Basseterre, St. Kitts - Mr. Jorge Payret, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Mrs Telca Wallace, President Cuba St. Kitts Nevis Friendship Association and other members of the Association present, ladies and invited gentlemen, colleagues:
José Martí (Cuba´s independence hero) ruled:
People’s campaigns are only weak when they do not enlist the heart of a woman, but when she shivers and helps, when the woman naturally shy and quiet encourages and applauds, when cultured and virtuous woman anoints the work with the honey of her affection, the work is invincible.
The 8th of March as the official celebration of International Women's Day was proposed in 1910 by Clara Zetkin, German member of the International Union of Confederation Workers, in Copenhagen, Denmark during the International Congress of Socialist Women. Since then it has been celebrated worldwide as a tribute to the effort made by women to achieve equality, justice, peace and development; beyond national borders and ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences. Women and men from all five continents organise various events to celebrate this day and endorse the awareness that not only half of the obligations correspond to women, but also half the rights.
This Day is to honour the memory of not only women who in 1857 in a textile factory in New York claimed their labour rights and were cruelly repressed, but also of all those women that in the world and through history have fought for their rights as human beings and for equality.
There are names of women in Cuba that symbolise the dignity and decorum of our women: Mariana Grajales; Carlota; Guarina; Amalia; Rosa Elena Simeón; Ana Betancourt; Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda, Martha Abreu; Melba Hernández; Haydee Santamaría; Celia Sánchez; Vilma Espín; Fe del Valle and many more that have fought for our freedom. Artists such as our prima ballerina Alicia Alonso; athletes who put the name of Cuba in the highest spot of sport´s glory: Ana Fidelia Quirot, Maria Caridad Colon, Deborah Andoyo, and so many more; scientists such as Concepción Campa or Rosa Elena Simeón and, why not, you Cuban women together with us here, fulfilling your international collaboration or diplomatic duties; or the ones here from this country and the Caribbean region that carry out their social duties while being mothers, wives or women striving for their rights.
José Martí said:
“In the Andes can be the pedestal of our freedom, but the heart of our freedom is in our women.”
!Long Live women! Long live their International Day!
Thank you very much.
In attendance at the Social were the staff of the Cuban Embassy, members of the Cuba St. Kitts Nevis Friendship Association and the Cuban Medical Brigade in St. Kitts & Nevis, as well as representatives of the Department of Social & Community Development & Gender Affairs.
Each female member of the gathering was presented with a Happy International Women’s Day greeting card.
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