Calls made for more female politicians in region

A call for the inclusion and involvement of young women was echoed last Saturday, at the opening of the 13th Conference of the Commonwealth Women’s Parliamentarian, CWP, of the region.

Delegates from the Caribbean,

Americas and Atlantic Region gathered, for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, to commence a two-day conference under the theme “Building a Resilient Region in the face of Global Challenges”.

Keynote speaker, Mrs Doreen

Quelch-Missick, Attorney at Law and President of the Labour Tribunal, highlighted the absence of young women and members of the youth parliament.

“Where are our 5th and 6th formers? We need to encourage them from early so that they are able to take their rightful places,” she said.

This gap was first acknowledged by the CWP Chair, Hon Valerie Woods, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Belize in her opening remarks.

“We must dismantle real and perceived guides of women’s political participation and support the next generation of political leaders”, Missick said, as she called for the promotion of gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.

She noted that at some point during her stint as chair and president of the Human Rights Commission of the Turks and Caicos Islands, between 2014 to 2010, women in parliamentary positions were at an all-time high of 46%.

This representation, she noted, has taken a significant downturn since then.

Per the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, women’s representation across small island states is not where it should be at this juncture.

Missick charged the delegates, both males and females, to seek out women of different ages and aid in their preparation to serve in parliaments and women’s parliamentary caucuses across the region.

Bemoaning the lack of political will to implement gender-affirming policies, she added that parliaments are to adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation striving for social cohesion.

Domestic violence is a common scourge, especially plaguing women, throughout the region.

Missick believes that this issue has not received the necessary attention and response as needed in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“Where is our safe house? Eight budget cycles have passed and still no safe house”, she exclaimed.

She firmly encouraged the delegates to advocate for more of an inclusive parliament and work together to protect the interest of women with gender-responsive legislation and protection.

Topics discussed in depth over the two days included the Critical Role of Women Parliamentarians and Women Caucuses in Democratic Governance, Current Experiences of Women in Parliament across the regions and Youth Crime in the Caribbean and the role of Women Parliamentarians in combating this Regional Challenge.

Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and Trinidad were represented.

The Governor, HE Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, Deputy Governor, HE Anya Williams, the current CPA Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Regional Chair, Hon Gordon J. Burton, Speaker of the House of Assembly of the Turks and Caicos Islands, were among the representatives of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The CWP represents over 3,000 women parliamentarians, in over

180 Commonwealth national and sub-national Parliaments, across all nine regions of the CPA.

The Association’s mission is to promote the representation of women in CPA Branches and Women’s full and equal participation in all political and parliamentary leadership at all levels.

The two-day CWP 13th conference was a part of the 45th Annual Conference of the Caribbean, The Americas and the Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association held July 21 to 28 in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.