Kamla Persad-Bessessar is not the first female Prime Minister in the Caribbean; Eugenia Charles rose to prominence in Dominica years before as did Janet Jagan, the widow of the late Guyanese president Cheddi Jagan.

But while their election to political office is certainly a milestone, the real hurdle is changing the politics itself to something less patriarchal. Let’s look at Condoleeza Rice, Madeline Albright and even Margaret Thatcher in England: women who occupied powerful political positions that nevertheless reflected and upheld patricentric interests. They all ultimately made decisions that impacted devastatingly on millions of faceless women who happen to be the ones responsible for gathering and processing food and water in their respective societies. It has been pointed out by people like Vandana Shiva in India that the new colonialism and imperialism is the privatisation of water, indigenous medicines, seeds and food production all of which were traditionally the primary concerns of women. What is needed is a new approach to politics which in my opinion involves the re-visiting of certain political institutions that existed in many parts of Africa but never in Europe so far as I have been able to research. And whether a woman is sexually active and active in ways well outside the confines of closed monogamy should not have much bearing (I wonder how many people are aware that some of the major historical figures of the 20th century alone who kept to rigid “traditional” Western values were some of the most vicious abusers of human rights this world has ever seen)

Its interesting to hear about Trinidad’s new Prime Minister and good news to hear about a woman rising to that position in Trinidad. Thank you so much for sharing. I am inspired

And for the record I too would like to see you in the political arena. It’s sobering though how alike our societies are in terms of how your sexual self would “disqualify” you from standing for office. Only last year we made history in electing a Prime Minister who is not only a woman but also, being of East Indian descent, belonged to a predominantly Hindu-oriented party that had very entrenched Hindu patriarchal values. Even then, there are still disparaging whispers about her (allegedly) nonmonogamous sexual life as if that has anything to do with how she and the coalition party she leads runs the country.

But who knows, perhaps there is time yet particularly if more young people (the future voters) were educated to approach politics in ways different from the old male chauvinist styles we have been saddled with. All the best to you, whatever you do.

Nana, by starting this blog, you already have chosen the unpleasant responsibility of having to lead. Don’t tell me you’re that sensitive? Who says a little slander can’t go a long way to make you Ghana’s first properly liberated female politician?

Remember, if a dream doesn’t scare you, it’s not worth pursuing.