Barbados Deputy P.M. addresses women’s seminar
If you took a poll to name the most admired women in the Caribbean the name of Billie Miller of Barbados would likely be somewhere near the top of the list. And if you changed the word “women” to “people” the result just might be the same. Miller was in Belize today to lend support to the work of the Women’s Commission.
The Seminar, titled “Focus on People,” brought over a thousand women, men and children to Holy Redeemer Parish Hall. According to Kathy Esquivel, president of the National Women’s Commission, organizer of the event, the seminar, was not only to hear from their guest speaker the Honorable Billie Miller, Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados, but to update the nation on the many programs that have been introduced over the past five years.
Kathy Esquivel, President, N.W.C.
“One of the reasons is that we did have the offer by Miss Miller to come and we thought that this was an opportunity that could not be missed and as I think you heard her this morning, her wealth of information and experience is something that we feel people in Belize can benefit by. We also feel that at this point it is important to look back at what has been done. Very often these things are mentioned as they happen, but then they are forgotten and we feel we need to bring together the many initiatives and programs that have benefited the people of Belize, but especially those for women, youth, children and family and this is an ideal opportunity to do so.”
Some of the programs discussed included a report on the Conscious Youth Development Programme, the Youth Enhancement Academy, the National Organization for the Prevention of Child Abuse and the National Committee for Families and Children. During the opening ceremonies, the women participants were told that we do not need to imitate men, but rather bring our own perspective to the development process. Miss Miller, reminded us that women are essential agents of change and while she believes Caribbean women will be taking on more leadership roles in the twenty-first century, it will not be so easily attainable.
Q: “Why do you believe that women will be having a difficult time in the twenty first century? You mentioned that it will be a great challenge for us, where we will have to be acquiring new and different skills.”
Billie Miller, Deputy Prime Minister, Barbados
“It’s always been a difficult passage for women and it will continue to be so. Men, and this is not only peculiar to the Caribbean, everywhere in the world it is true, men are not reacting well and positively to the final emancipation of women and many men are opting out. We are hearing in so many communities that men are in crisis and women have got to address that as well, don’t forget. In the early stages of childhood, it is women who have got this tremendous influence.”
Despite the fact that the road ahead will not be an easy one for women, Miller says we are never the less forging ahead, especially in areas in which women have traditionally been invisible.
Billie Miller
“I see more and more women entering in parliament. I was alone, the only woman in the Barbados parliament for nineteen years and every opportunity I would make the point. It is a very lonely place and we couldn’t hear the woman’s voice; we couldn’t hear the woman’s perspective coming to the development process. That has changed now and we have two young women who have come into the parliament and I have to say that Prime Minister Arthurs of Barbados is a very courageous man; he put all the women of parliament into his cabinet.”
In Belize women are also being prepared to handle the many challenges that will come with the new millenium. According to Minister of State, Faith Babb, the only woman in Belize cabinet, the huge turnout of women at the seminar is a testament that Belizean women are taking a more active interest in their country.
Faith Babb, Minister of State
“It is very heartwarming considering that women left from two this morning all the way from the Toledo District. I feel as if though that they are demonstrating their commitment to the advancement of women. They want to be informed, as Miss Miller said, they must make informed choices and the stage is now set. We can see them coming forward and in the new millenium, I’m certain women will be taking their rightful place.”
As the only woman in Belize’s House of Representatives, Faith Babb should know what Billie Miller is talking about.
