Female representation in senate at highest ever

The new session of the Antigua and Barbuda Senate has its largest female representation ever with nine of its 17 members being women.
The Senate, like the House of Representatives, was sworn in yesterday at the first sitting of the parliament.
Government senator Alincia Williams-Grant, was re-elected President of the Senate with Osbert Fredericks returning as her deputy.
Williams-Grant hailed the number of women in the Upper House – seven of whom are government appointees – as a testament to the parties’ will to further the cause of women. The opposition UPP appointed Shawn Nicholas as its female representative while Bakesha James is the Governor General’s independent pick.
“I’m particularly excited to see the majority of the Upper House now being comprised of nine women,” the president said to loud applause.
“I expect, and I’m sure the people of this country expect, that this would translate to a more articulate, policy-driven, issue-focused debate in this House, not just the rhetoric.
“We are prayerful that this would translate to stronger representation of women in the Lower House next time around,” Williams-Grant said.
(More in today’s Daily Observer)