WELL, THE woman is heading major corporations, making decisions that mean the difference between these organisations making profits or going belly up. They are calling the shots as far as the advancement of their education is concerned. They are on the move in many aspects of their lives.They have assumed the responsibility of being head of households with ease. In fact, they might have been the head all along but are smart enough to have allowed the men to think that they were the head of the household. They are like magicians. Financial wizards. They know how to s-t-r-e-a-t-c-h a dollar.
That's the tip of what defines the function and roles of the Jamaican woman. So why can't she be prime minister? That's the argument of many today. Furthermore, with Jamaica being so cash-strapped, and with the men getting their turn at the bat all these years but being dismal failures, they should declare the innings closed for now and allow a woman her time at the wicket.
Then again, some will have none of it. There is no way in hell that that will happen here. So don't hold your breath!
And the arguments turn to her 'bitchiness", her habit of 'taking things personal', her 'mouth problem' (loves to chat other people's business). So that the nation's business would be placed on the back burner and gossip takes centre stage. There's also the fragile male ego to take into consideration, the argument goes. It crushes his manhood to have a woman dictate terms to him in the home let alone as a prime minister. Somebody gone crazy!
Still, there is the argument - in fact a whole lot of that argument - that man, woman, boy or girl, Jamaica needs a change. Put it into context, they argue - with what's happening now - 'all wi want is a change'.
Wi ready fi anyting'WHAT THIS country needs is a revolution and whether it comes in the form of a male or female, does not matter.
We don't care if our Prime Minister wears bras or boxers, the fact is that we are in a state of desperation. So whoever can get the job done and finally get it right, should be our main concern.
However, since you may want a definite answer, lets examine our history.
Since independence, Jamaica has traditionally been led by male Prime Ministers and our economy has progressively got worse. But what about pre-independence, when we were headed by the epitome of femininity, the queen herself, the country was in an entirely different state, actually a much better state. Do you agree?
Well, as ridiculous as the latter argument sounds, so is the question at hand. So lets forget about the issue of man vs. woman and focus on the importance of choosing a leader on the basis of the issues he/she presents.
At this point "wi ready fi anything".
Claudia Packer
Give a woman a chanceFIVE HUNDRED years have gone by since Columbus came to Jamaica.
In the many stages of her development Jamaica has been governed by male hierarchy - and we have become an independent nation.
It was good to have enjoyed male predominance - but the time has come to give a lady a chance and experience the matriarchal milk of human kindness - the tender touch - angel's smiles - yet, with the wisdom of Shakespeare's 'Portia' in the merchant of Venice.
Women the world over are climbing the corporate ladder with tremendous success - and history records great women - the likes of Mrs. Indira Ghandi (India), Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike (Sri Lanka), Mrs. Golda Meir (Israel), Mrs. Eugenia Charles (Dominica), Mrs. Cheddi Jagan (Guyana), and our very own Lady Bustamante the wind under Sir Alexander Bustamante's wings.
Then, could I forget that great Catholic nun, Mother Theresa, or the indefatigable, glamorous beauty Oprah Winfrey who keeps soaring like an eagle?
I see Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller a rising star par excellence - given a chance to display her true mettle as a dynamo - that neither Princeton, Harvard nor Oxford could have created a better mould.
WELLINGTON A. BROWN,
Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.
It's the last thing we need!WITH OUR men dying by the dozens every week, we are fast becoming a nation of females. The last thing that Jamaica needs is a female governing our lives.
In the absence of a positive masculine influence, many Jamaican women lovingly raised their sons and feel that they have taught them everything, except it seems, how to survive! Maybe we need a man to teach a boy to be a man and to respect life.
When a man questions his self-worth, has a poor self image, is financially crippled, is unable to take care of his home and family and finds himself dependent on a female for his basic needs, it undermines his genetic need to protect and provide. This feeling of desperation and frustration leads to the violent and unsociable behaviour that is present in our country.
The next Prime Minister should be a strong, intelligent, honest, black man - of any shade -; a family man, living with and caring for his wife and children. He should have integrity, strong morals, discipline and his life should be an example for the nation. Such a figure head would encourage young men to be responsible, to aspire to greater things and to know their role in society.
D. Walters, Spanish Town
'Of course! Wi ready long time!'
JAMAICA IS ready for a female prime minister. Why not?
Can't woman do all the mental things men do? In the Jamaican society most of the households are headed and supported by women (matrifocal families). So if women can run their households and communities why can't they run the nation? It is obvious that women have the qualilifications to run a country.
I don't see why a woman can't run the country. The Jamaican society needs to be more open-minded and realise that the gender of a person should not determine that person's capabilities. This country needs a change in leadership - out with the old and in with the new!
We will never know if a woman can run the country if we don't allow a strong Jamaica woman to prove it to us. We need to stop assuming and start adopting open-mindedness to new things. This is the 21st century!
Vanessa Foote, v_foote@yahoo.com
Most definitely!IS JAMAICA ready for a female prime minister?
I think that Jamaica is ready for a change and of all the contenders vying for the position of prime minister, my pick would most definitely be Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller.
Her detractors seem to think that she is all charisma and nothing else, but I vehemently disagree with them.
I have to listen to the media and read articles on her and I must say that if she puts into effect all the promises that she has made, Jamaica will be a better and more productive and prosperous country than it is today.
I have heard her make mention on these three issues, health, education and our economy.
Economic development
For example, she believes that for too long, Jamaicans have talked about economic growth but not economic development, yet the two go hand in hand. When it comes to the issue of health she wants the country to continue its advocacy for a new international health order, and last, education. We cannot deny the fact that if more of our Jamaican citizens were educated we would not be facing so many of the issues that we are battling today, poverty, drug abuse, violence, juvenile delinquency and so much more.
Mrs. Simpson Miller's job will not be an easy one and the fact that she is a woman does not make it any easier for her, but I personally think that she should get a chance to prove to Jamaica that she can make a positive impact on our people and on our country. Is Jamaica ready for a female prime minister? Most definitely!
Alicea James, leecylue@yahoo.com
