pnp womens group

The Role of Women in the PNP The then elected Members of the Legislature, the visionaries, were convinced that in order to fight the absolute power of the colonial masters, there was a need for a new constitution. The late Mr. Headley Durham spearheaded the project.  

This resulted in the emergence of a two party system and a Ministerial Government, which would become effective after the next General Elections. It therefore became necessary for groups to be formalized and the Peoples National Organization (“PNO”) as the Party was then named was formed by those elected members.  

In order to constitute the Party and to position the group for the next election, an executive was formed. Mr. Colin Tatem was named Secretary General and Mrs. Pat Potter (nee Wynns) was named as his assistant. The Party had no ready resources, so it had to use what was available at that time. The home of the Wynns family in Grand Turk was used as the meeting place of the new Party.  

Mobilized by the late Hon. NJS Francis, the women of Over Back, Grand Turk were the forerunners. They campaigned relentlessly and successfully to bring home the seat in that district. To this day, with the exception of the 1988 elections, the Progressive National Party (“PNP”) has always won that seat. The female party stalwarts at that time included Mrs. Henrietta Wynns, Joyce Hall, Martha Robinson, Niasha Neat Estelle Williams, the Penn Sisters and many others. Most of these women have gone on to rest, but we remember them because they formed the nucleus of the Party in Grand Turk and they preserved in the face of verbal abuse and threats to their lives and property. We can never forget the late Mrs. Grace Francis who supported to the Party financially.  

Mrs. Carol Hanchell (nee Brooks) a party stalwart in North Back Salina, was also an unsuccessful candidate in those elections. She fought vigorously but was unfortunate in a predominantly opposition area, where persons were afraid to assist the PNO candidates.  

History will now show that although the PNO lost that first election, they won the seat in Overback and Mrs. Pat Potter (nee Wynns) was the first woman appointed to the Legislative Council, a position she held until September 1980, when she migrated overseas.

Following the departure of Mrs. Potter, Ms. Arabella Smith was elected to the post of Assistant Secretary General and was appointed as the Party’s nominated member to Legislative Council in 1984.  

It is noteworthy that during those days, it was an uphill battle for the party to gain the majority support. Providenciales, in particular, was our weakest link, and it took a lot of courage to make our presence felt. However, with the help of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Butterfield and Mr. Howard Hamilton (deceased), who flew us around the Islands for meetings in his twin-engine plane, we were able to overcome many obstacles. The Women’s Movement continued to be a source of strength to the Party, especially in Grand Turk and South Caicos. Mrs. Mary Fulford is still President of the Grand Turk Branch, a position that she has held for many years. In South Caicos, the party’s stronghold, Mrs. Emily Saunders was instrumental in maintaining that group and keeping the constituents focused on the ideals of the Party.  

In 1980 the Party’s name was changed from PNO to PNP and adopted as its official colors yellow, turquoise and black and as its symbol the Conch Shell.  

After years of struggle, the party gained strength and won the 1990 election under the leadership of Hon. NB Saunders. Under Hon Saunders’ leadership, the Party won again in 1984, this time with two women in the ranks, Rosita Butterfield and Arabella Smith. In December 1985 a third PNP women, Emily Saunders, joined the house. In 1991 under the leadership of Charles Washington Misick, the party was returned to power and for the first time in the history of these Islands, females were appointed to the Executive to hold ministerial portfolios, the first being Hon Arabella Smith, followed by Mrs. Emily Saunders. That year, Mrs. R Butterfield became the first female to hold the prestigious office of Speaker of the House.  

Mrs. Rita Gardiner, another PNP Stalwart, was a candidate in the 1984 general election for the North Back Salina seat, but lost to the opposition. Mrs. Gardiner was nominated to the Legislative Council during the 1991-1995 term.  

Although the Party lost the 1999 elections, Hon Lillian won her seat and in the general elections and by-elections of 2003 the two PNP female candidates Hon Lillian Been and Hon Karen Delancy won their seats. Thus Hon Been is served her second consecutive term in the Legislature and Hon Karen Delancy served her first term. They are also members of the Executive Council. The progressive National Party presently boasts three female members of Legislative Council – Hon Karen Delancy, Hon Lillian Been and Hon Arabell Smith (nominated). On the opposition side of the Legislative Council, there were no women.  

Contributed by Mrs. Madlin (Pat) Wynns-Potter and Hon Arabella Smith