March 8th 2026 was observed worldwide as International Women’s Day, and in Anguilla the highlight was a special celebration at the Mount Fortune Seventh-day Adventist Church, spearheaded by the Gender Affairs Department and the National Council of Women in collaboration with other women’s groups on the island. The theme of this year’s observance was “Give to Gain: Accelerating Rights and Justice for Women and Girls”.
The Moderator of the event was Former Disaster Management Director and Community Advocate, Ms. Susan Hodge. The opening prayer was offered by Minister Genefa Feedee of the Kingdom Citizens Church, and welcome to the ceremony was given by the Church’s Leader, Pastor Ray Edwards, and President of the Church’s Women’s Ministry Ms. Karen Pina.
Several important speakers delivered remarks including Her Excellency the Governor Julia Crouch; the Minister of Social Development and Education, the Honourable Shellya Rogers; and President of Soroptimist International of Anguilla, Ms. Lavan Hoyoung. The Keynote Speaker was Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett. A unique poem written by Dr. Rebecca Dupas – personifying flowers as women – was presented by Anguilla’s Toastmasters Personality Ms. Rosanna Browne. Other items included dances and songs rendered by women’s groups.
A key feature of the celebration was the presentation of much deserved awards bestowed to six prominent women of the Anguillian society. The special awards are distinguished by the acronym RISE, which appropriately denotes these women as: Resilient, Influential, Successful and Empowered. It was determined that these qualities encapsulated the personalities of the six females.
Receiving the Excellence in Leadership Award was Chevening Scholar, Calla Gumbs. Ms. Gumbs is the Director of People and Culture at Four Seasons Resort. She was applauded for her ability to partner with the company’s executives in aligning employees with their growth and development at Four Seasons, thus contributing toward the Resort achieving Forbes Five-Star status.
Another Chevening Scholar Kashamar Lewis, received the Emerging Leader Award. Ms. Lewis is an educator whose leadership abilities have empowered her to drive real impact in the education and development of youth. She is the youngest Rotary Club President in the Caribbean and was able to revive the Interact Club in Anguilla after more than a decade of dormancy.
Angela Rogers is an innovative entrepreneur. She was presented with the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. Ms. Rogers is a woman whose faith, resilience, and community spirit have enabled her as a single mother of five to build and develop a stand-alone courier service operating from the local Post Office porch, thus helping busy residents to avoid the long queues inside. Her reliable service is one of integrity, and her friendly and jovial demeanor has enabled her customers to have great trust and confidence in her work.
Rodi Richardson was the recipient of the Arts, Culture and Sports Award. She is a top graduate of G.C. Foster College, displays an influential and resilient personality in the area of Sports where she is the Programme Officer in the Sports Department. Her creative skills in the sporting arena have enabled her to successfully organize a host of sporting events all to the delight of the island’s youth.
Receiving the STEM Innovator Award was Dr. Wenonah Lawrence. Mrs. Lawrence is a leading Anguillian educational technologist who advances STEM education and digital literacy across the Caribbean. Her skills and talents have enabled her to represent Anguilla on the CARICOM Digital Skills Task Force, and, as such, she supports OECS educators in their professional development.
Receiving the Community Impact Award was Mrs. Jemila Morson-Hodge. Mrs. Hodge is a creative strategist, lecturer and development coach whose work has made a meaningful impact across education, community development and corporate engagement. She has served for over a decade as public relations officer at the Anguilla Electricity Company (ANGLEC) where she has led many transformative initiatives.
Mrs. Rosena Brooks was the Lifetime Achievement Awardee. She is a veteran educator, mentor, and community pillar who has dedicated over six decades in shaping the minds of Anguillians. Apart from an expanded stint of teaching at Anguilla’s original high school, i.e., Valley Secondary School, now the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School (ALHCS), Mrs. Brooks taught for 30 years at the ALHCS.
Her leadership qualities have been also evident in her faith and youth development as well as her instrumentality in the Soroptimist Club, the Anglican Church Women Association, and the Scouts and Guides Association.
Apart from congratulating the island’s dedicated women in general, Her Excellency the Governor particularly applauded the achievements of the awardees. “I am really delighted to be here today to celebrate with the honourees for their achievements,” the Governor stated. “I extend congratulations to them because they embody the strong women of Anguilla and they demonstrate what women of Anguilla can achieve.”
The Governor also issued a three-prong message to the women for the sake of the island’s young girls: “First, never stand back from preventable violence that is holding our girls and women back. Violence in the family is never a private matter. It is never acceptable, and there are people who can help. And I must give credit here to Kemoloy Murphy for all the work that the Gender Affairs Department is doing in that area.
“Secondly, let us encourage our girls to step forward and to offer their voices. The world needs them and their perspectives. The world needs their voices in every aspect of leadership. So let us encourage them to take their place as leaders.”
“Thirdly,” the Governor continued, “let us believe in what we can do to change things for the better for others. Let us leave an inheritance for our girls as well as our boys and our community, and let us build on the shoulders of the great women who have gone on before us.”
Ms. Kemoloy Murphy, Gender Development Coordinator, noted in her remarks: “Here in Anguilla we extend the global observance of International Women’s Day in a Women’s Week where we have created space for reflection, empowerment and action across our community…Our theme this year reminds us that progress requires contribution, advocacy, and community because when we invest in the rights, wellbeing and leadership of women and girls, then everyone benefits.”
International Women’s Day is observed annually on March 8th. It is a day that is globally dedicated to the celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, while also serving as a call to action to advance gender equality and justice for women and girls around the world.
