CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - AS the Federation joined the rest of the world in recognising today, March 8, as International Women’s Day, the Minister of Gender Affairs in Nevis, Hazel Brandy-Williams, believes that women must be given the right to contribute.
With the day being recognised under the theme: “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World”, the Minister explained that it highlights the responsibility to the well-being and security of women and girls throughout the extent of the pandemic.
In the case of St. Kitts and Nevis, women have often times found it difficult to cope during the pandemic.
In some instances they were physically and emotionally abused by their spouse or male partners, but the Minister noted that the theme underscores the role women and girls play, noting that they “must be allowed to play in holistic contributing solutions to this international problem”.
In the role that women play in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, one notable individual stands out; she is Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett who worked along with several other counterparts to develop the Moderna Vaccine.
In St. Kitts and Nevis, Minister Brandy-Williams pointed to Dr. Hazel Laws and Dr. Judy Nisbett as being two women pioneering leadership roles in the COVID-19 fight.
The Department of Gender Affairs has planned a number of activities to recognise the day throughout the month and, according to the Minister, among those would be the awarding of women who have been on the front-line of the country’s fight against COVID-19 - nurses, police officers, supermarket attendants, hotel employees, bankers and response team volunteers among others.
“The truth is that while great strides have been made over the years as it relates to women empowerment, there is still quite a way to go before we realise true gender equality. The pandemic has highlighted this as it has been said that many international decision-making bodies charged with countering the Coronavirus had little to no female representation. I am most pleased to say that in St. Kitts and Nevis we suffered no such plight,” the Minister added.
She called on all men in the Federation to do their part in “supporting women in leadership, speak out against gender-based violence, celebrate those women around you and encourage your daughters to dream big and to achieve more. We are in this together so both men and women must play their part”.
“As we consider women and leadership, we must not think of it as an endeavour for women to ‘take over’, but as a bid for women to lead alongside our male counterparts, thus making valuable contributions by way of our unique perspectives, insights and skill sets,” she advised.
The Minister added: “I feel it important for me to also point out that women, just as in the case of men, women, should seek to be leaders for the right reason – to serve others. Not for fame, or power or self-aggrandizement, but to serve others. This is the only way we will be able to impact lives for the better and help our nation, communities and families.”
