Women to play a more meaningful role in Antigua-Barbuda

Tuesday, March 30, 2004

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has come out in praise of the women of Antigua and Barbuda who are entering into the political arena. History was made in the country's Parliament when the first woman was appointed to the Lower House and a new Speaker of the House was sworn in.

A beaming Prime Minister Spencer watched as Dr. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro was sworn in as the first woman to be elected to sit in the country's Parliament.

Quinn-Leandro, a media consultant and former News Director of the state owned radio and television service, is a newcomer to politics. Running on a United Progressive Party (UPP) ticket, she defeated Guy Yearwood, a former Information and Sports Minister in the vanquished Antigua Labour Party (ALP).

Speaking in his first weekly radio broadcast, since assuming the office of Prime Minister, Mr. Spencer said he was delighted to have Dr. Quinn-Leandro in his government and thanked the people of St. George's for voting for her. 

Meanwhile, the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ms. D. Gisel Isaac-Arrindel, also came in for high praise from Prime Minister Spencer during her swearing-in ceremony Monday.

In brief congratulatory remarks before a packed Parliament Chamber, Mr. Spencer praised Isaac-Arrindel for her principles, adding that she would make a fine Speaker.

"I wish to extend heartiest congratulations to you. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that you would make a tremendous Speaker of this Honourable house. You bring, in my humble opinion, the kind of balance, the kind of integrity, the kind of decision-making powers that will help us through this very serious process of conducting the people's business," he concluded.

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