Magistrate says childcare should be human right

| 24/03/2011

(CNS): The Cayman Islands chief magistrate has called for better childcare provision funded by government and the private sector to pave the way for more women to attain senior positions in the community. Speaking passionately about the rights of women at last week’s UCCI conference on Leadership, Governance and Empowerment in the Caribbean, Margaret Ramsay-Hale said that even today, women’s worth, both in the work place and the home, was undervalued. She warned that not having women in strong positions of power detrimentally hit the bottom line of business, as she suggested care should be a human right.

“In the private sector participation by women in senior roles has been shown to translate into greater financial rewards: the top 500 multinational firms which had at least three women on their boards saw a 16.7 per cent return on equity; average companies saw just 11.5 per cent. The greater the number of women, the greater the difference; those with the greatest number of women on their boards had 53 per cent greater returns on equity than those with the fewest,” Ramsey- Hale revealed.

A solution to getting more women in senior positions would be to make care, in particular the care of children, a human right. With women still the primary caregiver in the family, that role reinforces the idea that women’s place is in the home, she noted.

“The role of caregiver is something to be honoured but it is not currently honoured by many in power in the work place as it can affect the caregiver’s ability to perform well,” she said. Ramsay-Hale called for free and accessible daycare to all families who need it provided by government as well as businesses for their own employees.

“Are these your employees’ children or the children who are our country’s future?” she questioned to a packed audience during the special lunchtime presentation.

She pointed to Scandinavian countries with generous parental care schemes, which could be a role model for countries in the Caribbean.

The magistrate pointed out that despite Caribbean seats of learning being filled by women, they still struggle to hold positions of real power in both the public and private sectors of the region. Statistics reveal that across the Commonwealth only 13.1 percent of professors in universities were female and only 9 percent of managers were women.

While study show women are more likely to succeed as registrars, librarians or heads of personnel, women deans and professors are a minority and women chancellors a rarity, Ramsey-Hale said.

Numbers in the workplace have not translated into having a voice where it counts, as only 3 percent of law firm partners and executives in publicly traded companies are women, she said. Women were also not proportionally represented in government, even though they make up half the voting population.

As she pondered the question why despite women’s attainmentsin education they still remain socially and politically handicapped, she pointed to the issue of care and said that was the key to the advancement of women to positions of greater power.

She also lamented those women who had reached powerful positions but had done nothing to assist other women’s struggle for equality. Ramsey-Hale pointed to the former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who infamously after eleven years in office did nothing at all to advance the cause of women. She joked about Madeleine Albright’s comment that “there is a special place in hell reserved for women who do not help other women.”

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Category: Local News

About the Author ()

Comments (33)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Rights Said Fred says:

    Child care is not a recognised human right.  maybe it should be.

    However the failure to offer reduced work permit fees for part time workers is a breach of the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of gender since women, with child care obligations, have a far greater need for part-time work. 

    Professional women who cannot work part-time have a good big money lawsuit in the UK against the foreign office and the Cayman government.

  2. Anonymous says:

     Every time there is an article on CNS about women’s rights, we get these kind of responses.  Any good comment that is put up by a woman is licked down by a man.  Just proves our point.

    I wish myself to see some kind of care that when my children is sick, that I could go to work.  I had to take all of my vacation days to stay home with my child plus of course the boss kept getting on me.  I had to hire a helper so of course that means that I’m a bad mother and don’t take care of my children.

    Then of course the next insult is that we shouldn’t have children.  Well, people in Cayman complain about the foreigners taking their jobs and there are too much foreigners.  Well, what happens when the Caymanians don’t have children?  There will be more foreigners than Caymanians.  So I say, make life better for our children.  We really are not a family oriented society.  We treat our elders, women, and children like they don’t exist.  Well, sow what you reap.  Angry young adults.

    I know I will get a lot of thumbs down because the truth hurts but oh well.  

    • jay-z says:

      Oh please… for crying out loud, how much more will you make yourself into a little chicken or victim??? I am a woman and you sound so pathetic! Pleasegrow up, stop comparing your life with other people, and live your life to the fullest! Go out and drink something for a change… the world doesn’t revolve around you my dear.

