⁠Juliet Holness Highlights JLP’s Efforts to Promote Women in Politics

Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Jamaica Labour Party’s, JLP, Juliet Holness, says the party has a solid record of promoting women’s empowerment in politics.

Mrs. Holness, the MP for East Rural St. Andrew, says the JLP has been on a deliberate campaign to uplift and promote women in leadership.

It was one of the key messages from the stage at the governing party’s recent 81st annual conference on Sunday.

Nora Gaye Banton for Nationwide News.

Juliet Holness told jubilant Labourites in a packed National Arena that the JLP is the party of choice for women.

To the chimes of thousands of bells, she declared many firsts for women in national leadership have been pioneered by the Labour Party.

Mrs Holness also touted the party’s endorsement of a record number of female candidates to stand in the 2020 General Election.

Fourteen of the 18 women put forward were elected to the House.

The House Speaker says she was also proud that it was a JLP government that recommended the first woman to serve as president of the Court of Appeal. Justice Marva McDonald Bishop was sworn into office in July this year.

Mrs Holness told labourites all Jamaican women should believe in the power of their potential.

She says the JLP’s track record on promoting women in leadership cannot be matched.

There have been increasing calls internationally for countries and political parties to do more to promote women in politics.

Last week, Chairman of the Electoral Office of Jamaica, Earl Jarrett, called on the country’s two main political parties to implement quotas to boost female participation in politics.