Janet Bostwick

Dame Janet Gwennett Bostwick (née Musgrove; born 30 October 1939) is a Bahamian lawyer and politician. She entered politics in 1977 with an appointment to the Senate. She was the first woman to serve as acting Prime Minister, first woman Attorney-General and the first woman Member of Parliament in the Bahamas.

Biography Janet Gwennett Musgrove was born in Nassau to Nick and Lois Musgrove. In 1957, she began working as a stenographer in the Legal Department of the Bahamas and by 1961 had become the private secretary of the Attorney General.

Between 1967 and 1971, she served as an Administrative Officer of the Legal Department and attended law school, Through 1974, she served as Crown Counsel simultaneously serving as Crown Prosecutor, leaving the government service in 1975 for private law practice. Between 1980 and 1981, she became the first woman to serve as president of the bar association.

In 1977, Bostwick was appointed as a Senator sponsoring such legislation as the Matrimonial Causes Act (1978); the Affiliation Proceedings Act (1981); the Bar Act (1981); the Female Employees (Grant of Maternity Leave) Act (1988); and the Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence Act (1991). and simultaneously as Minister of Foreign Affairs (1995) and Minister for Women's Affairs (1995-2001).

Her appointment as Attorney General marked the first time a woman had served in that capacity. In 1998, when the Prime Minister and his deputy were both absent from the country, Bostwick became the first woman to act as Prime Minister. In 2011, Bostwick became the Deputy to the Governor General.

Affiliations Bostwick served as president of the Free National Movement Women's Association, president of the International Caribbean Women for Democracy and on the Executive Committee of the Girl's Brigade.

The Janet Bostwick Medal for Women in the Foreign Service is named after her. Recipients include Patricia Rodgers (2014).

Personal life She is married to John Henry Bostwick, The couple has four children.