A number of young women activists in various areas of civil society and particularly the 2020 honourees, were praised by the then Acting Governor, Mr. Perin Bradley, at Government House, at Sea fathers on Thursday, March 5.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Foy, OBE, who was overseas on official business, Mr. Bradley said the reception was for women activists in Anguilla whose work called attention to issues affecting women. He said they were working through such means as social media, performance arts or through groups. “These are women in the forefront of activism for women’s rights in Anguilla, and around the world,” he stated.
Mr. Bradley said he was proud of their accomplishments; that they were well recognized for their work; and that he had the opportunity to commend them.
He pledged to do his part to ensure that everyone was living in a world society where all women and girls were respected and given every opportunity to be what they want to be. He added that in order to have true gender equality, there was also a need to get men involved as part of the discussion and effort.
Dr. Dina Foy, who hosted the reception, said women had come a long way but still had a long way to go – and read a poem entitled “I Need Feminism” by an anonymous writer. She stressed that there was a need for qualities in men to respect women and to believe inequality.
The 2020 Women’s Week Honourees in Anguilla are Nicholas Macdonald; Mikeela Skellekie; Quincia Gumbs-Marie; Lisa Rey; Sherise Brooks; Glenneva Hodge, Regine Niles; Nakishma Rogers-Hull; Vanessa Croft; and Ursil Webster Brooks.