by Fabian Hakalits – EM TV, Port Moresby
The first woman to win a male dominated constituency seat of the Autonomous Bougainville Government is Josephine Getsi.
Getsi has made history that will go in Bougainville’s books, as the first woman of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, declared a constituency member.
Mrs Getsi from Hapan Village, Solos in Buka, defeated candidates contesting the Peit Constituency, ousting male members, who have dominated that seat in the last ten years.
In an exclusive interview with EM TV News, Getsi said that she wanted to contest the constituency seat as this would set precedence for gender equality in politics.
Despite the fact that the Bougainville House of Representatives has three reserve seats for women.
Getsi’s profession as an educationist natured her confidence in taking leadership roles within the church and communities.
Her observations and experience on the last two houses, this even prompted her to contest, supported both by men and women.
Her favorite slogan is ‘Women bring changes starting in family units then communities’ which are also her campaign platform. But first integral human development, following the civil war in Bougainville then empowerment.
The third house saw many women contesting.
Figures released by the Bougainville Electoral Commission shows eleven in constituency seats and 22 in regional seats.
North ten, Central and South six each.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=qoCcAwzv2sY%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
