TWENTY-THREE per cent of the 495 candidates in Thursday's Local Government Elections are women, representing a total of 114 of the 495 candidates nominated on May 30, according to the Electoral Office of Jamaica.

The island's elections are to fill 227 Parish Council Division seats and the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation.

In addition a Mayor is being elected for the newly-created Municipality of Portmore which is made up of 11 of the 15 divisions in St. Catherine South, South-East and South- central.

The Jamaica Women's Political Caucus (JWPC), in a news release yesterday, endorsed the candidacy of the women, who it said "all have a track record of leadership."

According to the JWPC, "Many of these women have been running their own businesses for years and others are established professionals. Some are sitting members of local Parish Councils as well (and) all have a track record of leadership. These are experienced and competent women. We feel satisfied that the voting public can throw their support behind them."

The JWPC commended the women also for staying the course even as many have had to try hard to be accepted by their parties.

"We commend their display of courage," the JWPC said. "We believe that the active participation by women in the political life of our country is the only way to ensure that issues affecting women and children will receive the desired level of attention and action which they need."

Among the women are 22 independent candidates and 92 who are affiliated to the three major political parties. Three are National Democratic Movement (NDM) candidates, 44 are representing the Jamaica Labour Party, and 45, the People's National Party.

The JWPC is a non-aligned group created in 1992 to support women entering representational politics. It supports women of all political affiliations who wish to have successful political careers.