  3. Libertarian says:

    ***** CNS: “‘The role of caregiver is something to be honoured but it is not currently honoured by many in power in the work place as it can affect the caregiver’s ability to perform well,’ she said. Ramsay-Hale called for free and accessible daycare to all families who need it provided by government as well as businesses for their own employees.” – Ramsey sympathizes too much with those women who find it hard to aspire because of their children. But my question is, why should I pay a tax or a fee that she is proposing in order to fund a government daycare system? Why should my quote and quote “ability to perform well” on my job be affected because some ladies “ability to perform well” has been weakened due to having children? There is no such thing as a “free” government daycare! Some other woman who is working hard and being responsible would have to pay for the irresponsible! That is not how you help women in society by helping the ones who can’t reach to the top. Rather, you help those who are at the top to stay there and reach out to other women. You educate them – you don’t plug them into a social program that the tax-payers have to pay for! It is like in a pre-school, you don’t keep the well performed students behind so that the others can aspire. It is not going to happen! You need to support to give your time and energy to the top students, because you know for sure they will excel and end up helping other people. *****

  4. Anonymous says:

    Unfortunately most of the girls who have illegitimate children never learn. They will constantly go after men who have nothing to offer them. 

           1. He has no education

          2. He has no car

          3. He comes from another country or his mama or papa does.

          4. He has no job that offers him a step up.

          5. He has 2 women at least thinking he’s a sex god because he says," hey baby you look good."

         6. She thinks that once she gets pregnant and fat he will still love her.

          7. She can’t cook so she eats fast food

          8.  Six months down the way when they both start to really show who they really are….. they really don’t suit each other.

    SOLUTION

        1. Get an education 

        2. Separate girls from boys in school

       3. Listen to your parents especially if they have an education.

       4. When you send your daughters to parties and they don’t have chaperones don’t send them.

       5. Parents need to educate their daughters about immigrants who come from 3rd world countries.

        6. If you think he really loves you tell him to buy his own car  not mama or papa. That will tell you if he has some kind of responsibility.

    • Anonymous says:

      Obviously written by someone who was never a 17 year old girl.

      But the comment in solution 5 is pretty offensive.  From my direct social experience most of the teenage pregnancies in Cayman involve Caymanian boys and in many cases Caymanian men.

  5. Anonymous says:

    Childcare is a human right. It’s your right (and your obligation) as a human to TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILD! Argh!

  6. Michel Lemay says:

    I thouht the article was well written. I would like to see that Dead Beat Dads who are supposed to pay alimony to their Baby Mother be monitered once the courts have given an amount to pay. Some pay what they feel like, when they feel like or not at all. After a while the mothers get fed up or are threatened and feel like it’s not worth fighting. WHO pays the CHILDREN. I heard one Dead Bead Bead Father tell his friend what are they going to do ? put me in Jail I don’t care that won’t help her situation. I would like to see a system that pops up at the courts when that occurs. These mothers have to work if they do waste time to go find out if the money is in and cannot plan ahead. Very often the Grand parents wind out involved if they care and some cannot even help as they need help themselves. I know that that I have drifted from the main subject to I feel it’s also connected. Please Magistrate Ramsay Hale give it some though because I know how you feel about this and the red tape is very long. God Bless

  7. Florence Goring-Nozza says:

     

    In a society where the rights of individuals especially the elderly and women in the Cayman Islands are being violated’ not to mention the  continued abuse of infamous employers and government who continue to grant work permits to avaricious corporations… I cannot perceive the basis for criticism of Magistrate Mrs. Ramsay Hale’s comprehensive statements and call for reform on the part of employers in the work place on behalf of the women of the Cayman Islands.

    The numerous comments of resistance from men and women with obviously no vision, full of pomp and pride, ignorance and bliss, is the proof of the pudding that  people get the government they deserve!

    Why should Mrs.Ramsay Hale fight for the rights of women who should be rallying around her and thanking her for her call for a movement to enhance the intellectual being of the women in our society?

    These comments of resistance are not only malicious, but are obviously written by certain individuals with an undisputed dysfunctional mentality, a better description is that such baseless comments could only have been written by  each one better  described as an IGNORAMUS! OR those who continue to occupy positions that could be held by local qualified individuals, and the decision makers. None of the above are exemmpt.

