Senate President Alincia Williams-Grant on Tuesday welcomed two new members to the Upper House, praising their appointments as a sign of rising female representation and urging young women to view their service as proof that “it can be done.”

“And with that, I say welcome to the new senators,” Williams-Grant said, adding she was “very pleased to see that our numbers are going back up… as women in this house.”

Addressing Senator Kirwan directly, the Senate President thanked her for accepting national service and described her presence in the chamber as empowering for young women who have watched her over the years. “We value that you are here with us, and we thank you very much for accepting the call of service at this high level,” she said, before asking senators to applaud Kirwan.

Williams-Grant then welcomed back Senator Johnson, noting she had returned “this time to the government benches.” She told the chamber she missed Johnson but expected her stay in the Senate to be brief.

“I missed you, but I didn’t miss you for too long. And I know I’m going to miss you again because you won’t be staying with us very long,” she said, offering congratulations on Johnson’s “recent victory” as caretaker for her constituency.

She also highlighted the importance of parliamentary procedure, saying Johnson’s message to colleagues was that “all you need to do is know the standing orders… and you’ll be fine.”

Williams-Grant closed the welcome by thanking both senators for “accepting the call” to serve, describing them as “beacons for young women in our community.”