Several women were honoured on Friday for their distinguished efforts in various sectors including agriculture, mental health, social change, child rights advocacy, community empowerment, health, and the arts.
The awardees are Dr. Nadia Wallace, Vernanda Christian, Leandra Lander, Earnica Esprit, Regina Joseph, Agnes Joseph, Melissa Morgan, Apostle Jodi Andrew, Angelica Gasper, and Marlietta Valmond. Special awards were presented to Hazelia Bedminister, Davina Jeremiah, Irmine Henderson, Lisa Reid, and Kendra Jeffers.
They were awarded during the Exceptional Women Award ceremony held at the State House Conference Centre. The ceremony took place ahead of Women’s Day which will be observed on Saturday, March 8, 2025.
While delivering the featured address Minister of Housing & Urban Development, Melissa Poponne-Skerrit, challenged every woman who was present to be the fire that lights another woman’s path, “not the wind that tries to put out her flame.”
“As we climb, as we break through barriers, we must never forget those behind us,” she said. “Pope Francis in his Lenten message calls on us to do more than reflect inwards, we must reach outwards.”
She continued, “He reminds us that empowerment is not just about rising alone, but lifting others as we climb.”
Poponne-Skerrit added, “He tells us to lift someone’s spirit, to celebrate the successes of others, and to help others overcome obstacles. And I ask you, when was the last time you truly did that?”
Furthermore, she stressed that too often some women instead of extending a hand, pull away.
“Instead of celebrating they remain silent. But silence in the face of another woman’s victory is not neutrality. It is the quiet erosion of sisterhood and we cannot afford it now, not now and not ever.”
She encouraged all to fast from envy during the Lenten season.
“So in this Lent season let us fast, not from food, let’s fast from envy, from hesitation, from the fear that another woman’s rise will somehow make us invisible,” she stated. “ Let us fill ourselves with generosity and kindness, solidarity and the courage to live as we climb. Because when one of us wins all of us win.”
Meanwhile, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services, Dr. Cassandra Williams, said throughout history women in Dominica have been at the heart of the country’s development as leaders, caregivers, educators, entrepreneurs, farmers, scientists, health workers, artists, policy-makers, spiritual leaders, “from our early struggles for independence to modern efforts and building a more resilient and progressive Dominica, women have played an integral role.”
She said women have led in government, pioneered in business, advanced in education and healthcare, and strengthened the local and moral fabric.
“As we celebrate these achievements we must also recognize the barriers that still exist,” Dr. Williams noted. “Too many women continue to face inequality, gender-based violence, limited economic opportunities, and underrepresentation in leadership positions.”
She said we must all work together to break down these barriers and to ensure that every woman in Dominica no matter her background or circumstance has the opportunity to succeed.
This year’s ceremony was celebrated under the theme “Empowered Women: The Architect of Change and the Face of Tomorrow”.
You see Cassandra, I can draw circles around you when talking about science and scientists; because although I cannot go around calling myself a scientists in a sense I can present myself to you as one who controls in my hip pocket two major scientific degrees. Whereas I have a Bachelor of Science in the Electrical/Electronics Engineering Technology, respectively, compound with an Associate in Science also in Electronics, not forgetting an Associate in Arts in the Liberal Arts; I don’t think you can lie about Dominica women contribution in science okay.
Now before the late Mable James out of Marigot, no woman served in government; did not even have any nurses; nurse until the late 1940’s there were a few female teachers from the late 1930’s
Woman neither black men or women could work in a bank, police chief had to be white, you are lying creating false history!
All religious preachers had to be white, stop exaggerating.
As I stated Melisa is a dunce; so nothing she babbles about has value; nevertheless, you are not much better than Melisa. For your information Cassandra, science is the systematic study of structure, and behavior of physical, the natural world through observation, experimentation, and the testing of theory in laboratories via evidence: Hence scientists function as researchers, by conducting experiments, analyzing data, and sharing findings of the natural world, in all cases using the scientific method in order to formulate hypotheses and theories test them resulting in a conclusion. So, tell me how many women in Dominica you know have research and conducted any experiment, and finding anything you know they contributed to the world! As for the garbage about women entrepreneurship which you emphasize tell me how many business existing in Dominica, created by one Dominica woman and how many people are in its employ!
Girl, you need to shut up, you not that educated or smart!
Cassandra, Melisa we all know is a dunce, she perhaps did not even have a secondary education, so I do not have much to say to her in regards the the hogwash written here especially some of your comments which I must zero unto; I will start by saying Melisa have her natural hair growing out of her scalp, you call yourself doctor, with synthetic smelling rope on head believing its all natural. Let me just call you a liar and show you why! “Meanwhile, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services, Dr. Cassandra Williams, said throughout history women in Dominica have been at the heart of the country’s development as leaders, caregivers, educators, entrepreneurs, farmers, scientists, health workers, artists, policy-makers, spiritual leaders, “from our early struggles.” Farmers yes, but name me one field of science you know a woman in Dominica contributed to that brought something into the country.
will contin:
Why do you think Melissa Poppone Skerrit was able to defeat UWP Soso Cuffy by 190 votes in Roseau Central?Melissa is a people’s person,for the people and by the people and with the people.
hypocrite…..so what about the drum stick…..all I can see in your eyes and the highness is to remain in power to tax the working class and none workers vat at 17 percent…lazy class…and let the state pay $74,000 with all utilities…thief’s…at your end which I know u think will never come…u all are worth being investigated….
Here we go again. What has Melissa done to have a positively profound impact on the lives of the average woman in Dominica? NADA!
On occasions such as this, she hogs media headlines to gain favorable publicity. There are so many needy single-parent homes in Dominica manned by women. How these women manage to provide for their children and being unemployed is nothing short of miraculous.
Happy Women’s Day to all the women in Dominica especially those who have to sacrifice to put food on the table for their children and other family members. Take a bow!