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Turks & Caicos: Where women hold the top jobs
Hillary R. Clinton may not have shattered the ultimate glass ceiling, and indeed women globally still occupy a meagre percentage of top public sector posts, but as Gemma Handy reports, there is one Caribbean country where females are bucking the trend.
December saw the election of the first female premier of the tiny British territory of Turks & Caicos (TCI). She is Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson.
Women also claim the titles of deputy governor, attorney general, chief justice, chief magistrate, director of public prosecutions and five of the seven permanent secretaries, among others.
In fact, with more females markedly outperforming their male counterparts, efforts are now being made to motivate young men in a bid for equality.
Turks & Caicos' Gender Affairs Department, traditionally aimed at empowering women, is shifting attention towards helping high school boys "become more focussed and take up pivotal roles in society", says Deputy Governor Anya Williams.
That includes everything from official commemoration of International Men's Day, to "build a boss" summer camps which teach young men vocational skills and include seminars on peer pressure, anger management and communication.
Success stories
So how did the women of Turks & Caicos achieve what many others still dream of?
Ms Cartwright-Robinson, whose PDM party snared a landslide victory in the 15 December general elections, says she was simply "the best man for the job".
Campaigning on a manifesto of social justice and open, transparent governance, she beat 52 other candidates to the top post.
Her triumph put an end to a 13-year reign for the PNP party, led from 2003-9 by former premier Michael Misick who remains on trial for corruption after his lavish spending prompted a commission of inquiry, followed by a three-year return to direct British rule.
Ms Cartwright-Robinson says that her eight years of parliamentary experience, including an advisory position to the UK interim administration, stood her in good stead for her new job.
"There may still be one or two pastors who think women can't lead but because of the work I have done over the last few years, I wasn't looked at as a woman but as a person who could get the job done," she told the BBC.
'Personal touch'
But she thinks that women do bring something special to the job.
"Women pay more attention to details and bring that level of personal touch. We are indeed occupying positions never before held and are doing remarkably well," the first female premier in any of Britain's overseas territories said.
But she added that trendsetters like herself never had an easy path.
"I celebrate the women in TCI who are shattering glass ceilings. These recent appointments demonstrate a level of maturity in my country that we can all be proud of."
Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles describes the volume of high-powered women in the islands generally as "noticeable".
In February 2014, Ms Braithwaite-Knowles became TCI's first female attorney general following an open selection process which attracted applicants from across the globe.
"There are a lot of very strong women in TCI who play significant roles, who are very active in civic society and very vocal - in both the corporate world and government," she explained.
Of the 17 students from TCI currently training overseas to be lawyers, 14 are female.
"It's an interesting dynamic," she said. "I have found in my professional life that women have more emotional intelligence which is very useful when solving disputes."
Ms Braithwaite-Knowles says while she has never been a victim of discrimination, "condescension" from older male professionals is more prevalent.
"Sometimes you feel you have to prove your worth and that you're in the position purely because of the quality of your work. With older men in senior positions, your gender can be a distraction for them but after a while the fact that you're a female seems to disappear."
'No barriers'
What can be tougher to deal with, the attorney general continues, is balancing a demanding working life with being a mother to her seven-year-old son and a wife.
"But women are versatile so we are best suited to it."
She added: "The fact that women have reached these positions is an accomplishment. It's even better when we are able to demonstrate that we got there following an open and fair competition."
Deputy Governor Williams agrees.
Her role, second only to London-appointed Governor John Freeman, was also thrown open to candidates worldwide.
Previous position-holders had been directly appointed, not recruited.
Ms Williams, whose job includes oversight of the civil service and its 1,700 employees, was sworn in as a member of the cabinet for the second time on 21 December.
She tells the BBC women have long held prominent roles in the country of 35,000 people, particularly in the fields of education, medicine, politics and government.
"In TCI I see no barriers for entry or upward mobility," she said.
But she warned: 'Whilst it's great having females in so many top positions, as a mother of a young son we must ensure that our young males are motivated, encouraged and given opportunities to excel and take up future positions as well so that we have a gender-balanced society."
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4 Responses to “Turks & Caicos: Where women hold the top jobs”
There is nothing stopping the women of the BVI from forming their own party. Let all our ego-driven men continue to quarrel amongst themselves, throw public tantrums, derail their own parties, and let the women get things done - as usual.
Women have been multitasking for generations. We look after the kids, our homes, do the shopping, clean our homes, cook, clean AND handle a full-time job. We are far more likely to get things done than men are anyway.
The No Nonsense Party (or NNP) would simply work hard to get the job done, on time, on budget and with a minimum of fuss, postulating, and NO chest thumping. Men would be more than welcome to join the NNP, but they would be subject to the same rules as all other members.
The party rules would be very simple and non-negotiable:
1. Honesty, transparency and inclusiveness above all else.
2. No you may not hire, appoint or issue a contract to your mother, father, son, daughter, sister, brother, uncle, aunt, cousin or best friend "just because". If they get hired, they will have to possess the qualifications consistent with the job requirements.
You may not hire or award any contracts to a company you own or are connected with financially (or through family connection) to supply government goods or services. Full stop! However, if the company happens to be one which makes sense to the rest of the congress at the time, then you will recuse yourself from voting on that particular subject.
3. NO chest thumping, or squabbling amongst party members will be tolerated. All members will be required to carry themselves with dignity, grace and civility AT ALL TIMES.
The use of cuss words during any meetings or at party functions will result in minor fines and the offender must pay $25.00 for each offense. The "cussing" proceeds will be donated to the church of the offenders choice. Note: "Darn it", is not a cuss word - "Damn it" is. "Shoot" is not a cuss word - sh*& - well you get the idea.
All party members will be asked to sign a legally binding contract agreeing to the above rules. Members found in breach of contract will be fined $500.00 for the first instance and $750.00 for the second instance. Revenue from such fines imposed will go into the party coffers.
Any member who has been fined twice will be put on notice. Should a third infraction occur, party membership will be suspended for the minimum period of one year. If hair pulling, eye gouging, slapping, slipper slapping, pinching, spitting, biting, kicking, intentional tripping, violent shaking or punching is involved, this will result in immediate and permanent expulsion from the party.
Upon paying a $1,000.00 fine for their third infraction, the suspended member may reapply for party membership one year from the anniversary of their last infraction. A fourth infraction will result in a life-long ban from party membership.
NO NONSENSE!
Go, TCI.