BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, March 10, 2021 (Press Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister) – With the observations associated with International Women’s Day continuing in St. Kitts and Nevis and around the world, Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris said he is proud of the twin island Federation’s celebrated history with the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality.
PrimeMinister Harris was at the time speaking on a special Women’s Day edition of Leadership Matters on Tuesday, March 09, in which he was joined by four distinguished women in leadership positions.
Theprime minister said, “The role played, and the contributions made by and of women in our St. Kitts and Nevis are irremovable from our place as the best run, best managed small island state anywhere in the world; and one of the best places to live on this planet.”
InternationalWomen’s Day 2021 was observed on Monday, March 08. This year’s theme is “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.”
Inrecognition of International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Harris highlighted the contributions of a number of outstanding women in St. Kitts and Nevis such as Dame Constance Mitcham, who was the first woman elected to the National Assembly in 1984.
“It has been a standard of St. Kitts and Nevis to have women, not just involved, but leading, at the highest levels in all areas of our national development,” Dr. Harris said.
Theprime minister singled out a number of other trailblazers in St. Kitts and Nevis including Edris Lewis – Designer of the National Flag; Mercelyn Hughes – first female Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force and first female Chief Immigration Officer; Meritza Williams – World Junior Silver Medalist; H. E. Dr. Thelma Phillip-Browne – Ambassador to the United States of America; Virgil Hodge – Olympian and National Record Holder; Dawne Williams – former CEO of the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Group; H. E. Shirley Skerrit-Andrew – St. Kitts-Nevis’ first resident High Commissioner to Canada; Jennifer Nero – former Managing Director of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank; Elsa Wilkin-Ambrister – former Vice Consul at the Consulate of St. Kitts and Nevis in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) presently serving at the St. Kitts and Nevis High Commission in the UK; and H.E. Verna Mills – St. Kitts and Nevis’ Ambassador to Cuba.
“The achievements, advancement, and contributions of women in our twin island paradise is pleasantly storied. The story continues to get better. Over the past year we have seen a young woman elected to our National Assembly as the Representative for Constituency 3 (West Basseterre); a woman crowned National Calypso Monarch for the second year running; a woman elected for the first time as Leader of a National Political Party. Congratulations are in order for them in and of themselves, but indeed for all of us a people and Nation,” Prime Minister Harris said.
PrimeMinister Harris was joined on the special edition of Leadership Matters by Minister of Health et al, the Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett; Junior Minister of Health in the Nevis Island Administration, the Honourable Hazel Brandy-Williams; CEO of The Cable, Ms. Patricia Walters, and President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Mrs Giselle Matthews.
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