OAS Representative tells women to demand action on promises to better their plight!!
By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter-SKNVibes.com
 |
| Premier of Nevis, Joseph Parry and the OAS Representative, Mr Starret Greene |
GINGERLAND, Nevis - THE Organisation of American States (OAS) Representative called on women to hold accountable all those who had made declaration and promises to better the plight of all women.
Greene was the feature speaker at the Administrative Professionals Day Annual Luncheon held at the Old Manor Hotel, which was organised by the National Association of Administrative Professionals.
Greene also called for sustained action in addressing issues facing women in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis and other parts of
 |
| National Association of Administrative Professionals annual Luncheon |
the world. He said lip service was the order of the day and promises for change had failed to bear fruits.
“Women who serve as Administrative Assistants, Secretaries, Assistants to CEOs, Heads of Departments and Directors are often taken for granted and are not recognised for their abilities nor fully compensated, monetarily speaking, for the duties and responsibilities they perform.”
He said women earned only 10 percent of the world’s income and averaged slightly less than 78 percent of the wages given for the same work. He recommended that changes be made in existing administrative and legal structures in countries all over the world, where the empowerment of women is suppressed.
“I now call on Governments, private institutions, civil society organisations and ordinary people to make a commitment to rid society of longstanding practices, traditions and customs that continue to discriminate against women and prevent them from overcoming gender oppression,” said the OAS Representative.
 |
| Diane Liburd was presented with a plaque to recognise her as the longest serving member of the National Association of Administrative Professionals. She has been in the association for 16 years |
“I challenge women to become vocal…I call on you to form a united front in defence of women everywhere. I call on you to assume the lead responsibility in working to breakdown established institutional, historical, traditional and other barriers that prevent you from realising your full potential and often deter you from determining your own destiny.“
“The tasks you perform each day, the judgement you exercise, the discretion you show in making critical decisions affecting various offices, and the fires you are required to put out in order to avoid total confusion and even calamity in some instances, speak to your exceptional abilities and your indispensable role in a rapidly changing 21st Century workplace. I am please to say, on behalf of all the bosses present and those who could not be here, that your work is greatly appreciated and it is deserving of the highest recognition,” he added.
Greene alerted his audience to the age of globalisation that places competitive pressures on businesses requiring workers to be highly trained and to be proficient with new technologies.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the entire Eastern Caribbean Region needs to make a bigger effort to develop basic training in Computer Science. One of the shortcomings we have in the region is that we do not have sufficient qualified staff to train our people. There is a severe shortage of competent persons to train others in the effective use of new and rapidly evolving technologies.
“I therefore call on our regional governments and the private sector, to embark on a comprehensive strategy that will help our people fully exploit the opportunities to improve their skills through distance-training and distance learning,” Greene said.
He pointed out that in the OAS scholarship awards programme, the OAS is encouraging potential applicants to give consideration to doing their studies on-line, especially those individuals with family responsibilities and professionals who, because of current commitments on the home front, would find it difficult to go abroad to study. ~~Adz:Right~~
“When the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) takes full effect, the region will gradually move towards the liberalisation of trade in services, liberalisation of capital, right of establishment (the rights of companies to move) and free movements of people skills.
“This CARICOM model of integration will present a set of challenges to nationals, politicians and corporations alike, especially in the area of sovereignty and the threat of competition. The free movement of people skills means that your colleagues in neighbouring islands could be competing with you for positions right here in Nevis.
“Companies engaged in hiring will, by and large, make decisions on the basis of your qualifications, the level of your skills, experience, competencies and the attractiveness of your overall competitiveness. Issues relating to where you were born, the constituency in which you live and who your daddy is will not be weighted very highly,” the OAS Representative said.
Greene called on the Administrative Professionals to prepare themselves to compete favourably with professionals of other countries in the world. He noted that it was wise to think regionally and globally, “The age of globalisation has now made you a global citizen, with global reach, global opportunities and global responsibilities.”
During the luncheon, Diane Liburd was recognised for being the longest serving member of the association. She has served in the association for 16 years. Liburd is a Secretary at the Methodist Church.
Also present at the luncheon was the Premier of Nevis, Hon. Joseph Parry, government officials and top officials in the private sector. In his brief address, Premier Parry called on men to be tolerant of women in professional positions and also for them to be reasonable.
The Premier said that in St. Kitts and Nevis there were many educated women and many in leadership and professional positions. “You can grow from strength to strength,” Hon. Parry told the women.
“I wish to call on women, through their various organisations, to hold the feet of those who spoke in support of women close to the fire, and to also remain vigilant in ensuring that issues relating to gender equality of women are effectively observed and respectfully recognised.”
