Golding says rise in female PNP candidates a victory for inclusion, party on drive for gender parity
Published:Monday | July 14, 2025 | 12:31 PM
Opposition Leader Mark Golding has declared that the People’s National Party’s (PNP) growing female representation is a victory for inclusion, as he unveiled 22 women among the party’s 63 candidates expected to contest the upcoming general election.
“Each and every one of you is due a whole heap of respect,” Golding told supporters at a PNP Women’s Movement rally in Westmoreland on Sunday night.
“I just want to say how proud of you we are and how determined we are to give you all the support that we can in the journey that is ahead of us.”
He stressed that his 87-year-old political organisation is actively working toward full gender parity.
“We believe in inclusion. We have seen the importance of the politics of the country and the governance of the country reflecting, as best as possible, the breakdown in the society,” said Golding.
“So when we say we have managed to reach 22 candidates out of 63, we don’t feel we’ve reached where we want to reach, which is complete parity, but we’ve managed to get to over a third.”
On healthcare, he called for a gender-sensitive approach to combat non-communicable diseases through early detection.
“This is why in our health policy we are committed to much more assertive screenings for these conditions. We want to reduce cervical cancer. We want to reduce breast cancer in the country,” said Golding.
He added that women’s voices in Parliament are vital to national development.
“Having, by Jamaican standards, a large group of female representatives stepping forward… ensures that the agenda of women, the needs of women, the concerns of women are reflected in our policy formation in every area of government, every area of public life,” Golding noted.
- Albert Ferguson
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