In 2011 she became the first woman to hold the position of Vice President of the Republic of Mauritius and had to resign as the President of the Labour Party.
After 75 long years we are now witnessing the emergence of a woman as the Secretary General of a political party. Not any political party but the oldest one in the country and the one which is in power at the moment.
Breaking stereotypes is not new Kalyanee Juggoo. She was the first woman to hold the position of Deputy Government Chief Whip in 2005. She was also the first woman to be appointed Chair of the Parliamentary Committee of Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Although Mauritius has not signed the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, the country is leading the way as far as empowerment of women is concerned. A new Local Government Bill with legislated quota for either 33% men or 33% women on all party lists will go to Parliament in October 2011. Prime Minister, Dr Navin Ramgoolam, has invited three Constitutional Experts to look at our electoral reforms so that women who are over 50 per cent of voters have at least 50 per cent representation in Parliament.
“My nomination is a move in the right direction and the result of a long fight. I would like to thank Gender Links which has been instrumental with all the changes that are happening. For me Gender Links is the first Non Governmental Organisation in Mauritius that has put gender so strongly on the agenda. I have participated in several events of Gender Links and the last one was the Reference Group Meeting to look into the SADC Protocol Barometer. My success is also the success of Gender Links.” Kalyanee said.
For Juggoo being the Secretary General of the biggest political party in Mauritius also means that her roles and responsibilities at national, regional and international levels will be quite challenging. But when the Leader of the Labour Party who is also the Prime Minister of Mauritius offered Juggoo the post she found the challenge was too irresistible to refuse.
This nomination comes at an opportune time with local government elections behind the doors. Juggoo is known to be close to grassroots women. She participated actively in the Parliamentarian debate so that village councillors be paid and this is now being proposed in the new Local Government Bill. “With the collaboration of Gender Links I am sure we can move mountains and have over 33 per cent women in localities. I like the way Gender Links work and by always keeping in touch with workshop participants. Together with Ministers Sheila Bappoo, Deva Virahsawmy, Indrani Seeburn and former Labour Party President Monique Oh San Bellepeau I participated in the award of certificate ceremony for women of the Labour Party and I can tell how much it meant to them to have these Certificates. They really feel empowered and know what they are worth of. I will encourage them to stand as candidates for the Local Government elections.”
Juggoo was member of the SADC Parliamentary Executive Committee from 2005 to 2009 and has served on different Committees of the SADC as well as the Gender Committee of the SADC. Her experience at regional level will certainly help her in her new assignment.
Loga Virahsawmy is the Director of the Gender Links Mauritius and Francophone office. This article is part of the Gender Links Opinion and Commentary Service.