As controversies continue in our adversarial political system, two female-driven speeches remain spinning in my mind – a heartbreaking one by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, and a prophetic one by the indomitable Moruga/Tableland MP, now Minister of Culture and Community Development, Michelle Benjamin.
First, as MP, Ms Benjamin, a Spiritual Baptist, boldly stood her ground from the opposition back bench last October and declared: “Madam Speaker, the PNM would be out of office beyond August 2025 and on that glorious day, we shall sing with one voice, free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, free at last.” She needed no “too close to call” poll.
The Speaker, apparently in awe and shock, stood frozen as Benjamin was finished. Minister Benjamin is a fighter whom I admired in her struggles to have the fishing depot and the agro-processing plant completed in Moruga. This column encouraged her with the headline: Michelle fights for food.
Continuing her “never-give-up” fight against murders in her constituency, my other supporting column was headlined: Michelle, Moruga and Murders. She continued to fight for fixing landslides, bad roads, bridges and building tourism. Moruga/Tableland has great potential. I witnessed its needs in my visit earlier this year. I admired Benjamin’s underdog struggles as a countryside soldier against the political odds. (Election 2025 results: UNC Benjamin 11,083, 57 per cent; PNM Lisa Atwater 7,983, 41 per cent. Turnout 65 per cent) All parties will do well with young, dedicated representatives like Minister Benjamin.
And now for a saddening address. Noting the personal insults and denigration hurled against her from 2015, Persad-Bissessar solemnly declared in her swearing-in speech: “My body has aged from years of battering, bruising, humiliation, ridicule, abuse and insults. I have been called jammette, drunk, dog, and every nasty word in-between. But through it all, I never became angry or bitter because in my darkest moments, I always had the love and comfort of the loyal rank and file UNC membership.” As a woman, rising from scorn and abuse, she added words and hurt feelings that would easily draw tears. My wife shed some.
Persad-Bissessar said: “Yes, I accept that my body appears old now. It looks small and frail. But inside this body is the mind and heart of a caring mother filled with love. Was I perfect? No. I wasn’t, and I humbly say sorry to my rank and file.”
This is a 73-year-old woman who, from a child, fought her way up from the Penal lagoons, overcoming rural stereotypes to become PM twice. A Port of Spain politician during the 2015 election campaign berated her and her countryside folks as “alligators coming from the murky lagoon.” Such must not happen again.
To those still there in the Siparia, Penal and Debe, the PM showed them that there is no longer anything to be ashamed of. In fact, the many mothers of those rural parts have helped their families convert those districts into a bustling, prosperous economy.
She now inspires and provides
