Tweet

CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS, March 10, 2019 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — Twelve women on Nevis were on Friday evening March 8 awarded by the Department of Gender in the Ministry of Health and Gender Affairs of the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) in celebration of International Women’s Day 2019.

At a colourful ceremony held on the lawn of Government House in Charlestown under the patronage of Deputy Governor for Nevis Her Honour Mrs Hyleta Liburd, ten women were honoured for excelling in traditional occupations for women, while two were honoured for excelling in non-traditional occupations for women (NOW).

“As I reflect on the successes of those who will be awarded here this evening, I am truly excited to what the future has in store for women in Nevis today and for the generations to come,” said Junior Minister of Health and Gender Affairs, the Hon Hazel Brandy-Williams. “This year we are concentrating on women under the age of 45 who own their own businesses.” 

The awardees were Ms Kenesia Browne, Ms Mauricia Claxton, Ms Rifka Harding, Ms Camille Kelly, Ms Cindy Liburd, Ms Nicole Liburd, Ms Cavel Mills, Ms Yejide Parry, Ms Heidi-Lynn Sutton, and Mrs Jackie Hunkins-Taylor. Awarded for non-traditional occupations for women were Ms Anelda Maynard, and Ms Tamara Napoleon.

Evening’s featured speaker, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Senator the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett, stated that the first International Women’s Day was observed in 1911 where millions of persons in Europe mobilised for women suffrage, the right to vote and for labour right. Today, she added, people live in a world where the voice of the woman, though still a bit muffled, is being heard.

“Today we live in a world where women are free to vote, free to work outside of the home, free to participate in active politics, free to choose the timing of motherhood,” said the Hon Byron-Nisbett. “The truth is, the freedom and achievement of women have advanced greatly since the suffragette in the early 1900s.”

According to Senator Byron-Nisbett, women today are living in a world where their cause can be made easier through innovative means, observing that innovation is dominant shaping and changing the way people live in every part of the world.

“We must be intentional about its use and be able to positively impact our lives. Key word: intentional,” said the Hon Byron-Nisbett. “It means that as women it is important that we identify what our very specific cause is that we wish to push at any given time, and think of innovative ways of achieving it. The causes we choose must be pertinent to our indigenous needs here in St. Kitts and Nevis.”

International Women’s Day 2019 was observed under the theme ‘Think equal, Build smart, Innovate for change: Empowering Women – Stimulating Change’. Present at the awards ceremony included Premier of Nevis and Senior Minister of Health and Gender Affairs, the Hon Mark Brantley; Minister of Culture et al, the Hon Eric Evelyn; Minister of Labour, Public Works et al, the Hon Spencer Brand and Mrs Brand; and Ms Neila Jones, the reigning Miss Culture.

ENDS