For the first time in Bahamian history, women will preside over both houses of Parliament simultaneously.
Bamboo Town MP Patricia Deveuax was elected as speaker of the House of Assembly and Lashell Adderley was appointed as president of the Senate.
During the opening session of the Senate, Adderley remarked on the historic occasion.
“This is the first time in the history of our commonwealth that two women have sat simultaneously as speaker of the House and president of the Senate,” Adderley said.
“Indeed this is a seminal moment in our country and, again, it is noteworthy that perhaps during the most challenging times since independence we have turned to two women to keep order and to maintain order and transparency in our system of democracy.”
Adderley said she walks in the footsteps of tenacious Bahamian men and sits on the shoulders of women from the suffragette movement, including Dame Doris Johnson, the first female Senate president.
Deveaux was elected as the 55th speaker of the House after Englerston MP Glenys Hanna-Martin nominated her. Elizabeth MP Jobeth Coleby-Davis seconded the nominated.
Deveaux is the second woman to serve as speaker of the House of Assembly.
As she addressed the House for the first time, Deveaux pledged to be fair.
“As your 55th speaker, I wish to assure you that I will take my task very seriously,” she said.
Deveaux said all members will be treated equally.
However, she added that she recognizes that the chamber is a “political arena”.
She charged members to be courteous, adding that disrespect towards the chair will not be tolerated.
She also assured that House proceedings will begin on time.
North Eleuthera MP Sylvanus Petty was elected deputy speaker of the House and Barry Griffin was appointed vice president of the Senate.
The post Women to serve as House speaker and president of the Senate appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/women-to-serve-as-house-speaker-and-president-of-the-senate/
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