Andrea Downer, Freelance Writer

A number of local women's organisations are suggesting that there be as many women as there are men in leadership positions in local government.

Noting that women constitute 50 per cent of Jamaica's population, a group, which made its submission to the Joint Select Committee on Local Government Reform, in late June, is arguing that the ratio should be reflected in representational politics at the local level.

The group's spirited presentation, titled, 'Towards Strengthening and Transforming Governance in Jamaica: Advancing Women's Participation in Power and Decision Making in the Local Government System,' implored the committee to consider expanding the role that women play in local government.

In addition, the group, led by Linnette Vassell of the Women's Resource and Outreach Centre, asked the committee to consider reform that would foster an atmosphere that would encourage women to get more involved at the leadership level.

"Women and men have specific gender-based interests in service delivery and community development through effective local councils," Vassell stated. "Local-government reform is designed to facilitate maximum participation by all elements of the local community in the management of local affairs and in taking initiatives to solve local problems."

Responsibility of local government

The group, which also comprised Hermione McKenzie of the Association of Women's Organisations in Jamaica; St. Rachel Ustanny, of the Coalition for Community Participation in Governance; Pansy Hamilton, lead researcher, 'Gender and Governance in Local Govern-ment Reform' (a 2006 study); and Professor Neville Duncan of the SALISES, University of the West Indies, argued that the basic structures that supported households at the community level were the responsibility of local government.

In quoting a Progress of the World's Women 2000 study, Vassell submitted on behalf of the group that corruption in the political process would be significantly reduced if more women were involved in politics at the local level.

"Nationally, some 45.5 per cent of households are headed by women and the local government system has responsibility for services such as water, sanitation and markets, which directly impact the life chances of women and men in many different ways," Vassell stated.

The group lamented that women were severely underrepresented in representational politics and stated that despite making up 51 per cent of the population and outperforming their male counterparts at the tertiary-education level, they held only 12 per cent of the positions in Parliament. The observation was also made that one woman was on the parliamentary committee to which the group made its presentation.

Support systems

According to Vassell, since women are the ones raising the funds and building the political organisations, the parties should support them financially so that they are able to finance their political campaigns and afford support systems, such as child facilities, while they are on the campaign trail.

The group's submission listed political and institutional factors, which it described as systematic barriers that excluded women from sharing power equally with men in politics and decision making.

Government Senator and State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Noel Monteith, who is also a member of the Local Government Reform Committee, supported the group's position.

"I agree that more women should be involved in the political process, especially in the context where women are outpacing men at the tertiary (education) level," he stated, adding that more women should hold leadership roles in different fields, including politics.

The above article was written in collaboration with Panos Caribbean. jamaica@panoscaribbean.org

Barriers that exclude women from sharing power equally with men