Record Number of Women Elected to Parliament

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The 2026 General Election represented a significant milestone in our country’s history, as out of the 41 seats in Parliament, 9 will be filled by women – a nearly 22% representation.

Seven of the women are members of the Progressive Liberal Party, including:

–6x Member of Parliament For Englerston, Glenys Hanna-Martin.

–Member of Parliament for Golden Gates, Pia Glover-Rolle

–Member of Parliament for Elizabeth, Jobeth Coleby-Davis

-Member of Parliament for Pineridge, Ginger Moxey

-Member of Parliament for Bamboo Town, Patricia Deveaux

-Member of Parliament for Seabreeze, Leslia Miller-Brice

-Member of Parliament for Marathon, Lisa Rahming.

Then, two are members of the Free National Movement including:

Member of Parliament for Killarney, Michela Barnett-Ellis, and Member of Parliament for Central Grand Bahama, Frazette Gibson, who are both first-time MPs.

Since last Tuesday’s election, 6 of these women were sworn in as cabinet ministers.

Appointed as Minister of Energy, Utilities, and Aviation was Jobeth Coleby-Davis, Pia Glover-Rolle as Minister of Labour, Public Service and National Insurance.

Then, Ginger Moxey is the Minister for Grand Bahama, while Lisa Rahming is the Urban Renewal and Community Relations Minister.

First time cabinet minister Leslia Miller-Brice was named the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, and for the first time in our nation’s history, a woman was appointed minister of tourism – Glenys Hanna-Martin.

Although the country did not achieve the United Nations quota of 30% female representation in Parliament, the election of these women can be viewed as a positive step forward.

The victory of Dame Janet Bostwick in the 1982 General Election signified the first instance of a woman being elected to Parliament.

She represented the Yamacraw Constituency for the FNM and was the sole female member in Parliament during that term.

Since then, for the past five decades, no more than eight women have been elected to the house.

However, with the election of these nine women, that glass ceiling is shattered.