"Bias is when a woman speaks in a boardroom, and her words are met with scepticism, while a man says the same thing, and it is praised as brilliance," attorney Veera Bhajan shared at American Chamber of Commerce of TT (AmchamTT) Women's Leadership Conference at Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, on March 14.
Bhajan’s words challenging systemic challenges and biases, resonated with the over 500 women professionals in the audience.
The 11th annual Women's Leadership Conference served as a platform for AmchamTT’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
The chamber’s CEO Nirad Tewarie stressed that gender equality is not merely a social issue but a critical economic one.
He urged companies to integrate it into their core structures rather than treating it as a token gesture.
"Gender equality is not just a woman's issue, it is a societal and economic imperative that requires the active participation of everyone, men and women alike," he said, advocating for a shift in mindset and concrete actions to eliminate systemic barriers impeding women's advancement in leadership roles.
Tewarie highlighted AmchamTT's progress in gender representation, including a boardroom comprised of seven women out of 14 members.
He also noted that the chamber’s mentorship programme with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has supported 200 women in advancing their careers.
However, he said these achievements should be seen as milestones, not endpoints, and that sustained collective effort is essential for true progress.
Dismissing common excuses for the lack of gender diversity at the top, Tewarie asserted, "Please do not ever let anyone tell you that the reason their board doesn't have parity, or at least some reasonable effort to get to parity, is because they can't find competent or qualified women. That’s rubbish. We have been doing it now for almost seven, eight years at AmchamTT."
Bhajan, an attorney and lay assessor at the Equal Opportunity Tribunal, delivered the keynote address.
Bhajan’s personal and professional journey has been marked by overcoming significant obstacles.
Born without arms, Bhajan explained she encountered numerous obstacles, not only due to her disability but also because of societal biases that have long underestimated her potential.
[caption id="attachment_1032189" align="alignnone" width="945"] AmchamTT CEO Nirad Tewarie. - Photo by Angelo Marcelle[/caption]
She has reportedly been systematically denied opportunities, excluded, silenced and had her qualifications questioned.
Bhajan's appointment to the Equal Opportunity Tribunal was a landmark achievement but not without its challenges.
The Equal Opportunity Commission (EOC) initially sought to block her appointment, citing concerns about her ability to perform the duties of the role.
This sparked a legal battle that went to the Court of Appeal.
Ultimately, the Court of Appeal ruled in Bhajan's favour, affirming her right to serve as a lay assessor.
She hailed the court's decision as a victory for disability rights
