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CIWiL Calls for Greater Female Representation in Parliament on International Day of Parliamentarism
The Antigua and Barbuda Chapter of Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL) has issued a call to action for increased female participation in politics, marking the International Day of Parliamentarism with a strong message of gratitude, urgency, and empowerment.
In a statement released on June 30, CIWiL Chair Marian Hesse-Merchant praised the women who have answered the call to public service, highlighting their role in shaping policy, strengthening democracy, and demonstrating the essence of leadership.
“Today, we extend heartfelt gratitude to the women who have courageously stepped into the chambers of Parliament with conviction, clarity, and purpose,” the message reads. “We honour their service and thank them for demonstrating what leadership truly means.”
However, the organization warned that women remain underrepresented in key decision-making spaces, despite making up more than half of the population. CIWiL cautioned that this imbalance limits the nation’s ability to harness its full potential.
“When the perspectives, experiences, and solutions that women bring are underrepresented, we govern with only half our wisdom, half our creativity, and half our potential,” the statement said.
The message appealed directly to women across all walks of life—from educators and entrepreneurs to mothers and community leaders—encouraging them to take on leadership roles and contribute to national progress.
“The challenges we face are too complex, too urgent, and too important to address without your full participation,” Hesse-Merchant urged. “Let this Parliamentarian Day be more than a celebration of our progress—it is a powerful call to action for the future.”
CIWiL’s remarks come amid ongoing regional and global discussions about gender equity in governance and leadership. The statement concluded with a rallying call for women in Antigua and Barbuda to harness their voices and commit to shaping the future through public service.
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This all sounds good and politically correct but if the people do not elect women, who do we blame? Parliament is for elected persons. The Senate is appointed but there are only so may spaces available. So do we just elect women to fill a space? Obviously the electorate do not have confidence in the women who have come forward.
This will fall on def ears. The hypocrites have a serious problem with women in politics. Prine example is Gisele Isaac-Arrindell.
The amount of hate this poor woman gets from both man and woman it’s not even funny
This is a call that continues to bother me.
What is the vision in achieving that objective?
To the best of my knowledge women have never been deterred from running for active politics.
The women who push for that call are the very ones leading the campaign for the men against their fellow women.
Here is a typical example:
Maria Browne is a candidate.
Her dear husband is the leader of her party.
She is the only female candidate on the labour party’s slate.
Recently she and her husband campaigned to ensure that comrade Michael Freeland defeated a female contender in the St George primary.
Wasn’t there a need for gender equality then when she threw her support behind Freeland?
A candidate has not yet been selected for St Mary’s north.
Is she throwing her support behind the female seeking to win that primary?
Are those calling for such equality recommending that women compete against women at the polls?
So in Rural East where comrade Maria Browne is the representative should the opposition get a female candidate to challenge her?
Pearl Quinn is the opposition candidate for City East.
Should the labour party find a female to challenge her?
Recently Comrade Samantha Marshall was booted out of the senate.
It has become apparent that parliament is not about representation but rather about making money.
As soon as one secures his or her pension he or she is thrown out of parliament or senate.
Wasn’t there a need for comrade Marshall to keep the gender balance in parliament?
While there is that repeated call for gender or female parity in parliament, those making that call are yet to suggest a way in achieving that.
As for me I do not see gender on the political stage.
I see competence and party.
Sadly some of the competent ones have traded their competence for party loyalty and corruption to become instant millionaires.
SWEET.HI.MRS H. BROWN YOU NEXT ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA PRIME MINISTER.YOU WILL BE A GREAT LEADER MRS BROWN ONE DAY.AND GOD WILL GIVE YOU GODLY LEADERS FOR YOUR ADVISORS .
We have competent women here, but most are reluctant to come forward, have you ever heard how men can degrade women here, they will fabricate stories, tell them how, when and where their mothers made them and for whom. Listen to Pointe FM when the Dawg is on air