KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party Women’s Movement (PNP WM) has rejected allegations of misogyny levelled against Opposition Leader Mark Golding by Generation 2000 (G2K), arguing that criticism of public officials should not be dismissed as gender prejudice.

According to a release from the movement, its president, Patricia Duncan-Sutherland, said women in leadership deserved respect but should not be exempt from scrutiny over their decisions.

“The fight against misogyny is far too important to be reduced to a convenient response whenever a woman in public office is called upon to account for her decisions,” Duncan-Sutherland said.

She said the Opposition’s concerns about Speaker of the House Juliet Holness related to her handling of parliamentary proceedings and the need to protect the Opposition’s role in holding the Government accountable.

Duncan-Sutherland also questioned comments by Holness in an interview that she had won the position on a party ticket and would have to win on a party ticket to remain Speaker.

She argued that the office required the holder to act as an impartial umpire rather than as a member of the Government team.

The PNP Women’s Movement president further accused Holness of using her discretion under the Standing Orders to stifle debate unfavourable to the Government, citing last Tuesday’s parliamentary proceedings.

“There is a fundamental difference between attacking a woman because she is a woman and questioning the decisions an individual makes in the discharge of their public duties. To conflate the two does a disservice to women who experience genuine discrimination,” she said.

The movement said concerns about the Speaker’s conduct should be addressed on their merits, maintaining that defending women and demanding accountability were not competing principles.