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| section of the crowd |
The NRP's Women's League Conference under the theme "Women in Nevis United" (WINU) Conference, was a huge success according to Organizer and Chairperson of the conference, Mrs. Mylene Hanley Farrel. The conference was held on Sunday 5th March 2006 at the Old Manor Hotel just three days before International Women's Day which was celebrated on Wednesday March 8th. Over 130 women from the five constituencies gathered at the hotel as a sign of women being united for change.
There was a spontaneous applause the minute the female candidate Mrs. Patricia Hanley walked into the room and throughout there were cheers and shouts from women in the crowd. The chant "Time come for dem to go Vote Dem out" was repeated time and time again by women in the audience as well as victory jigs and dances by some ever loyal NRP women supporters.
The event was opened in prayer by Mrs. Joslyn Liburd while Ms. Ester Brooks a drama specialist, poet and playwright attached to the Ministry of Culture delivered a poem entitled "Woman". This poem stressed the importance of women in society and the role of women in nurturing the nation's youth and being good role models. The feature address was delivered by Ms. Minerva Saddler the Liason Officer attached to the Basic Needs Trust Fund in St Kitts with specific responsibility for Human Development and Poverty Reduction.
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| NRP Female Candidate Mrs. Patricia Hanley addressing the women |
Her address was dynamic and well received as was evidenced by the standing applause that she got at the end of her well reasoned presentation. Her presentation focused on the role of women in decision making and politics and reasoned that a woman in politics can only be good for the country. She mad the point that the political arena is dominated by men and as such the ethos of women were not appropriately represented.
Mrs. Patricia Hanley the female candidate on the NRP also gave an inspiring address where she made the point that women were to be seen as equal to men and that she was sure by Mr. Amory's actions that he too saw her as his equal. She spoke of the election of Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller of Jamaica as the first female President of the ruling People's National Party and her pending promotion to be the first female Prime Minister of Jamaica less than two weeks ago as proof that women can be success in politics.
She went on to make the point that she was grateful to her Party Leader Mr. Joseph Parry for being a part of the NRP ticket as well as his not being afraid to work hand in hand with a strong woman like herself. She continued that women had a critical role to play in politics and that she was sure that she could do a much better job representing the people of Gingerland than the Premier has done. Her speech was interrupted throughout with frequent applause and wild cheers.
Organizer and Chairperson of the Conference Mrs. Mylene Hanley Farrel was beaming with delight at the success of the Conference. She said, Women in Nevis are uniting to bring about change. Change is good for democracy. We are committed to bring change in the Electoral process so that Democracy and fairness will prevail in this country. We are committed to bring about change in the status of women in Government so that we are an integral part of the decision making machine in this country.
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| Robelto Hector with Charlestown constituents after the function |
We are committed to addressing as many as possible of the issues that affect us as women. She went on to explain that the conference met all her objectives and that now more than ever she opines that women are even more energized to bring about change. She said that she had read and believed that women in isolation are too easily divided and conquered so the Unity Conference was a good way for women to unite to bring the common cause of Change to be a reality.
All the candidates gave a short address rallying the women and asking for their support in bringing home the change that the country so desperately needs. The women on hand shouted back that they were ready for change and continued to chant "Time come for them to Go, Vote them Out"! Candidates were found mingling, laughing and taking pictures with their female constituents during the reception that followed after.