    When you really analyze the whole matter and all that is happening in this region at this time,  does it really make even the least bit of sense to help women or men with this kind of hopeless mentality.  I mean a mentality that resists factual truths and a call to improve and enhance ones education and overall well being! and there are women taking up a position of resistance how stupid can one be is there any end to one’s ignorance and stupidity!

    The problem, is Caymanians need to speak out in these forums and CEASE from shooting the messenger, its time to accept the message of hope regardless of who’se lips from whence it came.And If you continue to  accept a SYMBOL with no substance, then enjoy the mental slavery and do not complain.

    Mrs. Ramsay Hale’s statements indeed fell on too many deaf ears of women that have yet to EMANCIPATE YOURSELF FROM MENTAL SLAVERY! 

     

    YOU ARE YOUR OWN ENEMY! 

    • Anonymous says:

       All emotional rhetoric, and no rational argument.  Question still remains why it should be an inherent right other than "I feel sorry for them", or "Statistics say things aren’t 50-50"

      • anonymous says:

        14:09    you are a pitiful state ofaffairs and  by the way  the comment is not at all an emotional nor is it a rant at all its the  TRUTH!

        AND THE TRUTH IS HURTING YOU!

  8. Libertarian says:

    ***** To me in order to aspire and reach new heights, it doesn’t matter whether you are a male or female! So long you have the brains, commonsense, and the brawn, you will go far in life! That is why for a long time I have always advocated the name change from “Womans Resource Center” to “Family Resource Center.” Women can aspire just like men! To me, you are always able to make yourself more skilled and therefore more valuable to your fellow man. As a woman, you don’t need government to help you! You don’t need to demand arbitrary equality! You are woman! Do you know what that really means? A sacred vessel, a holy tabernacle that can bring forth life into the world! The crown of creation in terms of beauty and wonder. Women, you don’t need to compete with men! Neither do men need to compete with you! You like men, are one of a kind! Men will be men and they will continue to build their castles and achieve great goals in life. Whether you like it or not, your sons, your young men, will continue producing the greatest of wealth on earth! But you are LIFE! I hate to see women who cry, fuss, and whine about what they have and what they don’t have from men! Get up from your lazy fat as% and do something about it! Stop trying to push government to make arbitrary laws to support an agenda. Noble women don’t need government hand-outs to aspire! They aspire and become successful on their own! Tell me, do you ever contemplated the strong women of old when in those days the men had to go out at sea for a living? Whilst all of them were out at sea, have you ever contemplated what they had to go through??? Their perseverance and skill in the education and upbringing of their children was so great, we talk about it today! And have you ever contemplated the midwives in those days? These were WOMEN indeed! Not whiners, not women who saw womanhood as a small thing! They were not looking and complaining about doing a man’s work! They knew what they were good at, and they did it without comparison! They didn’t crave to do what men do best! Now today, there is no thought of our children’s future! More women are so caught up in the office, they know little about the home!!! Children are in need of the tender loving care and attention of which only a women can give more than a man. You women who whine and ask for government to help you, you cheapen yourselves and make yourselves into a victim when you chase after a man’s world! Noble women don’t need the help of a government program to aspire! They work hard and aspire on their own just like an independent man who works hard and aspire on his own! That is the way Cayman should be run. The less government, the better for all of us! We need to go back to the principle foundations of our success story! ***** Libertarian

    • Shock and Awe says:

      Libertarian:  If you have stopped beating your chest and giving your free advice to women – you are a sexist ass.  CNS can I say ass?  How else would you describe this neanderthal?  If I were his wife I’d give him a shot upside the head. THEN I’d kick his patriarchal chauvinist ass out the door.

      • samantha tho. says:

        I think what libertarian is saying, is for women like yourself to become more responsible. And I don’t think he was preaching inequality. If you read again his comment, you won’t see anything indicating a chauvinist or someone who hates women. Why do you women find it so hard to be responsible? I think you need to get off you ASS and stop expecting government to take care of your fancy nails and bling bling $$$

        • Anonymous says:

           A lot of women are struggling.  I know for sure I’m not sitting on my a– and I definitely don’t have any bling bling.  What I do have is worn out clothes with holes because I don’t spend any money on myself.  No BB, no nail salons, etc.  I have my hair cut once a year sometimes it might be 2 years.

