KINGSTON, Jamaica— People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding is encouraging more women to get involved in representational politics as he believes women have a unique set of skills that are needed to successfully represent people in the political arena.

Golding was speaking at his office during a recently held meet-and-mingle of all the women who will be representing the PNP in the next local and general elections.

“The People’s National Party is built on women. Most of our party workers are women, an increasing number of the leadership are women and there is space for women in the party,” Golding said.

“Women bring to leadership a different set of skills and an emotional approach which is conducive to caring and empathy and I think that works well in representational politics because it is a people business, and the skills that women have are particularly useful in being successful in representing people so I would encourage women to get involved,” he added.

He also noted that it is more challenging for women in politics, due to their additional responsibilities in the home.

“I think it’s important to recognise that there are additional challenges for women in representational politics. Sometimes men don’t fully understand the issues they face as home makers often or at least persons who are the mothers in families and going out to do what men do on top of that,” he stated.

The PNP president, commenting on the meet-and-mingle, went on to state that it is because of the extra challenges that women face in politics why it is important to have a space where they can come together and work through issues.

“I think it is important that we provide space where they can come together and share experiences, share solidarity and work through issues about how they can support each other to make the journey more enjoyable, much more productive and I think tonight was a great success. I think everybody enjoyed themselves, they enjoyed the company. There was a strong feeling of togetherness, sisterhood and me being among all these lovely ladies it was a particular joy as well,” he added, smiling.

Golding stated that the PNP’s objective is to have gender parity, while highlighting that the political system does make that particular goal an easy thing to achieve. However, he disclosed that the PNP has been deliberate in trying to encourage, where possible, more female representation.