Basseterre, St. Kitts, March 31, 2016 (SKNIS): On Wednesday’s (March 30) edition of “Working for You”, Kaye Bass, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Aviation, stated that there is room for improvement in the promotion of gender equality.
The subject was raised by host Lesroy Williams who noted that Ms. Bass has proven to be very competent, intelligent and well abled making her an ideal civil servant. She was asked if enough is being done in the Federation to promote women’s rights, equality and empowerment.
Ms. Bass said, “I think there is always room for improvement. I think St. Kitts and Nevis has come a long way,” noting that there were days when not many women were in top positions in Government. “It is good to look at where we have come from in order to assess where we are.”
“I know we like to look at other countries and other contexts to compare and contrast but if we examine where we come from, I think we’ve come quite a distance,” she said. “Of course, there is a way to go but I think us as women have to present ourselves as being capable, we have to advance ourselves by pursuing as much as possible, further our education.”
Ms. Bass stated that children, both male and female, through education will understand the importance of learning and the need to respect others no matter the gender.
“Yes, men may be favoured based on salaries and equal pay and others, but we have to teach our children that persons must be respected [whether male or female].”
She stated that it is important and critical that women respect themselves for others to respect them.
Ms. Bass added that more could be done by the private and public sector as well as civil society to advance women’s rights, equality and empowerment.
“I commend what has been done so far,” she said. “I commend women who are pursuing their goals and I want to encourage every young woman who is aspiring to become somebody to continue no matter what your challenges are as the world is changing.”