Agriculture Minister Lisa Jawahir has pushed back against questions surrounding her appointment, arguing that much of the scrutiny she has faced as Saint Lucia’s first female Minister for Agriculture has focused on her gender, age and appearance rather than her performance.
Jawahir said some of the criticism has become deeply personal, extending to her relationships, hairstyle and even whether she wears makeup — commentary she believes could discourage other young women from pursuing political leadership.
She questioned the message being sent by critics who have daughters, wives and other women in their families, asking whether they would similarly tell those women they could not become the first female Agriculture Minister simply because they are women.
The minister also suggested that some of the questions surrounding her suitability for the portfolio are rooted in traditional perceptions of agriculture, arguing that a man would be less likely to face the same scrutiny because there remains an expectation that agriculture is “a man’s job.”
However, while Jawahir strongly challenged the gender-based and personal dimensions of the criticism, the qualifications she highlighted in her response were primarily her academic credentials, electoral success and personal connection to agriculture.
Jawahir holds a master’s degree in strategic communication and pointed to her defeat of a three-term MP by approximately 1,000 votes, saying she won every polling division with significant support from young women.
She also said agriculture was part of her upbringing and helped finance her education.
The comments presented, however, did not detail specific academic qualifications in agriculture, previous professional experience within the sector or a track record managing agricultural programmes. They therefore leave those aspects of the debate surrounding her appointment unaddressed.
Jawahir instead maintained that she does not need to prove her suitability to political commentators, pointing to the mandate she received from voters and the confidence placed in her by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre.
With approximately 18,000 to 19,000 people in her constituency and a majority supporting her at the polls, Jawahir said those voters “believe in my competence.”
She also cited international recognition of her work, noting that Saint Lucia was selected to participate in an inaugural political academy in Africa. Jawahir said the selection resulted from work being undertaken locally rather than a personal request for inclusion and viewed the opportunity as another avenue to “open doors for other women.”
Her determination to encourage greater female representation in leadership remains central to her response. Pointing to the treatment she has received, Jawahir said young women have approached her expressing an interest in politics while questioning whether they want to endure similar scrutiny.
She insisted that the criticism would not derail that advocacy, declaring that “nothing, absolutely nothing” would prevent her from working to ensure women have an equal seat at the table because “we deserve to be here.”
Beyond defending her appointment, Jawahir outlined a vision for agriculture centred on attracting a younger generation through technology and innovation.
She acknowledged that some young people view traditional agriculture as a declining industry but wants to demonstrate that the sector can extend far beyond conventional farming. Technology, she said, creates opportunities ranging from operating drones to working as a cameraman within the agricultural industry.
Jawahir also positioned food security as a critical national priority, arguing that Saint Lucia has greater control over its ability to produce food than over external forces affecting industries such as tourism.
Reflecting on the experience of border closures, she noted that Saint Lucia had little control over disruptions to a sector she said contributed almost 70 per cent of GDP, while maintaining that the country does have greater control over its food security.
For Jawahir, the controversy surrounding her appointment ultimately raises a broader issue about women occupying spaces traditionally dominated by men.
Her response makes a forceful case against judging her on her gender, appearance or personal life. Whether her professional background provides the sector-specific experience critics are questioning, however, was not detailed in her answer.
