Various women groups, in church and community across Anguilla, crowded the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary’s on Monday evening, March 8, for a special service in observance of International Women’s Day, 2021.
The service, in recognition of all women in Anguilla, was a joint undertaking by the Gender Affairs Unit in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the UWI Open Campus. It was chaired by Dr. Phyllis Fleming-Banks, Manager of the Open Campuses in the British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean and based in her homeland, Anguilla.
In delivering the welcome remarks, Mrs. Celestine John, President of the Anglican Church Women Association, said in part: “We are here to celebrate International Women’s Day. It has been designated by the United Nations to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women world-wide…I applaud the individuals who had the insight to organise and conduct this rally under the theme: ‘Women Embracing the legacy, continuing the journey’.
“As we celebrate the achievements of our women, past and present, I pray that this event would enlighten us even more in our struggles, sacrifices, the innovations made by women as they strove, and are still striving, for equality.”
Her Excellency, Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam brought greetings to the gathering. She said the COVID-19 global pandemic had not left any stone unturned with respect to its impact, and that women in Anguilla had been an intrinsic part in keeping the island safe and sustained both as decision-makers and as frontline workers. She stressed that to all those women the people of the island owed a sincere debt of gratitude.
The Governor also said that women in Anguilla had been actively involved in shaping and furthering the interests of Anguilla’s community, governments, politics and industry. She encouraged the next generation of women not to hesitate to take advantage of the opportunities open to them.
Gender Affairs Coordinator in Anguilla, Dr. Ronya Foy-Connor, thanked the various women’s organisations in Anguilla which actively contributed to the wellbeing of the community, and for their support of many of the initiatives of the Gender Affairs Unit. Among them, she listed such faith-based organisations as the Anglican Mothers’ Union, the Anglican Church Women Association, Methodist Women, and the Seventh-day Adventist Women’s Ministry Department. She said that the Gender Affairs Unit was also liaising with such important local, regional and international community groups as Soroptimists International (Anguilla) and the Anguilla National Council of Women. “When we partner with any regional institutions that help to inform and support the work of building a more equitable society for women, including today’s co-organiser, the University of the West Indies’ Open Campus, is when we truly see change happening.”
In a recorded address, the President of the Anguilla National Council of Women, Ms. Glenneva Hodge, said she stood in solidarity with all women everywhere in terms of their rights and equalities.
“This year, we celebrate the theme: ‘Choose To Challenge’”, she observed. “This theme calls for action to challenge the status quo and to challenge ourselves to do something or to be something…We need to be good mothers, daughters, wives, community leaders, employees and employers – and we are expected to take care of those around us, most times, at the expense of taking care of ourselves.” She encouraged women not to say no to others when so many were depending on them for support.
The feature address was delivered by Ms. Simone Connor, a highly-qualified former health worker, a current physics teacher, and the manager of her family’s business. Referring to a number of women in leadership positions in several parts of the world, she said: “Right here in Anguilla, we have three women elected to political office. We have Mrs. Cora Richardson-Hodge, the former Minister of Home Affairs and Education and the current Leader of the Opposition; Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers, Minister of Education; and Mrs. Quincia Gumbs-Marie, Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism.
“Additionally, at this very moment in time, Anguilla is ranked the number one island in the Caribbean, in terms of COVID-19 management outcomes. We have to thank our Chief Medical Officer, a woman, Dr. Aisha Andrewin, for taking the lead. Behind her is a small army of even more women, as well as men, championing COVID-19 protection in Anguilla… The reality is that Anguillian women are at the fore of leadership in Anguilla in this year, 2021, and we all should be very proud.”
The full text of Ms. Connor’s address is published elsewhere in this edition of The Anguillian newspaper.
Others who participated in the Anguilla Service of Celebration, for International Women’s Day 2021, included: Methodist Minister, Rev. Candis Niles, who delivered the opening prayer; the presenters of musical selections: Ms. Roxana Brooks; Mrs. Susan Best-Richardson; Tara Carter and Trent Ruan; and the Webster singers; and Rev. Dr. Kathleen Richardson of the Christian Fellowship Church who delivered the benediction.
