By Makeda Mikael
Former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s cruelty in the Falklands was harshly criticised, even by men.
India’s Indira Gandhi went straight for the testicles, literally, castrating the country ’s lower class men to stop reproduction.
Our very own Dame Eugenia Charles of Dominica, a great intellectual, allowed herself to become befuddled by the Hollywood actor turned president, Ronald Regan, who convinced her to siding with America against Cuba.
I raise these examples of powerful women led astray to express the fact that I am no longer happy with the recent decisions of Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Amour Mottley with respect to LIAT and her intent on pursuing a stupid aviation war with Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
The mindset of powerful women that their approach to power must be testosterone driven and rough is unacceptable. Also, it is unacceptable that women of high intellect who are placed in positions of power become so arrogantly male that it belittles them and causes even their women supporters to withdraw in shame.
This unfolding LIAT saga provides a perfect case in point as the antagonistic and uncaring attitude of the powerhouse in this aviation argument over whether LIAT should die and whether St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados’ ‘One Caribbean’ should rise.
The lack of economic appreciation by these two ultra-educated Caribbean leaders of the 60-plus-year-old airline, which has done yeoman service in keeping the region together in good and bad times.
Through post-federation disappointment to the Regional Development Agency, then the OECS and CARICOM era, it truly makes one wonder to what end we are educating our people! It is difficult not to see the Plantation and Great House mentalities which come into play here as Little England seeks to barge its way into a seasoned Caribbean institution and, having failed to take over, seek to betray the initiative and kill the airline.
Years ago Barbados held the second place in Caribbean Aviation where, under the good legal guidance of their rated aviation lawyer Ian Archer, they were able to penetrate the trans-Atlantic air routes with weekly charters to Luxembourg where budget-conscious Caribbean people, and students in particular, could reach their destinations in most of Europe via plane, train or ferry.
Over the years this aviation spark dwindled and the Civil Aviation Division in Barbados reduced its direct involvement and downsized almost to extinction Faced with this Barbados could not qualify for Category 1 status, whereas Antigua, with LIAT, could.
The acceptable methodology for Barbados to regain its status in aviation would have required a meeting of the heads of the interested regions to seriously discuss the reorganisation of LIAT with the inclusion of One Caribbean and other interested airlines.
Instead what happened behind the closed doors of the COVID-19 shut-down was a serious bid by the LIAT majority shareholders to kill LIAT and have their own phoenix rise in time to take over LIAT’s routes, passengers and international safety reputation.
Barbados and St. Vincent should be ashamed of their rebellious and greedy antics and rejoin the great effort of Antigua and Barbuda to have LIAT take to the blue once again.
Thoughts and views expressed in commentaries, editorials or Op-Eds do not necessarily reflect the opinion of ABN, its management or staff.
3 responses to “Are women leaders forced to be men?”
This article is a classic. It refers to all the world’s renowned female greats in twentieth (20th) century history, and tradition, of women, who have blazed the political trail culminating in becoming leaders of their respective countries. Perhaps, one notable exception was Golda Meir of Israel, who occupied the office of Prime Minister of her country from March 17, 1969 to some time in 1974. I salute Prime Minister Mia Motley to be mentioned alongside those other great women in world politics. I compliment Makeda Mikael for producing a nicely structured, and well written article, with very interesting, and significant, content.
However, some of the contents of this article give me cause, once more, to reiterate that it is my view that: Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, comprising Majority Shareholders in LIAT, have acted with a high degree of magnanimity in the circumstances. After all, it was Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda who, at the beginning, came out with the announcement that LIAT was to be liquidated, and replaced by a new Company. Being only a Minority Shareholder in LIAT our Prime Minister would not have had any legal right to make such an announcement, even though Antigua and Barbuda would have the most to lose from LIAT’S demise. Barbados and St. Vincent and the grenadines, each graciously and magnanimously, surrendered their shareholdings in LIAT for just EC$ 1.
The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda did not present a clearly legal plan for LIAT to his fellow Prime Ministers. Because, if you liquidate LIAT 1974 Ltd, and create a new Company with the intention of continuing business as usual, you may have, in fact, circumvented bankruptcy laws and, in effect, acting fraudulently. Also, Prime Minister Browne, by his public allegations, was also trying to bludgeon his fellow Prime Ministers into conspiring with him to commit the implied frauds against LIAT’S creditors. Such behavior on the part of Prime Minister Browne, intentionally or not, was, indeed, most reprehensible.
So, let me say, here and now, that the charges against Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are not, at all, proven. Now that the parties are trying to discuss their concerns in good faith, and with some degree of mutual respect, this article could create the kind of diversion that is not in the best interest of LIAT, whether its LIAT 1974 or some new one, nor Antigua and Barbuda’s interest in the matter.
And, finally, what difference should it really make, politically, whether a Prime Minister has testosterone, or testicles, or what ever?
I hereby would now like to encourage the negotiating parties to ignore such kind of politically motivated and orchestrated diversions, and continue to work, assiduously, for the best possible solution that will satisfy the concerns of all interested parties, and within the shortest possible time.
Mia not wanting to prop up Antiguan jobs with Barbados taxpayer dollars does not equal an aviation war with Gaston Browne.
I just heard that my Dear Friend in Barbados has commenced taking testosterone injections, having got a cue from some recent article in the media. I wonder why. Do you think she is contemplating using the Regional Security System (RSS) against us?
We have to put our military on full alert, and even put watchmen at places like Boggy Peak – I mean Mount Obama – and Goat Hill to look out to see if they see anything unusual in the Atlantic. We should also beef up our security forces presence at the V. C. Bird International Airport.
I am praying for peace.