Prudence Kidd-Deans.
Avia Ustanny, Outlook Writer
IT MAY have seemed a very unwomanly thing to advocate.
But, in a life spent in politics Prudence Kidd-Deans has never had to stick to her 'defined role'. For this woman, conventions and opinions are meant to be changed when they are no longer useful.
In the recent State of the Nation debate, Senator Kidd-Deans stood on her feet to say:
"Madam chairman, I recommend ... that every level of bureaucracy be removed to facilitate the application of every decent, law-abiding Jamaican who has applied and who fits the criteria for a firearm licence be granted one unhesita-tingly and expeditiously that such a person can become a front-line soldier in his or her own defence."
REACTION
Perhaps because she was a woman, the statement made prime time news. The reaction was surprising, she said. But Kidd-Deans has been bucking conventions all her life.
A self-described "second generation Labourite", Kidd-Deans was born in Kingston where she grew up as a 'tom boy', passionately embracing football, cricket and other male sports.
Then, there was the influence of her father, Daniel Warren-Kidd. Founder and principal of the Warren Hall preparatory and high schools. Warren-Kidd, his daughter says, was Garveyite and a member of the UNIA before he entered politics.
"He believed in education for the ordinary people and gave many scholarships and half scholarships to students.
With her siblings, Prudence attended her father's school, sharing space with such people as Portia Simpson Miller, Rita Marley, Kenneth Lewis (chairman of the Integrity Commission) and many others who came under the educator's influence.
PASSION FOR POLITICS
Along with his social consciousness, Prudence inherited his passion for politics.
Warren-Kidd was at the Ward Theatre when the Jamaica Labour Party was launched in 1941. The first campaign manager for Hugh Lawson Shearer, Prudence would be seated on his lap while he conversed with colleagues about party matters.
Mother Gwendolyn Warren-Kidd was a homemaker and dressmaker.
Recalling her influence, Prudence says, "My mother transmitted her love of dressing well to her two daughters. We wore the latest styles to Sunday school at the Moravian Church in Richmond Park where we grew up. We were the talk of the community."
Her mother also taught her daughters the social graces.
There was no set point, no decisive moment when Prudence decided to follow in her father's footsteps.
"I cannot remember a day when I was not involved in politics," Kidd-Deans states.
Even before she reached the age for voting, she was active in training agents for the campaign trail.
The children of Warren-Kidd were taken by their father everywhere, including South West St. Andrew where he was involved in teaching constituents to read and write. In Kingston, he also used his schools as an evening institute for those in nearby communities who could not read.
Prudence would have her first child by 17 and get married by 21 , but none of these diverted her from the passion which flowed like blood in the veins.
"It was politics all the time."
CAMPAIGNING
Later, along with her brother, she took over the administration of her father's schools, but spent equal time campaigning and doing training for the JLP.
Her involvement was to eventually lead to employment as special assistant to Edward Seaga who was until 2005 the head of the JLP.
But, in 1979, Prudence Kidd-Deans was secretary of the Central St. Andrew constituency, working with Col. Leslie Lloyd, continuing to do work with her father in St Andrew South West. In other areas, she was also an agent, talking to and training members on the ground.
Kidd -Deans, by then the single mother of four girls, carried her children to meetings of Young Jamaica and the Women's Freedom Movement where she was secretary.
Her marriage had crumbled and - determined that her girls should not feel neglected in any way - she took them everywhere with her. Today the girls - Natalie, Priscilla, Kady and Trudy - are mature professionals who are proud to walk by their mother's side.
SPECIAL ASSISTANT
In 1996, she became special assistant to then JLP leader Edward Seaga, the man whom she says, besides her father and party member Victor Troupe, has been most influential in her political career.
"He (Edward Seaga) was a lot like my father and so we shared the same synergy. He taught me the process of getting the job done."
Kidd-Deans said that she learnt much in terms of integrity, professionalism and leadership from the former party leader who said, "You must listen to the opinion of everyone, but ultimately, you must make your own decision."
Kidd-Deans entered the Upper House on her own account in July 2004, weeks after she was appointed to represent the JLP as a senator by Seaga.
Membership in the Upper House, the senator says, has taught her the difference between raw politics and nation building.
"You must think above the politics of the situation and deal with issues as they affect the nation. While you maintain your political allegiance, you must be able to balance the scales on behalf of the people of Jamaica."
The gun licensing issue, she says, was something she felt passionately about.
"The state cannot provide adequate security for most Jamaicans. You have to speak the truth. You have the right to defend yourself. Die like a soldier. Do not die like a wimp."
The tough-talking senator notes that she also discussed other issues - including urban blight - which did not make the news at all.
"I also spoke about the need to restore communities by giving residents incentives to upgrade and restore areas which have become havens for criminals."
Personally, she has few fears of her own safety and would never carry a gun.
" I am a praying person," she states.
Kidd-Deans is gutsy, but hates it when people say "you are a strong person," because she says, "I am human too. My strength is connected to my faith."
The senator admits that, in order to survive in the male-dominated political world, she has had to adopt strategies which have left her branded an "Amazon."
"It's a fight. It's a battle."
BULLY
It's a challenge, she says, to strive for achievements, which make a difference to the country without being branded a bully in the process.
"They say I am a bully. They say I am Mr. Seaga's axe woman. But, I have graduated from their criticism. I say (to them) you are not to (just) hear me. You are to listen."
Nationally, Kidd-Deans wishes that new policies will be brought to the table which would allow women to live with dignity.
"I want the punishment for rape to be death. There needs to be more stringent laws along with the economic changes that give dignity to women and children. I hate to see women begging to send their children to school."
To those who may have doubted it, the senator still possesses the heart of woman. But, it is far from the weakness that some consider it to be.
Raise the subject of national security and you will see.
