Dame Silvia in Kuwait

Dame Silvia Cartwright (NZ's Governor General is the Queen's representative in NZ for those unfamiliar with NZ’s political set-up), was in Kuwait for 3 days after attending Reagan's funeral in Washington. Thankfully, I managed to get an invite to a reception at Bayan Palace to meet Dame Silvia. Very nice lady… My darling wife even made a point of filling Dame Silvia in on the fact that slavery is alive and kicking in Kuwait…, but I didn’t expect that this subject would make it into Dame Silvia’s subsequent speeches. She did get a write up in the local rag though.

Kuwait Times 15th June 2004
Cartwright praises Kuwaiti women

KUWAIT: Governor General of New Zealand, Silvia Cartwright, emphasised in two separate press interviews yesterday that Kuwaiti women are capable of playing their role in all domains. Interviewed by Al-Rai Al-Aam daily, Cartwright indicated that Kuwaiti women could occupy important ruling posts like the women in her country since Kuwaiti women are well-educated and are ready to fully participate in public affairs. She noted that the aim of her visit is to boost the distinctive friendly bilateral relations between Kuwait and New Zealand. She added that she had hoped to visit Kuwait for a long time. She also hopes that this visit will further develop bilateral relations. Cartwright praised the talks she held in Kuwait, saying they were very useful because they covered the trade exchange, what her country could offer the region and how New Zealand could cooperate with Kuwait in the future. Meanwhile, the New Zealand official told Al-Anbaa daily that her country hopes that peace and stability would be achieved in Iraq and that New Zealand asks for UN participation in spreading peace in Iraq. She pointed out that groups from New Zealand are carrying out humanitarian missions in Basra, like providing water and food although her country is not a member in the international coalition in Iraq. Cartwright clarified that New Zealand has a neutral stance towards the international disputes, such as the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. She praised and supported the international reform initiatives in the Middle East as they guarantee the democracy, hoping that the countries of the region seriously consider the reform.

So let's see if this message helps in a country where women don't have the opportunity to vote.