The Tribune

IN AN effort to “jump start” support for National Women’s Week, organisers have invited former Bermuda Premier Dame Jennifer Meredith Smith to the Bahamas to participate in a number of “empowerment exercises” in New Providence and Grand Bahama.

Dame Jennifer served as Premier of Bermuda from 1998 until 2003 – the first premier who was not a member of the United Bermuda Party. She is currently Bermuda’s Minister of Education.

Dame Jennifer was also the first female Progressive Labour Party Minister of Education, the first and so far only leader of the Bermuda PLP to lead the party to win two consecutive general elections. She is the second woman to serve as premier.

Dame Jennifer was appointed to the Senate of Bermuda in 1980, and was elected to the House of Assembly of Bermuda in 1989 as a member of the Progressive Labour Party.

She was elected Deputy Party Leader in 1994, and succeeded to the leadership two years later upon the death of L Frederick Wade.

Dame Jennifer led her party to victory in parliamentary elections in November 1998, in which the United Bermuda Party, which had dominated elections since autonomy was gained in 1968, suffered an unprecedented defeat.

The Progressive Labour Party again won parliamentary elections in July 2003, but less than a week later, Dame Jennifer was forced to resign as premier following a revolt within her own party. She was replaced by Alex Scott, but was elected as Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.

Dame Jennifer is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders, an International network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers whose mission is to mobilise the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development.

“I am delighted that Dame Jennifer Smith will be our special guest for National Women’s Week as she will participate in a number of speaking engagements with particular focus on women in governance,” Minister of Social Services Melanie Griffin said.

Dame Jennifer’s first speaking engagement will take place on Wednesday, November 27, at the College of the Bahamas.

She is then expected to address female parliamentarians at a special luncheon, which will be followed by an address at a one-day Women’s Summit that will be held at the British Colonial Hilton.

Dame Jennifer is expected to accompany Minister Griffin to Grand Bahama on Thursday, November 28, where they will meet with female students, including students from the PACE Programme.

Dame Jennifer is also scheduled to address Grand Bahama women at a special luncheon at the Pelican Bay Hotel.