          Not all women get opportunities.  In Cayman, it’s who you know that gets you help.  If you don’t know the right people, forget it.

          As for the women with plenty children with different men, have anyone ever asked themselves why this is happening?  It’s simple:  they are looking love or what they think is love because they don’t have a proper role model at home.  Until, we can get better male role models for our boys and girls, we are doomed.  These girls are lacking in self-esteem.  Until we address that issue, we will continue to get the seem results but look on the bright side, we will have more Caymanians than expats and isn’t that what you all want?

    • Slowpoke says:

      Yes, let us get rid of Government and
      their stupid egalitarian laws. Personally, I can’t wait to buy
      myself a new slave and take away my wife’s right to vote (she always
      votes for the wrong people, as do all women).

       

      Also, the deregulated, free market,
      private sector, works so efficiently and perfectly, nothing ever goes
      wrong and they never have, and never will, require massive bailouts.

       

    • Anonymous says:

      Dear Libertarian, I too wish your mommy had hugged you more. However, its too late now. You have to find a way to move on.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Genius!  Thank You Margaret.  Women still earn 30% less than men for doing the same job and our necessities are greater.  Equality is still a long way off.

  10. Anonymous says:

    Did you know that Caribbean women are second in the world only to Chinese women that leave there children behind in order to seek better lives and better financial opportunities.
    I am all for helping women and providing child care for kids who need it for free. We’ve got to do a better job educating girls who become women depending on men. A lot of women have children that they cannot afford; they strain their relationship and the social system in place to assist them. We need to break the cycle of baby having baby and all would benefit from planned parenthood training . Planned parenthood classes should be mandatory in high school. For those women that educated yourself beforehaving kids and for those in the struggle of educating yourself and your children at the same time, I applaud you! For the rest of you that have babies in order that someone take care of you and the baby; well!

    Signed; father of a latchkey six year old princess

  11. Annoymous says:

     You are preaching to the converted Judge Ramsey.

    These heartless corporate businesses and the government will never take you up on your suggestions.  That is too much of a radical change to offer assistance to working mothers.

    But one thing is for sure and that is Caymanian mothers working and going to school are doing it, some are married and some are single, it’s difficult but they are doing it.  These women I praise them for taking on so many roles: single parent, working full time and going to school.  I am so proud of them that I know doing it.

    So the next time I hear that Caymanians are lazy, that individual will be getting a new set of teeth because that is a lie, and the few that are lazy can’t be measured with the majority that isn’t.

    We hear our Ministers speaking this same rubbish about Caymanians looking hand outs and etc. they speak only of the losers they know of, that list that they keep referring to cover their own tracks.  

    We are working and educating ourselves with or without the help of our mean corporate employers, and one day we will over throw our bosses and take their jobs.  We have a plan and it’s coming together.

    So thanks for the endorsement Judge Ramsey, we have been well on our way to full fill our plans, we are Caymanian women whom had enough of the bull and have taken it upon ourselves to do something.  And government has given us not a single dime to do it with.  We have made many sacrifices and raising our children to accept such so that we and they can have a better life.

    To my hard working and going to school Caymanian mothers, taking ridicule on the job from your foreign bosses, don’t give up your reward is in sight.

  12. The Beaver says:

    Brilliant!  Except of course the magistrate is wrong.  Great arguments are not built by using "cherry-picked" stats – one would think she’d know better.  Not surprising though.  There is of course a very tiny correlation between childcare and the advancement of women in the workforce… 

    However, the bigger factor(s) that the Magistrate appears to miss is the total lack of Human Rights for ALL in the Cayman Islands.  Talk to the poor Jamaican labourer who is forced to live on $3 an hour; or the ordinary expat who is shipped home for simply expressing his or her opinion; or the Caymanian who is out of favour with the government for no other reason than his or her family is too black,  too UDP, too PPM, etc; or the Caymanian who is out of favour with society because he or she is gay . 

