Happy Birthday 51% !

Here’s a lovely message from the 51% Coalition. I have learnt so much from these women in the past year. Congratulations on your second birthday! 

Did you know that today, November 22 marks the second Anniversary of the 51 % Coalition. Yup! We were launched on Nov 22, 2011 in Kingston. Seems like yesterday. We have certainly come a long way, its been challenging but also a remarkable learning experience. We are proud of what we have been able to achieve so far, the contacts made, the engagement with over 200 women who have and are serving on public/private sector boards etc. We will continue our advocacy for quotas through our strategic partnerships and public awareness drive. Thanks for supporting us over the years.

Earlier this week, the Coalition organized a Tertiary Debate on Quotas for Women’s Leadership, with funding from the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and with the collaboration of the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Institute of Gender and Development Studies and UWI’s Mary Seacole Hall. By all accounts it was a roaring success. I was unable to be there, but am sharing a few (unofficial) photographs from the Coalition of the event, below.

Many happy returns, my sisters!

The winning debaters from UWI Masters, Ricardo Brooks and Krystal Tomlinson.

The debaters on stage and preparing… from Northern Caribbean University, University of Technology and UWI.

Senator Imani Duncan-Price takes the floor to endorse the need for balance.

The first place debaters with Chief Adjudicator, Shikisha Cowan from the Jamaica Debating Union and President of the Union Mr. Germaine Barrett. The moot for the debate was;” Quotas for women in leadership and decision-making will enhance the democratic governance process in developing countries.”