International Women’s Day 2023 was celebrated on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary. Women from a large cross-section of the Anguillian community joined in a number of presentations to mark the day. Organised by The University of the West Indies (UWI) Open Campus Anguilla in collaboration with the Anglican Church Women Association (ACWA) and the Gender Affairs Unit, this year’s celebration was under the theme “Anguillian Women Pioneers: Innovators, Boundary Pushers and Record-Breakers”. Chairperson for the afternoon’s proceedings was Manager of The UWI Open Campus British Overseas Territories. President of ACWA, Mrs. Celestine John delivered the welcome remarks.
During the service Gender Development Coordinator, Ms. Kemoloy Murphy, assisted by the Honourable Minister with responsibility for Gender Affairs, Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers presented the ten 2023 Women’s Week Honourees: Mrs. Mona Fleming, Ms. Mimi Gratton, Mrs. Patricia Hodge, Ms. Susan V. Hodge, Ms. Jocelyn Johnson, Mrs. Anita Martin-Ruan, Mrs. Patricia Beard, Mrs. Sandra York-Gumbs, Ms. Sáaliha Abdur-Raheem and Dr. Lana Connor-Hoyoung with awards for their pioneering work in professional and community service.
Dr. Lana Connor-Hoyoung was also presented with a special Pioneering Award in recognition of her work in the women’s movement on Anguilla. In addition, the Organisers, in collaboration with the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry paid tribute to Business Pioneer and Philanthropist, Mrs. Octavia E. Lake with a special International Women’s Day Award, which was presented by Vice President Ms. Simone Connor. Mrs. Lake’s granddaughter Ms. Shanai Lake received the award on her behalf. Dr. Oluwakemi Linda Banks, representing the ACWA and the Soroptimists International of Anguilla, outlined the achievements of Dr. Connor-Hoyoung and Mrs. Lake in salutary poetic biographies.
The feature address was a riveting and inspiring presentation by Ms. Farrah Banks, who in a well-researched and creative style highlighted the achievements and contributions of pioneering women in Anguilla’s history and their impacts on today’s generation. Using examples of past and present women and girls, she created a vivid outline of what a successful boundary pusher should look like and their responsibility to create a roadmap for future pioneers and innovators.
Remarks also came from Acting Governor Mr. Perin Bradley and Minister Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers who both acknowledged the significance of the day and impactful contributions that the Honourees and other Women and Women’s Group continue to make in the development of Anguilla.
Mrs. Angelina Carty delivered greetings on behalf of the Soroptimists and Ms. Rhonica Connor represented the Anguilla Youth Parliament with a Spoken Word performance. Musical renditions for the evening came from the Mount Fortune Seventh Day Adventist Women’s Ministry, the Anguilla Christian Fellowship Women’s Ministry and Mrs. Heidi Shaw.
The annual donation in support of the Foster and Disability Care Programme at the Department of Social Development was collected during the Service.
In her remarks, Ms. René Henry expressed appreciation on behalf of the Organisers and thanked all those who shared in the celebration, including Pastor Wanda Brooks who delivered the invocation and UWI STAT Ambassador, Ms. Tyeisha Emmanuel who introduced the Keynote Speaker. Special thanks were extended to the Priest and Congregation of the Pro Cathedral of St. Mary, as well as sponsors, D-3 Enterprises, Black Orchid Florists, MarzSim Visuals, Klean Stream, ACOCI and the media.
