Men have dominated the current political discourse on likely presidential candidates, from Donald Ramotar and Ralph Ramkarran to Khemraj Ramjattan, Winston Murray and of late, David Granger. If a woman’s name had been mentioned it did not come from within any of the major camps.
Why is there no talk of Presidential Advisor Gail Teixeira being considered for a nomination in the PPP/C or of Human Services Minister Priya Manickchand? What of some of the heavy hitters in the PNCR- One Guyana; like Deborah Backer, Volda Lawrence and Clarissa Riehl?
The Alliance for Change (AFC) appears to have entirely shut out its Vice-Chairperson, Sheila Holder based on internal party politics at the last two biennial congresses. She has twice been nominated and secured the position of Vice-Chairperson, failing to make it to the position of chairman and/or leader though the position of presidential candidate is open to challengers.
The candidacy of former president Janet Jagan aside, the seeming lack of interest in nominating women candidates begs the question as to whether party structures are set up in a manner in which women cannot easily move to the top.
Women and social activist, Andaiye frankly stated that political leadership in Guyana remains male dominated and according to her, men’s capacity for leadership is often based on experiences in the military and other “male dominated institutions”. She said society appears to embrace a male figure who would have demonstrated leadership in institutions and sectors that still hold barriers for women.
She described it as self-perpetuating not only in Guyana but across the globe, noting that in many of the cases where women were able to breakthrough they had powerful spouses and or strong political connections. She cited India’s Indira and Sonia Gandhi. With respect to the exceptions, she referred to England’s Margaret Thatcher and Dominica’s Eugenia Charles. “…I don’t care for a woman leader if she will behave worse than the men in her party and that was true of both Thatcher and Charles,” Andaiye added.
She said she has looked around and can think of no female, across parties in Guyana, who has a different political agenda from the men in her party. She said the women and the men all pursue a national agenda which is discriminatory to some sections of the society, particularly grassroots women and those who are poor.
She said there is an argument that men have been messing up things for years and a woman should now get a chance even if she is likely to do same. “I understand this argument, but I also know that is enough to just say a woman should be there,” Andaiye said. She added that whoever is nominated must have the people in mind and also policies that are not discriminatory.
No comment
Gail Teixeira would not address the question of a personal interest in the position of presidential candidate saying “no comment” when Stabroek News spoke with her, but she said there are capable women currently working in politics who are qualified to run.
Teixeria said the nomination of a female would be based on internal party policies and or largely up to “political parties”. Women have had a long political history in the country, she said, adding that former president Janet Jagan was among those at the forefront and later assumed higher office.
She opined that Guyanese voters are likely to embrace any candidate who brings something “additional” to a presidential race. The main issue is what a particular candidate stands for, she said, adding that one has to be careful not to “gender-ise the issue very much”. She would not elaborate on that but continued by sharing a personal story.
Teixeira recalled that she was attracted to the policies of US President’s Barack Obama during his presidential bid and supported him over US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton “a likely [female] choice”. She said it was not a question of gender, but what the candidate had to offer.
Sheila Holder, speaking on the issue, observed that not a single female name has been mentioned in the lead-up to 2011 and according to her, “it leaves much to be desired”. She said women here had always been vibrant politicians and candidly referred to the lack of interest shown as a disregard for the quality service women have given over the years.
“Women are rising and it is not to be ignored,” Holder stated, adding that there is evidence of political parties recognizing this and appearing to support it in several countries.
“The fact that so many countries have placed women in positions of power appears to have escaped the political pundits here,” she added.
Holder said the society and political parties should not take women for granted declaring that if women were to withdraw their services and support it would be a lesson of some magnitude for all parties.
But she also said that women have the propensity to play supporting roles, noting that this comes naturally for women. Still, she said, women need to consider this and start playing less of a background role.
It’s time
PNCR-1G’s Deborah Backer said it is time for a woman to be nominated for a presidential run and according to her; any serious political party in the 21st century would accept that a woman in a position of prominence is a step in the right direction. Backer contended that the two major political parties seem to be afraid to step out of the box and nominate a woman.
Backer said the society has also not made it easy for a woman because there is a fixation on race when people consider presidential candidates.
She said the issue of race always trounces gender and that it continues to be a major topic of discussion. “People are caught up in it,” she added, noting that the time has come for other issues to take centre stage.
Further, she added that women have played a significant role in Guyanese politics, noting also the election of former President Janet Jagan. Backer, like Teixeira, would not comment on her personal interests.
Indra Chandarpal, a PPP/C stalwart believes a woman could win if nominated, but she emphasized that support is not garnered solely on gender. She said there are women in every political party with the criteria to run for president. “It is not a case that there is paucity, women simply have not come forward,” she said.
Chandarpal said she knows women in her party and in opposition camps with the credentials and experience to step forward, but that it depends on whether they have an interest.
According to her, voters are likely to support a female presidential candidate if she is nominated in any particular party. She too pointed to former president Janet Jagan saying she was supported and later elevated.
