to fail. Sending her off into the world with no skills and little
education; they are sending her to a minimum wage job or to prostitution and
in some sad instances to suicide.
Then
our prejudiced court system slaps her harder in the face and rapes her
of her dignity by awarding her $75 weekly as child maintenance. The court
sees a woman and not a parent. Whoever said justice was blind?
Denying women their human rights is no different to racism. It's no
different to saying that we should sit at the back of the bus or drink from
a different fountain. Gender inequality is simply not right and there is
ABSOLUTELY no justification for it.
Any human being; man or woman; who has been ridiculed or victimized; who has
experienced prejudice because of race, culture, religion, political views,
social standing; physical handicap or appearance must be empathetic and has an
obligation to be committed to the cause of the rights of the woman. How can
you not? A prejudice is a prejudice and a wrong is a wrong and who feels it
knows it.
Those of us who have the privilege of audiences and platforms must keep
shouting the message about the degradation of gender inequality. And those
persons and organizations that speak up and are unafraid to walk the talk in
defense of human rights for women and children must be supported and
defended.
Having
just returned from leading
The
year 2005 marks a decade since the 1995 Beijing conference identified 12
critical areas of concern for women’s advancement globally: they are women
and poverty; education and training of women; women and health; violence
against women; women and armed conflict; women and the economy; women in power
and decision making; institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women,
human rights of women; women and the media; women and the environment and the
girl child. These form the core of the Beijing Platform for Action. The
vision of the Commonwealth is a world in which (I quote)
“women
and men have equal rights and opportunities at all stages of their lives to
express their creativity in all fields of human endeavour, and in which women
are respected and valued as equal and able partners in establishing values of
social justice, equity, democracy and respect for human rights. Within such a
framework of values, women and men will work in collaboration and partnership
to ensure people-centred sustainable development for all nations.” (End of
quote)
Five
years ago, Commonwealth Heads of Government set a target of 30% of female
representation in parliament. Since then, 12 Commonwealth countries have
achieved women’s representation of between 20 and 30 percent. In
We out-populate men but seem somehow to be stuck in a male centric and
patriarchal mentality. Women are the major players in the background. We
organize; we plan; we execute; we nurture and we raise. In saris and kentae,
kimonos and western garb; we oil the wheels that turn this world. All we need
to do is step to the fore and take our rightful places.
It is a fact that over the years governments have not been serious about
empowering women. Look at the slow rate of progress over time and you will
see. Look at the budget and see the funds allocated to gender affairs.
According
to the World Bank’s study of the region entitled: “Challenges and
Opportunities for gender Equality in Latin America and the Caribbean”;
“even though Latin American and Caribbean women have almost reached the same
level of education as men and in some countries have even surpassed them, they
continue to participate less in the labour market and earn less than men.”
Factors
contributing to this phenomenon include the large scale participation of women
in the service sector, which is generally the most poorly paid sector of the
economy. Additionally, women are generally
the ones who are responsible for caring for their families, often
leading to a higher turn-over rate in the labour force and a preference for
part-time work.
As
the Minister of Gender Affairs, I have an overwhelming task to right the
wrongs that so blatantly exist but I assure you that I will not shirk my
responsibility.
I
wish to extend the highest plaudits to the OAS and the Directorate of Gender
Affairs for the outstanding efforts in offering the training in governance and
decision making in the run up to the March 23rd General Elections.
I am a direct beneficiary of those training programmes. So too are Sen. Joanne
Massiah, Sen. Hazlyn Francis, Dr. Albertine Mathurin-Jurgenson, Sen. Gayle
Christian, and Leslie Ann Yearwood. We all participated in those workshops in
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am going to be frank and blunt this morning. It is a
fact that governments make halfhearted attempts at closing down
illegal brothels and no attempt at enforcing the law and prosecuting those
who frequent them. You see, buying a piece of a woman is not considered a
crisis but bringing home STD's and AIDS to women and unborn children is the
painful crisis that women all over the world deal with daily. We are often
time the victims and always the
caregivers.
Priests and religious ministers have preached about it and prayed about it.
They are dedicated to the cause of stopping women from selling themselves.
