‘We are not here to fight for crumbs’

WESTERN BUREAU:

Sagicor Bank CEO Chorvelle Johnson-Cunningham is calling on women in leadership to actively support other women’s growth as a strategy to aid Jamaica’s development.

She made this appeal at Thursday’s launch of the Women of Western Jamaica (WOWJa) movement, held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James,

Addressing attendees, Johnson-Cunningham challenged common myths about women in the workplace, such as being too emotional or unable to work together harmoniously.

“We need to change the narrative on how we really help women, and WOWJa is committing to do that,” she said.

She emphasised the importance of female unity, contrasting it with how men often resolve disagreements quickly over drinks, whereas women may hold grudges for years.

“Ladies, we need to stop doing it ... . That is not what is important to build Jamaica, land we love,” she said, encouraging women to foster better relationships and to instill those values in their children.

Johnson-Cunningham also highlighted the vital role women play in addressing Jamaica’s crime issues, urging mothers and communities to guide children toward becoming responsible citizens.

“We have to stop turning a blind eye, ‘is not my pickney that, is not my problem’. It is ‘all a we’ problem and, until the day we recognise that, the crime, the violence, all the rapes, and all those things that are happening to our children in this country, is our problem. ... We have to rise up as women and fix it,” she said, calling on women to be catalysts for change.

Meanwhile, WOWJa’s founder and chair Janet Silvera told Thursday’s launch that the initiative, which she conceptualised in 2010, was born out of a desire to allow women in different sectors across western Jamaica to network and empower each other.

“WowJa was born because I got tired of watching the same pattern repeat over and over. I have been in spaces where decisions were being made about money, about business, about opportunities, and not enough women were in the room,” said Silvera.

“We are building a movement that is not about exclusivity, but about intentionality. We are bringing together women who are decision-makers and saying, ‘Let’s rise together’,” Silvera added. “There are still too few women in top roles, especially in the hotel and tourism industry, in the private sector, and in public service. We are not here to fight for crumbs; we are here to build a bigger table.”

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com