    And then of course there is also a cultural divide to consider – case in point, the many Scandinavian men who sit at home to look after their children, while the women are away at work.  Reminds me of the joke: "What’s the most confusing day in the Cayman Islands?  Father’s day."   If you can find him… 

    The magistrate also appears to forgets that many Scandinavian women are extremely well educated, traveled, experienced, and focused on their work.  Many don’t have 5 baby daddies; in fact, many don’t have any baby daddies at all until they reach their mid 30s, after already having reached the top of their professions.  They have achieved the pinnacle of their professions without having been groped and subjugated to the typical harassment that many women in the Caribbean face – oh, it’s okay honey, it’s all part of the job.   Although not 100 per cent foolproof, Scandinavian laws protect women – as importantly, the laws that are on the books get enforced.  In the Cayman Islands, you’re more likely to be imprisoned for smoking weed, not paying your parking ticket, or kissing a person of the same sex than for sexually harassing women, stealing a million or two, and/or ignoring all laws just because you’re a politician, related to one, or a friend of one… 

    The Beaver

    • Florence Goring-Nozza says:

       I want to thank Magistrate Ramsay Hale for her brilliant article. On last week I complimented Mrs Mary Lawrence for her factual and truthful remarks on the lack of women in the Legislature as the primary reason for the ills of our society of male dominance which has proven to be not only unhealthy but "Toxic" to say the least, and has staggered our socioeconomic growth..
      As I stated in my article that while many men may vote on various  issues in favor of women’s health, domestic violence prevention, education, and child care, etc, etc. women legislators usually put these very crucial issues on the agenda in the first place!  Men usually do not take the child care issue seriously enough as they are often absent from the responsibility.
      Women govern with a collaborative approach and they know how to bring people together. It is a new and effective style of leadership that leads to results, and this new role on a much larger scale now needs to be adapted by the Women of the Cayman Islands taking up their place of leadership in government not for monetary or selfish gain but for the betterment of our society as a whole. An intelligent well rounded woman with a healthy moralistic base has the eyes of an eagle, and nothing will slide by her! She will be a thorn in the side of a legislature with a male dominant complimentary whose philosophical ideology is that there is no  God but them.
      A woman true to herself, and true to her country has a leadership style that is a distinct departure from the typical partisan warfare that has been characterizing leadership including efforts by past and current male leaders in the legislature who continue  to be ruled by Capitalists and stonewall any forward movement towards women’s rights, rights for  minorities, and  jobs creation for the people.
      The key is "Change"  that hinges on political power.  History shows that women’s leadership in their party and  on key committees has always brought about meaningful change.

      There now needs to be a "Movement" amongst the women of the Cayman Islands we need to begin the  thought process of seriously  taking up the responsibility of leadership roles in our legislature if weare to experience real change and I mean change that we can all believe in.
      Food for Thought:  Girlfriends, if you want the furniture moved, you have to move it yourself after making numerous requests from Mr. Macho man. The same principal applies to our local Cayman Islands Legislature; We must sit in those Legislative seats and make the laws that will protect us and our children that will bring us into our destiny..

       

       
       

      • Flipper says:

        This commentary is proof that education and intelligence are not necessarily synonymous and should never be used interchangeably.

      • Lady Ga Ga says:

        Hey,

        Girls this is some hot debate but we need some vigorous exchange of dialogue, only thing some of us in this forum lack the intelligence and when they see help coming their way they cry out ‘I DON’T WANT ANY HELP"Ms.Florence Goring Nozza, I love your comments, they always make so much sense. Keep writing, Ms. Ramsay Hale, do not be discouraged start the movement, and its up to the intelligent women of the Cayman Islands to keep up the momentum.

  13. Anonymous says:

    This is a good argument and important issue. Children are the future of this world and neglected children will not reach their full potential. The private sector (which here is the boys club) expect women to work harder than men to give them the same respect and yet capitalism needs a steady flow of future employees which are provided and nutured by women. I can say that many women are more capable of doing a mans job and do so whilst raising children with no help, imagine if they had some support, what they would be able to achieve.

    Those men that bicker about their wives staying home – who support their children and these mens careers, are ungrateful bigots with primevil values. This is partly a result of them watching their mothers do everything at home without thanks.

