Thomas C. Famous. Photo: VINO/File

"Women have become much more politically active in not just grassroots or party level positions but, now rightfully more and more women are seeking and winning elected and appointed seats of political power." Photo: Provided

They asked me my predictions.

My reply was as follows: “Political consultants will continue to make big money from both winning and losing campaigns.”

I then asked them their predictions. The reply was simple and to the point. “Women will rule the roost.”

As the night wore on and results started to come in it was crystal clear that my friend had almost accurately predicted how the night would turn out.

There may not have been a blue Tsunami as the Democrats hoped but there was a ‘Pink Wave’ that swept the polls.

Not only did “Women rule the roost”, but they, in all their diverse ways and means, helped to; set records, change the complexion of congress and reset the bar as to what the future of politics worldwide must look like.

Over the last few years, there have been dramatic changes to the faces of parliaments and elected bodies worldwide.

Women have become much more politically active in not just grassroots or party level positions but, now rightfully more and more women are seeking and winning elected and appointed seats of political power.

Here are some prime examples:

●    In Iceland, 47 per cent of their parliament consists of women

●    In the Caribbean island of Grenada, 47 per cent of the legislature is comprised of women

●    In the African country of Rwanda, 59 of 106 legislators are women

●    In the African country of Ethiopia, 10 out of 20 Cabinet Ministers posts are held by women

During a recent cabinet shuffle, Ethiopian women were given key posts.

“In a cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday (Oct. 16), Abiy cut the number of ministries from 28 to 20 and named 10 women among the new appointees. Women will now run key dockets including defence, trade, transport, and the newly-established ministry of peace that will tackle the wave of ethnic violence that has swept the country. Abiy said the move was meant to “show respect” to the women’s participation in nation-building and to “disprove the adage that women can’t lead.” qz.com

Part of the benchmarks set by the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarian Network (CWP) is to see that there are an equal amount of women as there are men in parliaments within the Commonwealth.

Closer to home, throughout the Caribbean region women now hold all forms of political office:

●    Prime Hon. Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados

●    Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson of Turks and Caicos Islands

●    Speaker Hon. Ingrid Moses-Scatliffe of BVI

●    Speaker Hon. Shirley Osborne of Montserrat

●    Speaker Hon. Laura Tucker-Longsworth of Belize

●    Senator Marcia ‘Zita’ Barnwell of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

During my recent course in Canada, I met female MPs from Australia, Isle of Man, Bougainvillea, Falkland Islands, St. Vincent, Turks and Caicos and Tasmania.

These ladies were astute politicians, who showed deep empathy for the persons that they represented in their respective home countries.

Currently, here in Bermuda, we have the following positions filled by women:

●    A total of 4 out of 11 Senators including, The Senate President Mrs Joan Dillas-Wright and Government Senate Leader Mrs Kathy Lightbourne-Simmons.

●    In the Lower House, we have 8 women MPs including; former leader of the Opposition Hon. Jeanne Atherden, Deputy Opposition Leader Leah Scott, MP Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, Opposition Whip Susan Jackson, Health Minister Hon. Minister Kim Wilson, Government Labour Minister Hon. Lovitta Foggo, Renee Ming and MP Tinee Furbert.

Interestingly enough, each party has 4 women MPs, all of whom have advocated on behalf of women throughout their personal and political careers.

So, in total, we have 12 women out of 47 legislators. This equates to roughly 25 per cent, which is clearly way below CWP benchmarks.

Both political parties in Bermuda, can and must do better to get more women, not only properly prepared for and interested in running for a seat but be given a fair chance at succeeding with winnable seats.

This can and must apply to all political parties throughout the Caribbean region.

As proven earlier this month, women can and will create their own ‘Pink wave’ of political change.