A book covering the careers of women in parliament here was launched at a function at the Dominica House of Assembly on Saturday evening. “Women in Parliament in Dominica: Past and Present” is written by Speaker of the House of Assembly Alix Boyd Knights and historian and anthropologist Lennox Honychurch.
The book is made up of short biographies of all the 30 women who have served as members of the legislature since the first woman was elected in 1940. It includes women Speakers and Clerks of the House.
The opening chapters also give an account of the constitutional and social and political changes that led up to women being given the vote for the first time in 1924.
It goes on to detail the “Road to Independence” and the developments following the granting of Universal Adult Suffrage in 1951. This gave everyone the right to vote without the ‘qualifications’ of land and/or income that were previously required.
In addressing the function, Speaker Alix Boyd Knights said that the aim of the book was to encourage more young women to get involved in politics by showing the examples of those who served.
Lennox Honychurch pointed out that Dominica had led the way with women in politics in the Caribbean by electing the first woman in parliament in the region in 1940, the first woman Minister of Government in 1958 for the West Indies Federation, and locally in 1966. The first woman Prime Minister was elected in 1980 and in that same year the first woman Speaker took up duties.
Cultural activist Alwin Bully congratulated the two authors on their important work, which itself is the first of its kind in the Caribbean.
The book was financed by a grant secured by Speaker Boyd Knights from the British High Commission for the Eastern Caribbean based in Barbados. It was printed by Lericorn Printers and is available from the House of Assembly for EC $40.00.
House of Assembly is to far man. Get a closer spot intown to sell those books people from the country want to buy. Please tell the bookstores keep the selling price at $40.00. just a suggestion. congrats maadame speaker
I wish to express sincere congratulations to the authors on two levels. Firstly, for the publication of book-whatever the issue it explores. This encourages more literary work in Dominica and that in itself is very commendable as it promotes more writing, reading and documenting of various facets of our life and our history.
Secondly, I wish to congratulate the Speaker for recognizing the tremendous contribution of women in the development of our political consciousness as a young nation.
I cannot, however, resist expressing the view that young women may learn a lot more by seeing, observing and interacting with role models than they would by reading this book. The best thing that the Speaker could do to encourage more women to get involve in politics and to take the work of parliament more seriously is by the way she conducts herself as a living example to the youth.
It is our action that more often leaves the indelible imprint in the hearts and minds of those who we seek to influence. Speaker Alix Boyd Knights would do more for herself and her cause of encouraging more women in parliament, if she would conduct herself in a more honourable, professional, fair and mature manner in the House.
The book may fail in achieving its objective of encouraging more young women to get involved in politics, when they witness the gross disrespect that the Speaker has repeatedly displayed towards the opposition members in Parliament. Our Young women are embarrassed by the behaviour of the Speaker and the way she conducts the affairs of our parliament. The conduct of this Speaker is dishonourable and motivated by partisan politics. This cannot be compared with the conduct honourable women in our parliament like the Dame Eugenia, Marie Davis Pierre and Ms. Edwards. Many Dominican are very disappointed with the way in which this Speaker conducts the business of Parliament.
But that is for another discussion.
Congratulations Madam Speaker. I will certainly purchase a copy. Best regards.
ppl should never buy dat woman book,her behaviour in office is terrible,she is an animal,,oh my god,she is a disgrace,
can it be purchased on line?
Someone needed to record the contribution of women past and present. Why not a woman. It is a history book. Congratulations Madam Speaker.
DNO, it will be a while before some of us can get our hands on a copy of the book. “The book is made up of short biographies of all the 30 women who have served as members of the legislature since the first woman was elected in 1940. It includes women Speakers and Clerks of the House.
Can you please tell us who the 30 women are? Thanks.
i WILL surely purchase one. This is very informative for children going to school and doing research. Let us think positive.
It is generally accepted the world over that there is great need for more women to become Parliamentarians.
As part of my successful campaign for the position of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Chairperson, I proposed that there ought to be a workshop module developed around strategies for persuading more women to enter Parliament. At the core of this module would be an idea which I had been working on which I called the three M’s: Mentoring, Motivating, Mobilizing. As to the mentoring part, I felt that information on women who have served in Parliament would be key.
Lennox Honychurch willingly collaborated with me to put together short biographies of the women who have served in Parliament in Dominica and this book is the result of our effort.
The British Foreign office, through its High Commission in Barbados, agreed to assist in financing the project.
It is expected that funding for ongoing workshops will come from the proceeds of the sale of this book.
