Barbados-29th Session, January 2018-Women's participation

Para 75) The period under review witnessed further strengthening of Barbados’ position with respect to the inclusion of women in decision-making positions. It is noteworthy that, since 2018, Barbados has made significant strides to include more female representation in government administration, primarily with the election of the country’s first female Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley. Additionally, the Deputy Prime Minister (who also serves as Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources as well as Leader of Government Business in the Parliament) and the Leader of Government Business in the Senate are both female. Para 76) Furthermore, elected female representation has increased to 20% in the Senate (Upper House of Parliament) where 8 of the 21 Senators are females, while females elected to the House of Assembly (Lower House of Parliament) presently number 7, constituting 23% of its 30 members. Para 77) In 2021, having transitioned to Parliamentary Republic status, Barbados saw the appointment of its first female President in the person of Dame Sandra Prunella Mason, FB GCMG DA SC LLD, who prior to this appointment served as Governor-General from 2018 to 2021. Para 78) To further underscore Barbados’ culture of inclusion of women in high-ranking and decision-making positions, various Ministries and Departments throughout the Public Service are headed by female Senior Public Officers holding the following top posts: • Permanent Secretary (as at 2020, there were 19 female Permanent Secretaries, out of a total of 27); • Cabinet Secretary; • Solicitor General; • Registrar of the Supreme Court; • Chief Fisheries Officer; • Chief Agricultural Officer; • Chief Education Officer; • Chief Parliamentary Counsel; • Chief Technical Officer; • Postmaster General; • Director, Child Care Board; • Director, Bureau of Gender Affairs; • Director, National Insurance Scheme; and • Director of Public Prosecutions. Para 79) As far as the judiciary is concerned, there were seven (7) female Judges of the High Court, out of a total of fourteen (14), while the number of female Magistrates stood at approximately five (5) out of a total of ten (10). There were two (2) female Judges of Appeal out of a total of five (5).