Despite the many achievements of female politicians, the current number of women in Bermuda’s House of Assembly indicates that more women need to be encouraged to enter politics, says Dame Hon. Jennifer Smith, JP, MP.
Dame Hon. Jennifer Smith,
DBE, JP, MP Dame Jennifer served in the Senate until1989 when she was elected to represent St. George’s North. She was the Leader of the Opposition from 1996 to 1998 and Premier from 1998 to 2003. She currently serves as the Deputy Speaker.
On 20 May 2008, around 20 or so women gathered in the Bermuda House of Assembly for a special session. This historic meeting – of the women who helped to shape this country as we now know it – of Parliamentarians (Senators and Members of Parliament) past and present, was in honour of the 60th anniversary of the election of the first women to Parliament in Bermuda. Those who participated recalled their challenges and successes, their political experiences and their hopes for the future.
Although Bermuda has had two
female Premiers, one female Deputy Premier, three female Opposition Leaders, three female attorneys general and several
female Ministers of government; and, although, statistically women outnumber men in Bermuda, women are yet to enjoy true equality of opportunity – in the political, business and corporate arenas.
Diligently pursued by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Millennium Development Goal of Gender Equality in Bermuda, has been a “one step forward, two steps backward” process, mirroring the local fight for civil and human rights.
Dame Jennifer Smith, JP, MP.
Where it all began The history of women in politics in Bermuda is a relatively recent history beginning only in 1919, with the emergence of the woman’s suffrage movement led by Ms Gladys Misick Morrell. At that time, women had few, if any rights. All parliamentary, municipal and parochial privileges belonged to men and the fight to get the
The Parliamentarian | 2009: Issue One - Bermuda | 13