They'll get us out of the brothels and invite us into the churches and
encourage our testimonies from the benches in the congregation but in some
churches never, ever from the pulpit.
It is not a woman's place, you see.
Domestic violence has become the center of attention where gender affairs
are concerned. Everyday we deal with it in some way. Placing a family;
accompanying a victim to a court hearing; listening to the nightmares that
are some people's lives. Women are still considered possessions. Women are
still prisoners in their own homes; told who to speak to; when to come; when
to go and in some cases are not allowed to go at all. Women are slapped into
submission; choked into silence and kicked back into their places when they
attempt to stand up for themselves.
The
law is not serious and the land is not prepared to come to her assistance.
Another monster is created or left untamed outside of his cage and
subsequently another woman dies as a result of domestic violence.
Another child is left motherless as a result of his not so loving father.
Another family mourns the loss of a loved one. Another dream dies. Another sun
sets. Another dawn rises. And sadly, the beat goes on.
We were not born to be second class citizens. Women must now, more than
ever, be committed to education and to use it as their passport to building a
more secure future for themselves and their families. Tertiary education;
high school education; self-education; make the best of whatever is
available to us and steer our own ships. You see; success is the best
revenge.
I speak of collective success. Not individual success. Because the truth is
whether we're labeled powerful, influential, affluent or poor, insignificant
or weak; we still have at least one thing in common: we are women. I have so
many dreams about gender equality. I dream that one day application forms will
not request gender. I dream that one day all persons will enjoy equal pay for
equal work. I dream that one day all women will know that they belong to
themselves and are not owned. I dream that one day children will no longer
lose their mothers to domestic violence. I dream that one day there'll be no
need for us to fight this fight anymore.
But until these dreams are realized; as long as women are treated as
second-class citizens in the home; in the workplace; in society; in the
church then there'll be always something to beat the drum about.
Today on International Women’s Day, I say to all organizations,
legislatures, law enforcers; individuals; those who turn their heads casually
away; those who dismiss us with a flick of the wrist; those who have heard
enough of our noise; those who think we have come so far and ought to count
our blessings; let me say that we have. We have come far but still have miles
go. But what some may refer to as
blessings we call rights. And let me say also that who feels it knows it.
And if you have not done all you can
do to help this cause along; if you stand idly by; then I invite you to
examine your moral consciences.
Maya
Angelou ends her poem this way:
Take the blinders from your vision
Take the padding from your ears
And confess you've heard me crying
And admit you've seen my tears
Hear the tempo so compelling
Hear the blood throb through my veins
Yes; my drums are beating nightly
And the rhythms never change.
Equality; and I will be free.
Thank you for your kind attention and May God bless every woman, man and
child on this International Women’s Day and every day of the year.
Thank
you.
STATEMENT
BY
HONOURABLE.
DR. JACQUI QUINN-LEANDRO, M.P.
MINISTER OF LABOUR, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND EMPOWERMENT
GOVERNMENT
OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
TO
THE UNITED NATIONS
49TH
SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
28TH FEBRUARY -
11TH MARCH 2005
NEW
YORK
1ST
MARCH 2005
Madam
Chairperson, Your Excellencies, Honourable Ministers, Distinguished Delegates,
It is with a deep sense of honour and privilege that I address this august
gathering on the occasion of the 49th Session of the Commission on the Status of
Women (CSW).
Madame Chairperson, I would like to begin by taking this opportunity on behalf
of my delegation to extend to you and to the other members of the bureau, the
congratulations of my Government. My delegation welcomes and thanks the
Secretary General for his comprehensive and informative report. We believe that
it will serve as a useful guide in our deliberations.
The
Beijing Conference was an indication of the commitment of the international
community to the goals of gender equality and development. It is ten years
since that Conference; and 30 years since the first World Conference on women.
There have been some gains for women and girls, but the reality is: there still
remain many challenges and gaps.
Madame Chairperson, Distinguished Colleagues,
My
country, Antigua and Barbuda is fully committed to the goals of the Beijing
Platform for Action and has cooperated at the national, regional and the
international levels to further its implementation. Antigua and Barbuda
signed and ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1989.
My government has been in power for less than a year after succeeding a
government that dominated the political landscape for twenty eight years.
