History Made as 7 Women Elected to Parliament

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Progressive Liberal Party made history last night for more than one reason. All seven of the women representing the party will head to parliament.

Their victories are being celebrated as a critical step for the advancement of women in frontline politics.

Veteran politician Glenys Hanna-Martin, who won in Englerston, topping off the list of female PLP candidates entering the House of Assembly.

She will be joined by newcomers Leslia Brice in Seabreeze, Patricia Deveaux in Bamboo Town, Ginger Moxey in Pineridge, Lisa Rahming in Marathon, Pia Glover-Rolle in Golden Gates and former senator Jobeth Coleby-Davis in Elizabeth. 

Women will now account for 17 percent of the seats in the lower house. Before the house was dissolved, women held 13 percent of the seats. 

Despite the improvement, the percentage of women elected to parliament in The Bahamas is still far below the United Nations’ minimum quota of 30 percent.

The Bahamas was asked to provide information on measures taken to introduce a system of quotas aimed at reaching a minimum of 30 percent representation by women in parliament, including the adoption of temporary special measures and the support of women candidates for elected positions.

Both major parties also committed to recruiting more women to run, however, both fell short.

The first female elected to parliament, Janet Bostwick, now the Honourable Dame Janet, entered the House of Assembly in 1982.