Kamla verbatim: A tribute to women

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in her role as political leader of the United National Congress (UNC) praised women Sunday, especially UNC women, for their support and dedication to nation building.

The event was the election of new executives for the party's women's and youth arms. Here's an excerpt from her speech:

"My dearest sisters, we are truly a special arm of this party and of our country. It is said that without women, the human race cannot continue; without us, the world will fall apart.

"Well I want to say to you here today that it goes beyond that. Without our women and Women’s Arm of UNC, our great party will not be able to continue and our beautiful country will fall apart.

"As women, we are united in our struggles, heartaches, woes, tragedies, hopes and dreams more than any other group in the world and in this country.

"We are united by a force that is more powerful than party, ethnicity, religion, nationality, wealth, age, position or rank.

"That force is motherhood, the natural maternal instinct that binds us as one, plots for us a common agenda of protecting those who fall under our charge, and ensures that the human race, as our common child, succeeds as a civilisation.

"It is that instinct that makes us think with our hearts rather than our heads, yet ensures that the decisions made under emotional duress are as rational and right as those made under mental analysis.

"For it is said that nothing is more dangerous and effective and correct than the instinct and protection of a mother who believes that her children are in danger.

"And it is that instinct that makes us bind together in times of crisis to fix the problems that confront us and to ensure that hope and happiness is restored to any situation which is threatened with destruction.

"My dear sisters, as I’ve said before, we have attained victory and governance and created history in the process but our work is by no means over."

-Kamla Persad-Bissessar - 16 January 2011
Editor's note: The UNC is holding a special event on January 24 at its Rienzi Complex headquarters to celebrate the first anniversary of the election of its new leader. The party begins at six in the evening and the political leader has invited everyone to join the celebration.