BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ELEVEN women from St. Kitts who have demonstrated exemplary achievements through discipline, vision and excellence were honoured on Tuesday evening (Mar. 8) by the Department of Gender Affairs at the eighth annual International Women’s Day Awards Ceremony held at the Port Zante Arrival Hall.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day and it is celebrated under the theme ‘Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All’. Two thousand and eleven also marks the eighth year since this day has been celebrated and hosted by the Ministry of Gender Affairs, and it is held under the theme, ‘Equal Access to Education, Training and Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for All”.
The awardees were introduced to the attendees by the 2010/2011 National Carnival Queen, Iantavian Queeley, and the First and second Runners-up Abigail Liburd and Judy DuPont respectively.
The first awardee to be recognised was Patricia Fahie in the area of Community Development. She has been a Red Cross volunteer and member of St. Kitts and Nevis Red Cross Society for 32 years, having joined that organisation in 1979.
She also pursued certification in Gerontology from the University of the West Indies and became a certified home-based nurse skilled at administrating insulin, taking blood pressure, performing glucose tests and bed baths.
Kathrine Harris was awarded in the area of Agriculture, a field she has been involved in for most of her life.
Harris grows the food she needs to maintain good nutritional practice and noted that most of the money she saved or used for bringing up her children came from what she earned as a farmer, and more recently from value added products such as a variety of wines made from local fruits.
Dr. Thelma Phillip-Browne was awarded in the area of Science and Technology.
She grew up in Newtown with both parents and had well-rounded and international training in medicine. She attended the University of West Indies and the University of Wales School of Medicine where her focus was on Dermatology and also completed a John Hopkins Summer Programme in Public Health.
She is the first female to register as a medical doctor in St. Kitts and currently works as a private practitioner in Dermatology and General Medicine.
Winifred Andrews was recognised in the area of Manufacturing and Industry and has been employed in manufacturing since in the mid-seventies.
Through her hard work and dedication, she was able to move up the ranks and today is one of the most respected supervisors at Harowe Servo Controls Limited.
She also has the distinction of never being late for work and was only absent due to illness.
Jacqueline ‘Singing Jackie’ Leader was recognised in the area of Cultural Development. She began singing as a pupil at the then Sandy Point High School where her teachers had recognised her exceptional singing ability and encouraged her to take that natural talent to a higher level.
The trained teacher, who earned an Undergraduate degree in Social Sciences and a Masters of Arts Degree in Education at the University of the Virgin Islands, took her teachers’ advice and entered the first National Female Calypso show in 1995 and placed First Runner-up.
She has won the Female Bacchanal title on four occasions and has also competed in the male dominated National Calypso Monarch competitions.
Dora Matilda Stevens was awarded as a Caregiver. She has dedicated 29 years of healthcare service to the Federation and had worked at the Hansen Home in Sandy Point, from where she was transferred to the Cardin Home. Her love for the elderly, commitment, dedication and willingness to assist her co-workers have improved the quality of life of many others.
She is an active member of the Moravian Church and also a vibrant member of the Salvation Army Women’s League.
Lelia Julie Martin was recognised in the area of Arts. She has been a long time contributor to the development of the Arts in St. Kitts and Nevis, both as a practitioner and coordinator, through her involvement in dance and production.
She is a founding member of the Vivace Dance Company and was instrumental in raising its profile both locally and regionally for the 15 years she was associated with it.
Currently, she is the Principal Artistic Director of the Children's Dance Theatre (CDT), which she founded 21 years ago. The Children's Dance Theatre has been credited with inspiring and nurturing the love of dance in the nation's youth and is renowned for its commitment to excellence in traditional and modern dance techniques.
Martin is a French lecturer at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College and still provides invaluable leadership to the learning institution’s dancers through her choreography and tutelage.
Eileen Grey was awarded in the area of Education and has been an educator for 48 years. She has had the distinction of influencing scores of students who are presently working as doctors, lawyers, financiers, bankers, teachers, nurses and entrepreneurs.
Grey has served as a member of the Children’s Carnival Committee and manager of the Convent High Majorettes as well as referee for various sports including netball and volleyball.
Sylvia Isaac was recognised in the area of Healthcare. She pursued a career in nursing and had enrolled as a student nurse and one year later became a certified midwife before her appointment as Staff Nurse at the JNF Hospital.
She also did additional training at the West Indies School of Public Health where she attained a diploma in Community Health Nursing.
Nurse Isaac has been the recipient of many awards, including some from the World Health Organisation for Outstanding Performance, Outstanding Unit and Teamwork in the areas of Nursing, EPI and to the mission of the Organisation.
Azilla Clarke, who was awarded in the area of Youth Development, has been actively involved in that field since 1999. She is a founding member of the St. Kitts National Youth Parliament Association and a proud Methodist, who offers her time and talents to the Girls Brigade, general church worship and overall youth service.
She is a member of the Board of Directors of the St. Christopher Children’s Home and the General Secretary of Hope Tears, an organisation designed to assist young ladies with their holistic development.
Finally, Violet Huggins was awarded in the area of Entrepreneurship. However, the 83-year-old was unable to be present at the ceremony but her award will be presented at the convenience of her home.
In her address, Minister of Health, Social Services, Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Marcella Liburd told the attendees that women are the backbone of the nation.
She stated that the ceremony would launch a Travelling Picture Gallery of Women, highlighting their achievements and contributions in various fields, and that those women who were outstanding in parliament, non-governmental organisations and science and technology would be featured first.
“I don’t believe the country is aware of the sterling contribution of women,” she said.
Minister Liburd also appealed to women who were pursuing careers to be involved in the area of Science and Technology, noting that women are lacking in that field.
The ceremony was chaired by the acting Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Sharon Rattan, and the National Anthem was sung by Judy DuPont while her fellow contestant in the 2010/2011 National Carnival Queen Pageant Micheleina Charles-Hazelle rendered a poem entitled ‘Woman’.
There was also an enticing dramatic presentation by Judette Pollock, and past calypso queen Singing Venus sang a calypso on respect of women while acting Director of Gender Affairs Celia Christopher gave the vote of thanks.
