In crucifixion mode when Goodness appears, men either hide in the shadows to register their disassociation or let the mob decide if evil should prevail.

The speeches of politicians are usually empty, promise a lot but deliver little, and there is nothing left once the wind has blown.

For once in my life I have got something to hold on to coming from a politician.

In celebrating International Women’s Day the world has gone crazy in showcasing the achievements of women. Here in T&T one gets the impression that women have succeeded without the help of men. Others will contend that success came despite the men.

Insanity has driven the society to blame the men for the plight of women. Had there been a bigger island to quarantine men, we would have been ostracised.

On the auspicious occasion, only Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the lone female voice, expressed a sober view of what appears to be happening and would put her head on a block that ‘no gender dominates in T&T’.

On the advice of the United Nations to invest in women, Persad-Bissessar insists that in T&T our women can be the envy of the world as they have much to be grateful for: they surpassed the men in grasping educational opportunities; have equal access to health; can earn an income and own property; have freedom to participate in politics and decisionmaking at the highest level.

Where else in the world can women make such claims? Not even the UN can find a comparison.

Of the glass ceilings broken by women, it is the complementary strengths of men and women working together that brought the successes dating back to the days when our forefathers and foremothers teamed up.

Persad-Bissessar is resolute that men are not the nemesis of women and should not be held responsible for all their problems. For her, promotion of women’s issues must not be used to tear down men.

She is adamant men are not women’s enemy, but condemns the fact that a few women’s group are engaging in ‘self-victimhood dialogue’ that is driving them to extremes, and stressed no society will grow by either condemning its men or womenfolk.

She boasts she has been the one always to implement social, legal and economic policies to ensure gender equality in our nation.

The progress of the society is contingent on the elimination of gender-based violence while the other school of thought is obstinate about that.

These radicals contend one out of every three women locally and globally has to deal with sexual harassment, rape and intimate partner violence-men being the culprits, of course.

Who do these people want to be equal to? Are they appealing to the men for equality and at the same time protection from them? Distinct bodies cannot be equal, but can complement each other; nor should they compete against each other for one will always be disadvantaged.

All men have or had mothers whom they held in high esteem and will not disrespect that cultural upbringing. Husbands live for their wives; fathers for their daughters; and brothers, their sisters.

If women venture into a man’s world, they cannot expect treatment as a man. The same for a man if he tries to wear dresses.

Thank you, Mrs Persad-Bissessar. Those who hold on to your dress tail and cry ‘election, election’, admonish them to ‘get behind me, Satan’.

Lennox Francis Couva