The Tribune

By NOELLE NICOLLS

Tribune Features Editor

nnicolls@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie has agreed to a public reading in the House of Assembly of the revolutionary 1959 women’s suffrage address delivered by leading suffragette Dame Doris Johnson.

Mr Christie spoke at the historic Bethel Baptist Church yesterday, where Dame Doris is interred, at a service to commemorate National Women’s Month. This year’s celebrations are centred around the 50th anniversary commemoration of women’s suffrage in the Bahamas.

Doris Johnson’s 1959 address represented a turning point in the movement. It was delivered on the same day she and a group of suffragettes marched to the House of Assembly to present a petition to the government.

The governing United Bahamian Party refused to have her address the House. To an audience of willing parliamentarians, led by Sir Lynden Pindling, Dame Doris delivered the petition and her address in a neighbouring magistrates’ court.

Four years later, on November 26, women voted for the first time.

“Approximately half of the female population are working women, many of whom are the entire support of their families. Many have built their own homes, have bank accounts, established themselves in business and pay government taxes. An earlier petition points out to the Honourable House that it is a violation of the principles of democracy to grind out taxes from people who are without the power to limit or extend such taxes,” said Doris Johnson in 1959.

“Taxation without representation as you will recall was the basic principle upon which the American Revolution was based, and which due to the shortsightedness of the British King George III and his ministers, lost for Britain our great and beneficent neighbour, the United States of America. It is this principle which still stirs a revolt in the hearts of Bahamian Women and energises us to make our plea before honourable men,” she said.

The address also called for the appointment of female justices of the peace and female commissioners among a long list of other demands.

No date was announced for the presentation; however, the Prime Minister’s statement suggests Dame Doris Johnson will finally get her day on the floor of the House.

Mr Christie commended attorney Marion Bethel, director of the upcoming documentary on the movement, for the recommendation.

She sent a letter to the PM with the request, suggesting one female representative from each political party read the 1959 address on the House floor.

Mr Christie said he agreed, wishing, in a way that one of his own female Parliamentarians had suggested such an idea.

Ms Bethel’s documentary is scheduled to premiere on November 23 at a closed screening at Government House for the film’s cast and sponsors. A public release is set for the Bahamas International Film Festival in December.

Mr Christie lamented “the extent to which we have failed to record the powerful moments in our history.”

“The thing about history, unless you speak to it and show it, it will slowly ebb away and only be raised up when some event causes you to talk about it,” he said.

He stressed the importance of lifting up women in the country, and honouring those leading women who paved the way, particularly those who are still around to tell the story.