MLA wants more women in the house

During a Legislative Assembly debate Wednesday about the contribution women have made to the Cayman Islands, Sister Islands MLA Julianna O’Connor Connolly questioned why the Legislative Assembly remains a male dominated chamber.

Mrs. OConnor Connolly

Rather than complain about the efforts of elected men, women should encourage more women to run for office, she said.

With the Register of Electors having more females than males on it, Mrs. O’Connor Connolly wondered why males still dominate the political landscape. She asked whether there is a ‘glass ceiling’ for women in Caymanian politics.

If they want change, women should stop voting ‘the traditional way’, she said.

As of 1 October 2004, there were 6,917 females on the Official Register of Electors and 6,104 males. That ratio is not thought to have changed much, since the register has increased by only 48 people to 1 January 2007.

Mrs. O’Connor Connolly is one of three female representatives among the Legislative Assembly’s 15 elected representatives.

Other females in the house are Government backbench MLA for George Town Lucille Seymour and North Side MLA and House Speaker Edna Moyle.

Since 1962, nine women have been elected to the Legislative Assembly.

During her contribution to the debate, Mrs. O’Connor Connolly – an opposition representative – acknowledged that the PPM government had stood by its election promise to provide equality for women.

‘I will not blame any lack of female empowerment on the Government,’ she said.

Mrs. O’Connor Connolly was one of many MLAs to speak warmly about the contribution women have made to Caymanian society during a debate that began Wednesday morning and continued into Thursday.

The debate followed a motion moved by George Town MLA Lucille Seymour, asking the Government to consider ‘heroic, patriotic and nation-building efforts of Caymanian women.’

In response, Education and Culture Minister Alden McLaughlin announced Thursday that a monument to women will be unveiled in Heroes Squares on National Heroes Day, January 2009.

Women elected to the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly:

• Evelyn Wood (1962 – 1964);
• Miss Annie Huldah Bodden (1964 – 1984; nominated member 1962 – 1964);
• Esterleen L. Ebanks (1976 – 1980);
• Daphne L. Orrett (1984 – 1988);
• Berna L. Murphy (1992 – 1996);
• Edna Moyle (1992 – present);
• Heather Bodden (1995 – 2000);
• Juliann O’Connor Connolly (1996 – present);
• Lucille Seymour (2005 – present).