19 women elected to House of Representatives

 

Jamaica Labour Party campaign spokesperson Dr. Dana Morris Dixon has welcomed the 19 women from both political parties to the House of Representatives. 

 

The figure is one more than the number of female MPs following the 2020 parliamentary general election. 

 

Twelve women were elected in 2016. 

 

A total of 52 women contested Wednesday's elections.

 

"It's a very big thing for the women of Jamaica. It is important that women's voices are heard. And I know that on this side we have emphasised women and encouraging women to be a part of this political process, and we are very happy to see that number. I'm also very happy to see some of our young women again back in the Parliament. And we know who they are: Rhoda Moy Crawford, Tova Hamilton, Krystal Lee, and of course our voice, Kerensia Morrison."

 

The JLP feel that 15 women from its list of 63 candidates with only two being non-returning MPs.

 

The People's National Party fielded 22 women, with only three having served as MPs in the last Parliament. 

 

Both major political parties have committed to increasing the number of women in Parliament. 

 

Olivia Grange on Wednesday became the second woman to be elected for seven terms after making light work of the PNP's Ramoni Lewis in St. Catherine Central.

 

Former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller remains the only female prime minister and was elected to Parliament nine times between 1976 and 2016.