Senator Michela Barnett-Ellis: Seeing A Woman Vye for President Is Absolutely Amazing

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – While still a relatively newcomer to the political arena Senator Michela Barnett-Ellis has dedicated her life to politics, more recently as an opposition senator for the Free National Movement.

She sees the current presidential match-up in the United States as a sign of progress. 

In Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar served as prime minister between 2010 and 2015.

In Guyana, Janet Ronsenberg Jagan was the 6th president from 1997 to 1999.

And no matter the outcome on November 5th, Senator Barnett-Ellis believes Kamala Harris’ journey to this place and time is nothing short of amazing.

But here’s the difference for Bahamians. 

“We haven’t had a female as a leader of a major political party yet and until we see a female as a leader of a major political party we’re not gonna see a Bahamian female prime minister,” the senator said.

In 2016 Loretta Butler-Turner became leader of the opposition in Parliament. 

But she wasn’t able to make it past party elections, having been beat by Dr. Hubert Minnis two years earlier.

There are nine female parliamentarians  – two of whom lead the upper and lower houses – as Senate President Lashell Adderley and House Speaker Patricia Deveaux.

This is the largest number of Bahamian women in Parliament in history, with the largest number of females in the Cabinet as well. 

Barnett-Ellis is one of two female opposition senators.  The other is Senator Maxine Seymour.

But, could we see a Michela Barnett-Ellis vying for leader one day? 

“I would, you know,” the senator said.

“Right now we have an amazing leader in Michael Pintard so now is not the time obviously but as we transition to our next stage of leadership whenever that happens, yes, of course I would be. I would be willing.”

Until then, she’s committed to tacking those issues that can help prepare women for that shot at the top.