Holder promises documentary about harassment of women in public life

A documentary on the issue of “Open Harassment and Intimidation of Women in Public and Political Life in Barbados” will likely surface before or after the upcoming General Elections.

This announcement came recently from Maureen Holder, resident political analyst at the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), who also serves as one of the talk
show moderators for that station’s call-in programme. Holder called a press conference yesterday afternoon at Almond Bay in Christ Church to discuss what she said was
a personal matter that also has an element of public interest.

Holder took issue with what she described as a number of “salacious videos appearing on Facebook” about her, and she noted that these “vicious attacks” on her and other forms of harassment and intimidation mainly carried out by males will form part of the documentary she hopes to produce.

“As you know, I am not a politician, nor am I running for elected office. So I find it difficult to comprehend why a grown man would sink to such low levels…For me this exemplifies a social issue in our society, which we need to deal with,” Holder remarked.

“It concerns women in public and political life, who are vilified and made targets of vicious attacks….

“I do not expect that the press here will investigate this matter, to get to the bottom of what has happened. So apart from taking legal action, my intention is to write the BBC, CNN and MSNBC to give them my story. The story of my experiences as a woman in public life in Barbados,” she continued.

“I also intend to turn the issue into a documentary, looking at the issue of 'Open Harassment and Intimidation of Women in Public and Political Life in Barbados'. I hope it comes out just before the elections or just after,” Holder further stated.

Holder meanwhile noted that since she was being called “a liar and a fraud” with respect to her own qualifications, she felt compelled to “expose her qualifications in full view of the public”.

The qualifications she openly displayed included a Bachelor of Science Degree with Upper Second Class Honours in Political Science with Public Sector Management from the University of the West Indies; and a Master of Arts in Diplomatic Studies with Merit from the University of Westminster, amongst others.
(RSM)