[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 48 (Thursday, April 27, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E651-E652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ``WOMEN TIME NOW'' IN THE U.S., CARIBBEAN, LATIN AMERICA, AFRICA AND 
                     ELSEWHERE AS FEMALES TAKE OVER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 27, 2006

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to enter into the Record an 
interesting and spellbinding editorial entitled ``Women Time Now'' that 
clearly recognizes the growing number of

[[Page E652]]

outstanding women who are emerging as leaders throughout the world. I 
sincerely commend the newly elected leaders and admire the female 
leaders from the past who paved the way for this newer group of women 
elected officials. It is evident that they are poised to demonstrate 
their ability to lead their countries into the future.
  Portia Simpson-Miller, Jamaica's first woman Prime Minister and Ellen 
Johnson-Sirleaf, Liberia's new President and the first elected female 
leader in Africa's history are surfacing to prominence with much 
support from their countrymen. The term referenced in the article to 
give a sense of the political climate in their countries is ``national 
euphoria''. This term clearly signifies the exuberance that is felt as 
these ladies take on the task of running their countries.
  While I am overjoyed for the newly elected female officials, a 
disturbing part of the editorial addresses the declining number of 
males in the U.S. and in the Caribbean who are failing to take 
advantage of the educational opportunities that could lead to a more 
active role from men in politics of the future. The Vice Chancellor of 
the University of the West Indies ventured to say that in another 
decade women will be leading the Caribbean in most spheres of 
influence. Hopefully, opportunities will continue to exist for all and 
more young men and women will embrace and seize the opportunity to 
contribute to the political processes in their countries.
  Mr. Speaker, I have deep respect for the fortitude and commitment of 
the many women leaders who are rising to the forefront as they embark 
on the mission to bring about positive changes in their countries. I 
enter this editorial into the Record to reiterate the point that women 
are emerging as leaders throughout the world and this emergence 
signifies that it is truly ``Women's Time Now.''

                 [From the NY Caribnews, April 4, 2006]

                           ``Women Time Now''

       ``It's woman time now, give her a chance.''
       Across Jamaica, indeed throughout the Caribbean and in the 
     West Indian Diaspora in North America and Europe, both men 
     and women are chanting that sentiment.
       Although the words are meant for Portia Simpson-Miller, who 
     in a few days time will make history in her country by 
     becoming Jamaica's first woman Prime Minister, they are also 
     being directed at Liberia's new President, Ellen Johnson-
     Sirleaf, the first elected female leader in Africa's history, 
     and the newly installed President of Chile, Latin America's 
     first woman head of state and government.
       Like others in different parts of world, Simpson Miller and 
     Johnson Sirleaf, for instance, have come to office with 
     national euphoria serving as the wind beneath their wings. 
     It's up to them to lead their respective countries into a new 
     and prosperous direction.
       Simpson-Miller, perhaps the most popular politician in 
     Jamaica is not the first woman to head a Caribbean 
     government. Eugenia Charles, the Prime Minister of Dominica 
     in the 1980s and Janet Jagan, Guyana's President in the 
     1990s, are but two who come quickly to mind. In addition, 
     Haiti, the Netherlands Antilles and St. Marteen have all had 
     women at the helm.
       Across the Caribbean, indeed, around the world women are 
     taking charge, enacting new laws, changing old bad habits, 
     reshaping broken countries and companies and bringing a new 
     sense of order and inspiration that augurs well for the 
     future.
       In the U.S., which by the way lags Rwanda in giving women a 
     larger share of political and parliamentary power outstanding 
     women now hold key positions in government, the judiciary, on 
     college campuses, civil society, the trade unions, corporate 
     America and elsewhere. But as outstanding as it sounds, the 
     pace may have been a bit too slow and needs to be quickened.
       Such outstanding women as Dame Billie Miller, Barbados' 
     Senior Minister who has been her country's Minister of 
     Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade for a dozen years, Claris 
     Charles, Grenada's Minister of Education, Dame Pearlette 
     Louisy, St. Lucia's Governor General, and Pat Bishop of 
     Trinidad and Tobago who is one of the Caribbean's most 
     accomplished composers, arrangers and ethno musicologists are 
     but a few of those who come to mind for having changed the 
     course of government, the trade union movement or cultural 
     expression in our part of the world.
       Just the other day, Dr. Nigel Harris, Vice Chancellor of 
     the University of the West Indies, served notice that in 
     another decade women would be leading the Caribbean in most 
     spheres of influence. He based that on the fact that females 
     account for more than 70 per cent of the students on UWI 
     campuses in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. While 
     that's a source of joy, it's also a reason to express regret 
     as far as young men are concerned. The male of the species in 
     both the U.S. and the Caribbean are failing to take advantage 
     of educational opportunities, thus leaving us all to ask what 
     does that tell us about the future?
       Women, especially Black women around the world are seizing 
     every chance they get to make a difference for themselves and 
     society. The barriers they have broken down are mind-boggling 
     and are a lesson to all about rising to the occasion.
       That's not to suggest that the path has been easy or that 
     the future is entirely rosy. They must expect challenges at 
     every step but there is little doubt that they would be able 
     to complete the task successful.

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