Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
SEVERAL JAMAICAN women are welcoming the election of Portia Simpson Miller as the first female president of the People's National Party (PNP) and Prime Minister-designate of Jamaica.
University Professor, Dr. Carolyn Cooper, has reacted enthusiastically to Mrs. Simpson Miller's win.
"Mi glad bag buss," she told The Gleaner yesterday.
She also expressed confidence that Mrs. Simpson Miller will do a good job but cautioned that the changes she will make will not come overnight.
"We recognise that a woman has the potential to do this big job of taking us out of the morass that we are in," she said.
A VISION FOR CHANGE TO COME
"She is a symbol ... a vision for change to come," she added.
Carol Sewell, president of Woman Inc., also conveyed her congratulations to Mrs. Simpson Miller.
"On behalf of Woman Inc., we extend congratulations to her. She has always been a strong supporter of Woman Inc's programmes. She will bring a certain focus to gender issues and we wish her God's guidance and blessings," she said.
Veteran journalist Fae Ellington who publicly endorsed Mrs. Simpson Miller said she had decided to support her after careful consideration.
"I did not support her because she is a woman. I supported her after months of careful consi-deration ... I was convinced that my decision was right, correct, appropriate and timely," she said.
She, however, pointed out that the change she will bring to Jamaica will not happen on her own efforts but will have to be a collective change from all Jamaicans.
RIGHT FOR JAMAICA
"She is right for Jamaica, she has come at the right time and I believe that she will be able to cross borders and boundaries and touch hands that could not be touched for a long time," she said.
Meanwhile, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party said she felt very proud that Mrs. Simpson Miller had created history by being the first woman to head one of the major political parties.
