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News
www.caribbeantimesinternational.com | week ending February 20, 2014
‘Judge me not on gender’ - PNM leadership contender Beckles-Robinson
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NM leadership contender Pennelope Beckles-Robinson is not buying the argument that if one woman, such as the prime minister, is perceived to have failed, all women also will fail at the job. “I find (that) amazing,” BecklesRobinson said last week of such criticism against her. She asked: “If you are married and it fails, does it mean all marriages will fail? How is it when a man fails in a position, they don’t say all men also will fail? In the media you have wom-
en doing very well. If one woman writes a bad story, does it mean all women will write a bad story? I‘m a leader who happens to be a woman. The Honourable Kamla Persad- Bissessar is Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Pennelope BecklesRobinson is Pennelope Beckles-Robinson. “I will like to think people vote on issues not on gender. As much as I have advocated women’s advancement I believe people vote for what you offer them and because you are bringing something different.” She was speaking
Pennelope Beckles-Robinson embraces her father, Lionel Beckles, 84, after her news conference at Balisier House, Port-of-Spain, last Thursday. Beckles declared his support for his daughter in the upcoming contest for the PNM leadership. (Kristian De Silva/TT Guardian photo)
at a news conference at PNM’s Balisier House headquarters, Port-ofSpain, last Thursday. She said when people voted for Persad-
Bissessar it was the first time a women offered herself, but she did not believe that was the reason the PP won the election.
Beckles-Robinson said the PNM has had women at all levels, including being the party’s backbone and responsible for winning its elections but never as its leader. But, she added, she was not seeking to be elected simply because she was a woman. Dismissing perceived “quietness”, BecklesRobinson said: “The fact you have a different tone and style does not mean you cannot be aggressive. Quietness does not mean you cannot be firm. Some of the most productive people cannot even speak.”
On fears she could not pull punches with the government, she noted she had been in criminal courts for 26 years and studied under Theodore Guerra, SC, (now deceased). Rejecting rumours of an ILP interest, she said: “This is an election and stakes are high so I expect all sorts of things, but when I was rejected for PNM candidacy I remained with PNM. One does not have a Godgiven right to a seat or ministry. I have worked hard for every post I have obtained.” (TT Guardian)
Guyana’s new Ombudsman holds talks with EU Delegation
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ewly-appointed Ombudsman, Justice Winston Moore on Monday met with the Head of Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecký and other top officials of the EU. During the courtesy call, Ombudsman Moore explained the function and working methods of the office of the Ombudsman, and various matters of common
interest were discussed. Ambassador Kopecký congratulated him on being appointed to the position which was vacant for the past eight years, and commended the act of appointment as a very valuable contribution to core values of the EU– good governance and the rights of citizenry. In a statement, the EU added that Kopecký further highlighted the importance of the office of the Ombudsman lik-
ening it to the role of the European Ombudsman in ensuring the preservation of democracy and human rights. He also assured Ombudsman Moore that the EU is ready, via its delegation in Georgetown, to support his office in terms of capacity building and logistics enhancement if the Guyanese side requests such.
Cooperation
“Ombudsman Moore acknowledged receiving
Ombudsman Winston Moore briefing Head of Delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecký and other officials during a visit to the ambassador’s office on Monday
an earlier letter from the EU ambassador indicating the readiness of the EU Delegation to cooperate with his office and suggested several areas in which this could be achieved,” the EU statement said. On January 13, Moore was sworn in as Guyana’s Ombudsman by President Donald Ramotar. Ombudsmanlike officials have been around since ancient times and may have flourished in China and Korea in the BC era and in Ancient Rome and the Turkish Empire in the early AD period. An indigenous joint Swedish/ Danish/Norwegian term, Ombudsman essentially
means “representative”, someone who is authorised to act for someone else and has been in use since the 13th century. Kopecký was joined at the meeting by Political Officer Derek Lambe; Head of Cooperation, Ewout Sandker; Head of Bilateral Section, Benedikt Madl; and Programme Officer Yohann Chaigneau. In a recent interview with this newspaper, Moore said his office had begun addressing the 15 reports received so far from members of the public. He said in instances where his office has no jurisdiction, he would point the complainant to the courts,
the chief justice, or the chancellor of the judiciary. The new Ombudsman sought to clear up a few issues surrounding his office with regard to staffing and resources. He has been working closely with the Public Service Ministry, and has since submitted a list of requirements for the office to function effectively. He also stated that staff members who had worked at the office in the past were given the option to return and many of them have agreed. Moore said, “I have no qualms or misgivings about personnel or resources that will be provided.”