BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE first-ever female Chairman of the National Carnival Committee, Shannon Hawley, has resigned from that position with effect from yesterday (Apr. 16).
Hawley confirmed with SKNVibes that she had indeed resigned from the post which she held from September 2011.
Asked the reason for that decision, Hawley said she was unable to speak at the time as she was preparing to travel and would get back to this media house.
She was also the Deputy Chairman for the 2010-2011 National Carnival Sugar Mas celebration while Clement O’Garro served as Chairman.
The news of Hawley resignation did not come as a surprise to many, as earlier in the year January) it was rumoured that she intended to do so; a rumour which she denied.
“That is not true. That is false. There are no actual plans to resign anytime soon,” Hawley told this publication when questioned about the rumour.
She explained that at that time that her main focus was on organising a prize-giving ceremony, the final event for the Sugar Mas’ 40/40 Festival.
“My focus right now is to complete my task which is to have the prize-giving ceremony completed and get everybody paid. That is my focus.”
However, since then there have been issues surrounding the payment of winners and participants of the Sugar Mas’ 40/40 Festival.
Many local talents have been trying to get their payment for participation in the festivities and have been given the “run around”.
On March 8, which is celebrated worldwide as International Women’s Day, Hawley became a 2012 Inductee into the St. Kitts Pioneering Women Gallery as the first female Chair of the National Carnival Committee.