    A woman needs to raise children to have good futures and at the same time try and prove her worth in her career. Cayman offers no support for women and no encouragement for companies to respect that role, companies run by men who themselves lack respect for women, which we can only hope will change as the new generation, who watch their mothers work hard to support the family at home and at work, comes into power with a new attitude which many of the current generation of men are not capable of understanding.

    Many big companies abroad are starting to have day cares or subsidise it. this means less sick days, time off work, and better focus at work.

    • Wisest Owl says:

      What about women sitting on our Work Permit Boards signing off on work permits for x-pats to fill jobs that CAYMANIAN WOMEN CAN FILL?!

      These people are money hungry

      Caymanians are angry and

      last but not least. After they have taken advantage of everyone but God

      Pay Day is right around the corner for all mankind.

       They forgot that Hell has no Water !

      And  Hell has NO EXITS!

  14. Libertarian says:

    ***** “Ramsey-Hale pointed to the former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who infamously after eleven years in office did nothing at all to advance the cause of women.”

    Madam Ramsay, with all due respect, Margaret Thatcher would have promoted the values of individual freedom, hard work, and purpose as a means of reaching the top of the ladder – not government legislation, hand-outs, and interferences in the lives and homes of its citizens. Margaret Thatcher once said, “We want a society where people are FREE to make choices, to make mistakes, to be generous and compassionate. Thisis what we mean by a moral society; not a society where the state is responsible for everything, and no one is responsible for the state.” – Margaret Thatcher. It appears to me that you seem to be relying on LAW to remedy the inequalities between men and women, which to me is scary seeing that you are a judge. ***** Libertarian

    • Anonymous says:

      I didnt not choose to be a single mother, however I AM one. My partner decided he did not want to work, he did not want to be a father, he wanted to party, sleep all day and be responsible only for himself. I can’t debate about what Margaret Thatcher would have said or done but I don’t agree that providing support for women in similar situations is tantamount to a handout. I’m not loking for a free ride, I work, I have a degree, I have lived abroad, I speak a second language BUT I am also solely responsible for my child and that undoubtedly creates challenges I cannot always overcome on my own. I would agree with you if a person who routinely got pregnant just to get the benefits, refused to work and had this sense of entitlement was taking advantage of the system. I am not that person, and many women in Cayman do not have that intention. In the UK, mothers get “Healthy Start” coupons sent by mail which they can use to purchase milk, vegetables and fruit ONLY. This is merely to ensure children have access to healthy food, not a handout to lazy people. I would support initiative set in place to assist women balancing work and parenthood who do work hard but who still need support.

      • Libertarians says:

        ***** “In the UK, mothers get “Healthy Start” coupons sent by mail which they can use to purchase milk, vegetables and fruit ONLY. This is merely to ensure children have access to healthy food, not a handout to lazy people.” No matter what you say, you have people who will abuse the system. The welfare state in the United States is notorious for such abuse. There are people living in the United States today that are not working, but get hand-outs all the time. They will claim the same thing like what you say and say that they are not lazy but just needing the help. And guess who pays for such dependency on the government??? People like you and me who work hard to make a living by way of taxes or increased fees. I am sorry, if Judge Ramsey gets what she wants, the people will abuse the system and stop striving to aspire and make a decent life for themselves. The solution is not legislation, but a free market allowed to grow and create jobs. And this will never happen under a government that has socialist tendencies. ***** Libertarian

  15. Anonymous says:

     They got women to smoke in the US by calling them "Torches of freedom".  Enough said.

  16. Anonymous says:

    So says the bureaucrat who is not in the private sector…

    • Anonymous says:

      She does not have to work in the private sector to make a valid point or raise awareness about an important issue affecting women in Cayman and in general. If you read the article again you will see she is asking for more support for employees in both thepublic service and private sector. Forget about who is making the comment and focus on the message. It is a valid one.

      I am a single mother (not by choice) working in the private sector. All my male counterparts make snide remarks and comments because their wives are not employed and are stay at home mothers so they cannot relate to the difficulties I face in balancing career and my responsibilities as a parent. We are not asking to be hand held and spoon fed but some of us do need support and recognition because we do work damn hard.

      • Anonymous says:

        anonymous 03/24/2011 – 12:30

        You are so right! I could not have said it any better and Ramsey, thank you! Well said!