My government, metaphorically referred to as the “Sunshine
government” today reaffirms our commitment to the Gender Agenda and we
look forward to contributing to this session, to find ways to accelerate
implementation of the goals and objectives of the Platform for Action.
We view our participation at the global level as critical to guiding the work on
gender equality and for strengthening the links between the global policy making
level and the national level where implementation of the Beijing Platform for
Action has to take place.
As
part of the process of promoting the advancement of women in Antigua and
Barbuda, a national mechanism was established in 1980: The Directorate of Gender
Affairs. The Beijing Platform for Action forms and informs the work of the
Directorate. It’s mandate is to work towards the advancement of women.
The Directorate has evolved since its establishment, providing expertise on
issues affecting women and gender equality and playing a pivotal role in
fostering partnerships between departments of government, stakeholders, civil
society organizations and NGOs. It has taken a strong leadership role in
facilitating partnerships in the development of policies and programmes to
address issues of women in politics
and decision-making, violence against women and poverty alleviation.
In consultation with civil society organizations, five critical areas were
prioritized for Antigua and Barbuda. These include poverty alleviation,
education, health, women in decision-making and violence against women.
Violence against women is widely recognized today as a scourge, which must be
combated. Awareness programmes and support services have been put in place
at the national level. Antigua and Barbuda signed the Inter-American
Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against
Women in November 1998.
Madam
Chairperson, your Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates.
The remarkable progress made in the area of grassroots participation of women in
politics has been due to the Beijing process. In Antigua and Barbuda, the
long drought of keeping women out of the participation in the decision making
process came to an end on March 23rd, 2004, when for the first time
in the history of Antigua and Barbuda three women ran in the General elections
and one was elected to serve in the House of Representatives. This break-through
may be partly attributed to the efforts of Gender Affairs Bureau which embarked
on an unrelenting series of training and skills programmes geared specifically
at women’s participation in electoral politics. In addition to having one
woman in the Lower House, my government appointed two females to the Upper
House, one as President of the Senate and the other as a Minister. There are now
two women sitting in our Cabinet. The Speaker of the House of Representatives is
also a woman.
Law
reforms have been among the most visible actions undertaken by Governments since
Beijing. In Antigua and Barbuda, the Sexual Offences Act was passed in
1995, increasing the penalty for rape and sexual assault. The Labour Code
was amended in 1998 providing for paid maternity leave without restriction on
the number of children a woman can have. The Domestic Violence Summary
Proceedings Act was passed in 1999.
Madam Chairperson, Honourable Colleagues.
While our progress has been noteworthy, we are continually faced with many
competing demands for our limited development capital. Prominent amongst these
are the institutional capacity for the effective and full implementation of
those areas of critical concern. We
call on this conference to address this issue. In essence, the political will
and commitment to gender equality on our part is not in doubt.
Since Beijing, the terrain of operations has changed. One word captures
the essence of the radical changes - globalization. Globalization and the
liberalized world economic climate have impacted negatively on small economies
such as ours. It is the view of my delegation that globalization and its
transformatory agents should be viewed in the context of how they can assist
gender equality. My delegation looks forward to working on these challenges and
hopes to be able to contribute to the development of innovative and practical
approaches that will deliver lasting improvements for women in Antigua and
Barbuda and around the world.
Madam
Chairperson, your Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
Having said all of the above, it is quintessential that an important factor be
brought to the fore. Women should not be forced into the position of
begging for rights to advance themselves within the matrix of society. For
throughout the English speaking Caribbean, women have contributed more than
their share to the labour movement and in the process toward decolonization. As
such, women have a right to be partners in the machinery, which constitutes the
political, economic and social development of the society. It is our right
and entitlement and we are demanding it.
This is a historic opportunity for us to move ahead. We therefore look
forward to the adoption of further initiatives and programmes to advance the
goal of gender equality and development. The civil society organizations have
proved themselves to be a veritable tour
de force in the advancement of women. We hope this
meeting will expand the areas of cooperation with them.
In this regard, we also wish to acknowledge the contribution of the Organization
of American States (OAS), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), all
the UN bodies; (UNIFEM, UNECLAC, UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA) and both the CARICOM and
Commonwealth Secretariats, the latter particularly, for its a