Zonta Club of New Providence bids “good luck” to women candidates in upcoming election

NASSAU, Bahamas — The Zonta Club of New Providence (ZCNP) has extended well wishes to all women candidates across the various political parties as they vie for a spot in Parliament in the upcoming general election.

One day ahead of Election Day, the ZCNP threw its support behind every woman candidate who has made the courageous attempt to rise in politics.

ZCNP President Marisa Mason-Smith said: “Equal representation of women in politics is one of Zonta’s many goals in advancing the status of women here and around the world, and we stand fearlessly behind all women offering themselves for candidacy in this elections.

“We believe having more women in Parliament would allow for inclusive policy-making that affects more than half of the population here in The Bahamas.

“We make note of the parties that have included women in their offerings and we are confident that whether they win, lose or draw, these female candidates will redefine the political landscape in their parties and in the nation for other women to follow in their footsteps.”

The ZCNP noted: “Studies have shown that having more women in politics and in Parliament affects the breadth of policies as well as the solutions that are considered.

“The ZCNP believes that women in key political positions are important to having policies in place to support the advancement and empowerment of women.”

Zonta, along with partner Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL) and other NGOs, made history on December 11, 2020, by leading the first-ever Women in Parliament session.

This resulted in two resolutions presented: to eliminate gender-based violence by 2030; and to increase women leadership in Parliament and national office and to encourage and support government, official opposition and all political parties deliver the requisite training and to establish quotas as follows:

Institute quotas for all political parties to ensure that no less than:

• Thirty percent of the constituencies in the upcoming General Election be reserved for women.
• Fifty percent of senatorial appointments by both government and opposition are women.
• Fifty percent of candidates chosen to contest local government elections are women.
• Fifty percent of Cabinet appointments be women.
• Fifty percent of the constituencies in the 2026 General Election be reserved for women, so that The Bahamas will achieve its obligations to the Bahamian people.