Director of the Department of Gender Relations, Charms Gaspard.
Director of the Department of Gender Relations Charms Gaspard has made a plea for more women to get involved in leadership and decision making positions in Saint Lucia.
Gaspard, who spoke at a consultation to review the draft constitution for the St. Lucia Women’s Leadership Caucus at the Bay Gardens Hotel on Friday, said that in such managerial roles, “countless voiceless women in our communities” will be given a path of expression.
While noting that politics was not the only field that the female gender should become leaders, she said there is a definite need for more women to come to the fore in that sector.
“We really and truly we want to see more woman in elected politics. Women are sensitive to women, children and social issues. They will be able to make a difference. We think women are the best persons to articulate women’s issues. So it’s important to not only to support and encourage those women who have gone past the barriers, and put themselves forward in political leadership. It is very, very important that we continue to support these women and continue to support the issues that they stand for … Continue to lobby for them,” she stated.
“We cannot just be contented to have women in the House. We need to be able to lobby and to bring our issues before them and let them be committed to articulating our issues and bring them into the policy and decision making [processes],” she added.
Gaspard spoke against the common notion where women are often regarded as their “greatest enemies.”
“We hear it all the time…and that’s a myth. We really need to dispel that. We need to show our support. We need to encourage women who are in business. We need to encourage young entrepreneurs. We need to encourage women who have a dream. Some of use who have gone there before them, it is our duty and responsibility to hold their hands …” she said.
She said this support is even more important as the world is going through so many “issues.”
“It’s really time that we step up. We do it all, but we need to do it in a way that we can make that difference“ she said.
The Women’s Leadership Caucus is part of activities to mark this year’s observance of International Women’s Day.
The Women’s Leadership Caucus is intended to support the personal and professional advancement of women leaders by facilitating an increase in the number of women in positions of leadership and decision-making at all levels.