We profusely thank all those,including the Parliamentarians themselves, who have inspired and/or helped in one way or another.
great initiative Mrs. Knights!!
I am wondering if member countries of the Commonwealth parliamentary Association are paying close attention of this Speaker stewardship in the parliament of Dominica and how she conducts the business of parliament in such a bias way, if so it would be of interest to find out their views although they might not want to interfer, but certainly she can be no where compared to the rest of the commonwealth parliament speakers and am not too sure if she will ever catch up to them.DNO i urge and beg you guys to do your research, soon their will be a live session of the Parliament in Trinidad on Tuesdays and Fridays from 1:30pm, Barbados is every wednesdays from 10:00am or 1:30pm, Jamaica is on Tuesdays form 2:00pm
Madame speaker after all that is said and done, question to you: When women are busy wrapped up in their careers who will take care of the children? Who will raise and nurture our next generation? This so called feminist movement in Europe are destroying their societies. There is a serious reduction in population, worst homosexuality has compounded the situation. Is this what we want in Dominica?
It is seen clearly that the public schools generally are failing our youth. More North Americans and Europeans are investing in home-schooling.
I really don’t see why this emphasis on more women becoming members of the parliament. Our women are not discriminated against in that department.
In conclusion, more women should invest in education and structure needs to be put into place so that women can be financially compensated in order to educate and nurture our children at home. Let our men fight the battle in handling the challenges outside the home. We are destroying our women, destroying their femininity. The business of housewife should be honored and be looked into as a noble profession. We need a paradym shift in our thinking.
No right thinking Dominican or Parliamenatrian should buy this book untill this bias speaker right what is wrong to herself. Biaseness
DNO, Can we as Dominicans say that the way this speaker Alix Boyd Knight has conducted herself in handling the matters of parliament is something that women in Dominica who may have good intentions to be involve in representative politics see her as a role model, pay close attention as to how she address members of the opposition, her tone in speaking to them as oppose to how she speaks to the members of the Government side, look at what happen recently to the motion moved for the extension of time for Hon Eddison james after the I’s have it she ask if there was another motion, her management of the parliament is much to be desired and i ask that your editorial satff pay close attention to the parliament of Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica and St. Lucia all broadcast live on TV and there you will see the high level of professionalism and unbias actions by the speaker. This speaker should of left that book for persons like Neva Edwards, Ossie Symes and others before to publish.
Leave politics out of this. The woman published a book which we our children and grand children can benefit from. Is this a problem? Where does politics come in this? Grow up!
Is’nt she political in executing her duties as speaker?? And is her office not a political one appointed/voted for by politicians in parliament? and she is a registered member of the labor party. Did you not hear her in the 2002 campaign?? “Labor Power” check Q95 for the clippings of her addressing Labor party rallies
Hats off to the Late Dame Mary Eugenia Charles who laid the foundation for many women politicians in the Caribbean. I think some of the proceeds of that book sale should go towards the Education Trust Fund which was the brainchild of the Dame Eugenia Charles or maybe a scholarship fund which would benefit young ladies who are aspiring to go into politics.
Great Work!! May women of our time be encouraged to serve at the paliamentary level.
So the book was financed with a grant but is being sold for EC$40 a copy.
So where that money going?
I assume that they are selling the book because they want to make some money to reprint it and keep it in print after this first set is sold out.
What, you want a freeness? You have no business sense? Give it away and then you have no money left? If that is how you run a business no wonder that so many Dominican businesses fail.
Read and comprehend…..The question asked “So where that money going?” Not the sort of grammar I would use but comprehensible enough to catch the drift. If the money is going into her coffers; not much wrong with that either…Except it was a Grant she secured eh!!. If the money is going into the charitable cause like back into a fund that could be used as a granting mechanism for other like publications absolutely nothing wrong with that also. Then others can come along and access this grant to get their own publications going… within reason…SO PEOPLE WHERE THE MONEY GOES TO IS WORTH KNOWING>
…you do know grants have nothing to do with how much something costs, right?
what is this person’s problem. Why dont these idiots keep their seneseless criticsms to themselives. So the woman havn’t got to make a profit. It takes work to publih a book damn idiot!
‘It is expected that funding for ongoing workshops will come from the proceeds of the sale of this book.’
According to the speaker, that’s where the money is ‘going’ ok.
Congratulations to you Madam Speaker on the release of ur book. I will surely be looking forward to buying an reading it.
Congrats once again!!!!!!