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It offers women an education in the art and science of politics - and, now in its second year, it has provided instruction to 69 women. Graduation ceremonies were held for what's called the second cohort of 22 women today and we spoke to a pair of them to ask if they had learned about the blood and mud of politics, as well as the art and science.

Ann Marie Williams, Executive Director - NWC
"This program is important because we just don't want to train a little bit of women this year and disappear from the landscape. We need to build up a critical mass of women because only in that way we will have enough in the House of Representatives. It's not to have one or two because we have no gains that way."

Jules Vasquez
"Why were you interested in this course? You are already a woman in politics."

Tracy Panton
"I am a woman in politics I would say but i think it's important for women to engage in terms of looking at political leadership which has been very different in Belize."

Jules Vasquez
"Did you learn anything in this? I know you have been in the past a veteran campaigner, so that's all you need to know - to get people on a list to vote for you."

Tracy Panton
"There is always an opportunity to learn Jules. I don't think any of us knows everything and more importantly you have an opportunity to network which I think is the greatest value from this program."

Shari Williams
"I have always felt the call to service and I felt that I've always been a leader in my own right but as one of the politicians said you can't play the game if you don't know the rules and so I felt that it was important to become a part of this project in order to know the rules; in order to get inside the game."

Jules Vasquez
"Would you accept in many cases women are taken on in male-dominated parties, male-led parties as a token - as a symbol and many times they are not treated as equals because it's a man's game. That's how politics is."

Tracy Panton
"It is and the men make no apologies for that. We had an opportunity to do some field research and to speak with politicians at the highest level and they have said with no apologies, Jules, in some cases its considered "window dressing." We want to change that dynamic and to change that dynamic we can't play by their rules."

Jules Vasquez
"Have you educated them in the real raw nature of politics?"

Ann Marie Williams, Executive Director - NWC
"Well I had Kenworth Tillett speaking about how to run a successful campaign and all that came out including that they will just make up things about you and it will be done by other women too and that's how it is so part of what they get is not only pure theory, they've heard the theoretical aspects and they've also been spoken to by those who have had political and legislative experiences."

Shari Williams
"Politics is really the same as everyday life; it is no different from everyday life. Some of the same challenges you go through every day on a daily basis are some of the same challenges you are going to face in your political career. If you go through thinking that it's a ballgame; it's a walk in the park, it's not all that it's cracked up to be."

Ann Marie Williams, Executive Director - NWC
"We measure the success exactly by what you saw today. Women coming out and preparing themselves and deciding that they are going to run."

Shari Williams
"Though it's about service; it's about giving of yourself. If you keep in mind the reason why you are there and the reason why you are there is to serve your people; the people who elected you into office - then I don't think you will get caught up in all the back biting and back stabbing and all the dirtiness that has to do with. You just keep focussed and know that you are here for the people - you are here for change - you are here for service."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you think that in the future you will be running for politics?"

Shari Williams
"Definitely. I have recently submitted my application for the municipal election coming up and I am looking at this as a stepping stone."

If you're wondering, Williams has put in her name as a candidate for the UDP slate in Belize City. The Women in politics program was awarded a top regional honor by the UNFPA last year for outstanding work in empowering women.