Amanda Slew | Beyond the Quarrel: What the Burchell-Holness clash really costs Jamaican women

There are moments in public life that stop you in your tracks, not because they are surprising, but because they are deeply disappointing. 

The recent exchange involving the Speaker of the House and Member of Parliament Miss Nickeisha Burchell is one such moment. To witness it unfold is, quite frankly, a stab in the heart.

Let it be stated clearly: both women are exceptional. Both are accomplished. Both represent the kind of leadership that Jamaica needs and has fought hard to cultivate. Yet it is precisely because of that shared excellence that the comments directed at the Speaker are so troubling, not only in their tone, but in the message they send to every young woman in this country who dares to dream of a seat at the table of power.

Women have not arrived in Parliament by accident. Their presence is the result of generations of struggle, sacrifice, and relentless advocacy. Every woman who has taken an oath of office stands on the shoulders of those who were told they did not belong there. That legacy is not a small thing. It is sacred. And when a fellow woman uses her platform to undermine, diminish, and cast doubt on the capacity of another woman in leadership, she not only wounds that individual; she chips away at the very foundation that made her own ascent possible.

Guidance matters enormously in these roles. Leadership in public office is not simply about ambition or ability; it requires wisdom, restraint, and an acute awareness of the weight one’s words carry. What is said in the public square does not stay there. It ripples outward, reaching the classrooms, the communities, and the hearts of young girls who are watching closely, deciding whether politics is a space that will affirm or destroy them.

The energy directed at the Speaker in this instance would be far better invested elsewhere. Jamaica’s women and girls face challenges that demand urgent, unrelenting attention: gender-based violence, maternal health, economic inequality, educational barriers, and so much more. These are the battles worthy of a Member of Parliament’s fire and conviction. These are the issues that should command the headlines. Instead, we find ourselves here, discussing an interview that sought to question a woman’s standing rather than advance a cause.

It must also be said that supporting women in leadership is not the same as excusing poor conduct from women in leadership. True solidarity demands accountability. We cannot selectively apply the principles of women’s empowerment, celebrating women when they rise and then looking away when lines are crossed. If we are serious about building a culture of respect and excellence in Parliament, then we must be equally serious about calling out behaviour that contradicts those values, regardless of who is responsible.

This is not about taking sides. This is about standards. This is about legacy. This is about the kind of Parliament , and the kind of Jamaica, we are collectively building.

We support women. We champion women in leadership. And it is precisely because of that unwavering support that we must say, with both love and firmness: we expect better. So let us do better.