THE COLOUR PURPLE

This week, we come to the month set aside for the observance of women. We have saluted them, awarded them, and noted their accomplishments. Even the business community has learned to take advantage and hawk their wares and services. The entire month was awash in a haze of purple and lilac for the observance as we collectively proclaim our love, devotion, and support of women. The overpass was lit, t-shirts were printed and many… many political speeches were given in honour of women living in Belize. However, no matter how sweet the lip service is, the other eleven months of the year prove that for all the colourful fan-fare it remains just that lip service. The apathy toward the plight of women in Belize is palpable still, and one month in celebration of women means nothing if behind the scenes and for the rest of the year they continue to live in fear of Gender Based Violence even in their homes, sexual harassment at work and on the street, and subject to discrimination and inequality in education and employment opportunities. Women in Belize have learnt to endure life in Belize despite all these conditions and make no mistake none are immune to it. Recently, the treatment and disrespect of Madame Speaker at the House of Representatives is a prime example that women of every socio-economic background and at every level are affected.

This administration under the guidance and stewardship of Hon John Briceño has done much to alleviate the gaps that exist in the representation of women in leadership positions. However, we need more, women are fifty percent of the population of this country, and yet we have only four women elected in the House of Representatives, four women as Senators, and two women as presiding officers. Let us mention the great disservice that the Member for Queen’s Square does not only to her constituency but in fact to all Belizean women by not being present and engaged in her duties to represent, advocate and serve. Still, collectively women now account for only twenty-two percent of parliamentarians in the National Assembly, and this is a record for Belize. Plan Belize in the Women and Families Agenda promises to achieve gender equality and equity and to end discrimination against women and girls. It also promises to guarantee the equitable participation of women and girls in leadership and governance and to strengthen and expand measures to ensure their safety and security.

Such promises were not made lightly, and the women of Belize do not take them lightly. At the end of March and Women’s Month, we remind the government that the national gender gap score for the period 2015 to 2022 is 0.695 and that means that women are thirty percent less likely than men to have equal opportunities. This placed Belize at 95th out of 146 countries. The gender gap in the area of political empowerment for Belize stands at an embarrassing 0.075 which places Belize among the lowest in the region. Belize continues to experience high rates of teenage pregnancy and child marriage and these areas are of grave concern.

The Color Purple is a film that showcases how women have sometimes been treated. There is a victorious statement by Celie, who has spent most of her life up to that point feeling unworthy and unloved, mistreated, and invisible says “I’m poor…I may even be ugly, but…I’m here!”

Women in Belize are here, we are also ready to lead, represent, continue to produce, and excel. Celie from the Color Purple tells Mister “Until you do right by me, everything you think about is going to crumble.” So it will be in Belize, if our leaders insist on marginalizing and ignoring the needs of half of the population.