OFFICIAL Opposition Leader Philip 'Brave' Davis. (File photo)
By Ricardo Wells
Tribune Staff Reporter
rwells@tribunemedia.net
THE Progressive Liberal Party’s 2022 slate will be composed of 30 to 40 percent women candidates, according to party leader Philip “Brave” Davis.
The announcement came on Tuesday in response to questions posed by reporters over the lack of female representation in Bahamian politics.
Mr Davis, in conceding the enrollment of women in parliament has long been “dismal”, said more steps needed to be taken to improve the number of women elected to parliament.
“Our approach for the next election is to ensure that we have the appropriate number of women representing the Progressive Liberal Party as candidates,” he said.
When asked to further clarify his position, Mr Davis added: “Well, the appropriate amount can be 100 percent. But, it is those who make themselves available.”
In line with that, he said the party was looking at crafting a slate that features 30 to 40 percent women.
He continued: “We are not going to run them because they are female and do that gender a disfavour just to run someone because they are female. We want to have candidates who are good and those who are willing to serve and willing to do what is necessary to uplift the Bahamian people in a manner and in accordance to our philosophies.”
The Bahamas ranks 147 out of 193 countries on the International Parliamentary Union’s percentage list for women representation in the lower or single house.
Of the 39 members of parliament elected in 2017, only five members were female - Sea Breeze MP Lanisha Rolle, West End and Bimini MP Pakesia Parker-Edgecombe, MICAL MP Miriam Emmanuel, Fox Hill MP Shonel Ferguson and Englerston MP Glenys Hanna Martin.
These women represent 12.8 percent of persons elected to parliament.
The International Parliamentary Union’s percentage list also noted the seven women appointed to the Senate.
Their appointments equate to 43.8 percent.
These percentages were noted by Social Services Minister Frankie Campbell last October in his address to the United Nation’s committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Mr Campbell in his address noted that while female representation in politics was low, women held the majority of senior leadership positions in nearly every other public sector.
Mr Campbell pointed out that in the public service, 78 percent of directors, 31 percent of Family Island administrators, nine percent of chief councillors and 65 percent of permanent secretaries and secretaries to the Cabinet are women.
“Women have excelled in many other fields, including the arts, sports and in traditionally male dominated fields,” Mr Campbell said.
The session marked the country’s sixth periodic state report, with its last appearance in July 2012.
The PLP is set to hold its next convention on July 25-26 at the Melia resort.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 5 months ago
So now short pudgy Davis thinks women are the answer to all of our country's woes. Meanwhile Fweddy Boy Mitchell waits patiently on the sidelines thinking to himself: "What wutless Brother Brave needs is to get a good whupping by a big woman with some balls...a no nonsense woman like LBT. LMAO
TalRussell 5 years, 5 months ago
Just maybe Comrade "Brave" needs be focusing on running both man's and woman's quality, not quantity sexes. The response voters come 2022 might very well be that the four MP's sitting up in House on Imperialists red shirts benches haven't exactly performed as the poster representatives woman's populaces 51.03% hot button issues, yes, no........................
JackArawak 5 years, 5 months ago
What a dork, says it like it's a high percentage. Shouldn't it be at least 50% for fair representation? I would be willing to bet he has no intention of following through with this anyway
Chucky 5 years, 5 months ago
what you want women in office, even if there are better qualified men.
why not hope for the most qualified regardless of gender.
John 5 years, 5 months ago
Shouldn’t candidates be selected on best qualified rather than trying to fill a gender quota. Pandering to certain groups is bound to cause an election fail.
Chucky 5 years, 5 months ago
Only a fool would speculate and forecast what percentage of candidates would be either gender. We all, both men and women, just want the best candidates.
Anyone who would chose gender over qualifications is a fool.
Sometimes I wonder if these idiots are deliberately trying to sound stupide
sheeprunner12 5 years, 5 months ago
Sooooooo ........ are we now going to vote for token women MPs just for gender sake???? ............ Or are we going to vote for the best available candidate in EACH constituency race????
This is where our politics go wrong .......... We are looking for gimmickry and deception to win elections.
BTW ........ Are other PLP women going to be measured by the standard of present MP Martin?
TalRussell 5 years, 5 months ago
Comrade Sheepie, what if I tell you it's not that improbable for comrade "Brave" have fallen under spell that if the red shirts party could runs their 35 "token" candidates go before populaces spread red party's official campaign falsehoods and get them elected sit up in House like puppets on string - why hell not have PLP mirror red shirts by promoting the running the 30/40 woman's ratio candidates a 2022 try, yes, no...........
joeblow 5 years, 5 months ago
Able, qualified candidates who have no connection to the PLP of old would be a far better standard for selecting candidates, but why would 'Brave' want to do that right?
sheeprunner12 5 years, 5 months ago
How many womenfolk are eligible candidates from the PLP Old Guard families??? ........ SLOP, AD, Snake, Clem, Brad, Georgie, Rev Bethel, etc???? ....... Maybe Gravy Davis is sending a message to the senior sissies in the party ...... SMH
TalRussell 5 years, 5 months ago
True, PLP comrades does has their 'old guard benches' to draw from run 2022 but the Imperialist red shirts sure hell seem be giving new meaning reintroducing appointing, hiring and giving titles to off springs from off 'old guard benches' stretching way further back under different kinds colonial governing rule, yes, no...........
sheeprunner12 5 years, 5 months ago
You are right, Tal .......... The Wells, Bethels, Bostwicks, Foulkes, Symonettes, Turnquests, etc still on the gravy train of the FNM ...... and Old Guards like loose mouth CA Smith who think they entitled to the GG Throne.
TalRussell 5 years, 5 months ago
Comrade Sheepee, however - much more needs to be seen be done to assure inclusion all contributors our Colony of Out Islands, yes, no....
hrysippus 5 years, 5 months ago
This is a fine idea, now with 15% of Bahamians being Caucasians perhaps the PLP leader needs to go for 7 or 8 Caucasian candidates. Radical idea, eh?
TalRussell 5 years, 5 months ago
Ma comrade HRY, unofficial street corner data has it recorded that it's more quarter likes quarter populaces than just the 15% once you include into arithmetic the additional 4% borns larger percentage lick da brush in either one their parents DNA and the 3% who been long convinced they is mixed conchy joe's and other 2% acting British enough be's white and the 1% who just likes balance it out by making they DNA genes up, yes, no........... doubtful if DNA test was administrated what be's percentage populaces with traceable blood ties Africa, yes, no....................And, I left out the arithmetic what be's percentage just amongst Lawyers be's talking and acting so damn British, yes, no............
hrysippus 5 years, 5 months ago
If they don't know whether the strawberry jam or the clotted cream get spread first on the scone them that dna stuff don't matter at all, actually....
sheeprunner12 5 years, 5 months ago
What other "hair brain" ideas will Gravy Davis come up with??? ......... He needs to step down as PLP leader and get out the way .......... That will be the best idea for him to put forward for 2022.
bogart 5 years, 5 months ago
BIGGEST .......ever question is to da wellness an the progress of the nation ........being determining by the ......present 100% of the Party by the present nations Official Opposition Party that their next projected party ....DONE......60%..to 70% of their party being composed of men.......FURTHER....determining that......of 30%...to 40% to be females......
bogart 5 years, 5 months ago
.........having bin using the 30% to 40%.......should violate the nation's signed international commitment to equality between male and female gender......??????
proudloudandfnm 5 years, 5 months ago
This is proof positive that brave is just another perry……
Dumb and useless....
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