Dr.Doris Johnson stamp
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Nassau, Bahamas - The Post Office Department will issue a
new commemorative postage stamp in commemoration of the 50th
anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage Movement on Wednesday, October 10.
Mary Ingraham stamp
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This issue will include a 15c stamp
bearing the image of Mary Ingraham; a 25c stamp bearing the image of Georgianna
Symonette; a 50c stamp bearing the image of Mabel Walker; a 65c stamp bearing
the image of Eugenia Lockhart; a 70c, bearing the image of Dame Alberta Isaacs
and a 80c stamp bearing the image of Dame Doris Johnson.
Georgianna Symonette stamp
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In the general election of 1949, Mary
Ingraham’s husband Rufus was displaced. On his return from campaigning, he
contributed his losing the election to the fact that women were not yet able to
vote. He felt that most males who were eligible to vote were interested in only
material things (primarily alcohol and cash), if one wanted to secure their
vote. Thus the idea of the suffrage movement came into being. She later became
founder and president of the movement.
Mabel Walker stamp
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Recognising the iniquities in voting
rights, Mrs. Georgianna Symonette along with Mrs. Mary Ingraham, Mrs. Mabel
Walker and Mrs. Eugenia Lockhart and other women started the Women’s Suffrage
Movement. In order to sensitise the government of the day that women wanted to
vote Ms. Symonette and the other suffragettes toured the entire archipelago and
obtained 3,000 signatures.
Eugenia Lockhart stamp
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Mrs. Mabel Walker was an activist for
the Suffrage Movement in The Bahamas demonstrating with small bands of women
for the rights of women. She attended many Women Alliances conferences in
England, Ireland, Africa and Italy.
Eugenia Lockhart met with the small
group of women to seek the vote for women, she found herself at the forefront
of the Women’s Suffrage Movement. She did not seek self-aggrandisement or
accolades.
Dame Alberta Isaacs stamp
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Dissatisfied with the status quo of
Women in The Bahamas Dame Albertha Isaacs and many of her contemporaries joined
a movement that became a force to be reckoned with globally within the western
world.
Dame Doris Johnson joined the Women’s
Suffrage Movement after returning home from her studies at the University of
Toronto. She led a march to the House of Assembly during which time the women
demanded they be given the right to vote. Their petition was given in the
Magistrate’s Court since UBP Members of Parliament refused to be addressed by
the women in the House of Assembly.
