NASSAU, The Bahamas - The increased participation of women in political and public life in The Bahamas will be a key component of the celebrations surrounding the 2013 observance of National Women’s Week throughout the Commonwealth.

Minister of Social Services and Community Development, Melanie Griffin, said statistics show that while 8,000 more women registered for the 2012 General Elections than their male counterparts, there are just five women in the House of Assembly, a figure that represents just 13 per cent of the Lower Chamber’s membership.

There are also five women in the Senate, but the figure jumps to 31 per cent, based of course, on the lower number of members that comprise the Upper Chamber.

“Statistics indicate that more women than men participate in the electoral process, but unfortunately, this is not reflected in the number of women who offer themselves as candidates and/or elected to Parliament,” Mrs. Griffin added.

Mrs. Griffin, who is serving her second term as Minister of Social Services and Community Development, having been appointed to the position during the first Christie Administration (2002-2007), said while Bahamian women have made great strides in various sectors of society since 1962 as a result of the efforts of the members of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, there are still a number of issues that need to be addressed for the further advancement of women.Having a greater role in the decision-making process at the political and public levels, Mrs. Griffin said, is part of that advancement.

In an effort to “jump start” that effort, organisers of National Women’s Week (which runs November 24-30 under the theme: “Developing Women in Leadership in a Developing Bahamas,” have invited former Bermuda Premier, Dame Jennifer Meredith Smith, DBE, JP, DHumL, to The Bahamas to participate in a number of “empowerment exercises” to be held in New Providence and Grand Bahama.Dame Jennifer served as Premier of Bermuda from 1998 until 2003 - the first Premier who was not a member of the United Bermuda Party. She is currently Bermuda's Minister of Education.

Dame Jennifer was also the first female Progressive Labour Party Minister of Education, the first and so far only leader of the PLP to lead the party to win two consecutive general elections and the second woman to serve as Premier.

Dame Jennifer was appointed to the Senate of Bermuda in 1980, and was elected to the House of Assembly of Bermuda in 1989 as a member of the Progressive Labour Party. She was elected Deputy Party Leader in 1994, and succeeded to the leadership two years later upon the death of L. Frederick Wade.

Dame Jennifer led her party to victory in parliamentary elections in November 1998, in which the United Bermuda Party, which had dominated elections since autonomy was gained in 1968, suffered an unprecedented defeat.

The Progressive Labour Party again won parliamentary elections in July 2003, but less than a week later, Dame Jennifer was forced to resign as premier following a revolt within her own party. She was replaced by Alex Scott, but was elected as Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.

Dame Jennifer is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders, an International network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers whose mission is to mobilise the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development.

“I am delighted that Dame Jennifer Smith will be our special guest for National Women’s Week as she will participate in a number of speaking engagements with particular focus on women in governance,” Mrs. Griffin added.

Dame Jennifer’s first speaking engagement will take place on Wednesday, November 27, at the College of The Bahamas. She is then expected to address female parliamentarians at a special luncheon, which will be followed by an address at a one-day Women’s Summit that will be held at the British Colonial Hilton.

Dame Jennifer is expected to accompany Minister Griffin to Grand Bahama on Thursday, November 28, where they will meet with female students, including students from the PACE Programme. Dame Jennifer is also scheduled to address women of Grand Bahama at a special luncheon at the Pelican Bay Hotel.