-Kalehia Johnson
For years the Jamaican political scene has been dominated by men. It comes as no surprise then that women serving in parliament have sparked some debate. In fact, the issue dominated the last national debate and previously gained enormous attention throughout the Caribbean and internationally when P.J. Patterson chose Portia Simpson-Miller to carry on his mandate; a historical move in the country.
However, in recent times the contribution of women cannot be missed, especially with the advent of social media. While many may label these moves as ‘photo ops’ on the other hand there is the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words. The women in the Jamaican House of Representatives are making their mark in different aspects of the country.
Rhoda Crawford
Newcomer Rhoda Crawford, member of Parliament in Central Manchester, has been quite active since her victory in the 2020 general election. So much so that she has been dubbed ‘Roada’, because of her efforts with the development of the road network in the region, and has been very big on the tag line “promise made, promise kept” as she features her accomplishment.
In fact, a scroll through the comments on her social media posts will highlight the many Jamaicans who are suggesting that a page be taken from her book by others serving or even luring her to their constituencies. As an educator, she has been seen contributing through skills training, interventions, award systems, motivational speeches at graduations, and an overall presence in the schools within her constituency. The plethora of images of her with water tanks, gift packages and with the people in general is resounding. One may argue that she is just doing her job and rightly so. But, let us remember that for years the issue has been the effectiveness of women in parliament.
Ann Marie Vaz
A trip to the Northeast Coast will highlight another woman standing tall in the lush parish of Portland. Ann Marie Vaz, who started representing the Jamaica Labour Party in 2019, is also fairly new to parliament after getting her mandate from the people.
Let us start with her recently concluded Portland Women’s Football League. It seems the women are actually not only representing, but rather taking other women with them. Her annual free mammogram initiative and upgrades to the medical facilities have gotten quite the attention as well. It shows women are adding their personal touch to their representation. It is hard to hear the name Ann Marie Vaz and not picture her beside a water truck, freshly paved road or even a tractor. Uniquely, she has managed to present a strong family life and a catalogue of achievements during her tenure. Clearly, the debate may be ending.
The Torchbearers
It would be remiss of me not to mention the torchbearers who have and continue to pave the way for other women in the house. For years Olivia Grange, Angela Brown Burke and Lisa Hanna have served in different leadership positions in both major political parties in the country. The contributions of the strong women who have served and exited cannot be excluded. Their service has also been notable from both sides of the house. From as early as 1944 when Iris Collins was the first woman to enter parliament, to many others such as Maxine Henry-Wilson, Shahine Robinson and Sharon Hay-Webster, many women who have made their marks.
The number of women continues to rise in the Jamaican parliament, which now hosts a record of 18 female Members of Parliaments. Significant too is the appointment of the youngest senator, Gabriela Lewis. The reality is that there are existing issues with all 63 constituencies, but the strides made by women in politics cannot be ignored. As women continue to rise in politics, the question remains if soon Mia Motley of Barbados and Silveria Jacobs of St. Maarten will be joined by more women to fly the Caribbean banner high.
