The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Pettiness and narrow-mindedness aside, I am a Bahamian; I love this country and want the best for it.

If I stand idly by and let this game that is being played on all of us, many who hate to admit it, then I am no better than the perpetrators whose intentions it is to keep the reigns of this country in the hands of “The Establishment”.

I have been a student of politics from my time as newspaper boy and a darkroom assistant at Bahamian Times in the mid to late sixties. I am fortunate to have been close enough to the likes of political geniuses like Sir Arthur Foulkes my mentor, George Smith and others. I believed I have learned some of what is necessary to make a sensible political calculation.

The Women’s Suffrage Movement fought for women to have an even playing field, not only to vote but also to be regarded as equal to men.

Since then, women have been constantly struggling to be accepted as equal to men. But women have been their own worst enemy. It seems that women always object to other women making any progress as long as it was not them.

Recent past events prove that women even voted against themselves being equal. Puzzling!

But there are many level-headed women who look beyond their own selfishness and see “the greater good”. The normal jealousy have caused many women not to ascend the ladder though, whether it was corporate, civil society or even politics.

There is no doubt, however, that women have proven to be equally as capable of handling any position given.

We have already had the first Governor of the Central Bank, first female Speaker of the House of Assembly, the first Attorney General, first female Deputy Prime Minister and of course the highest position in the land, the first female Governor General.

For too long, there have been, perceived or otherwise, the boys club, that seem to combine forces to keep females from grabbing the ultimate prize and that is the leader of a political party, who would eventually go on to be the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, once the party wins.

I dare say there are countless women who have the wherewithal to be in that position.

But let me move slightly to this point, many have outlandish reason why this should not happen. Well, previously I spelled out the many ladies who have climbed to the top of their respected positions with great success.

I say to the men in particular, who may object, if you have the respect for your mother to “run things at home” and later on love your wife who continues to “run things at your home” and still hold down a 9 to 5 job successfully and if you have already impressed on your daughters to be the best they can be, why not a woman lead us, why not now?

I dare say that we had three male prime ministers already, none of whom I was completely proud of, especially how some things were handled, why not try a woman the next time?

This is a good a time as any to move in another direction, how much worse can it get? We need the compassion and the level-headedness that has been sorely lacking for far too long.

Since the position seems to pass back and forth between friends, “now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation.” Let us save this country from the “obvious game” that has been played on us with our eyes wide open, “if I don’t have it, you’ll have it”.

Men do not have a monopoly on common sense, leadership, ability, strength or courage.

History has shown us many powerful women, to name one, Margaret Thatcher who was Prime Minister of Great Britain. What is different here at home?

It is definitely time for us to try a different gender. I am sure the women in the Suffrage Movement would agree that they fought for these exact things.

Bahamians, stop being led like puppets on a string. More than three mothers could bear a leader.

Actually, I know I am proud of many women who are overqualified to be leader and I honour them right now.

But I remember my childhood; I had the distinct pleasure and good fortune to be raised by a single mother, an aunt a nurse, who made us the centre of her life, since she had no children herself and a grandmother who must have been a Nazi general. They are my lasting impression of how powerful women are.

Now let the male chauvinist, and the women who have no self-esteem ridicule me, I expect that.

I am relieved!

IVOINE W INGRAHAM

Nassau,

February 14, 2014.