Fourteen female farmers from San Sauver, Good Hope and Petite Soufriere have been recognized for braving the elements and laboring on the land faithfully year after year.
They were supplied with farm inputs, seeds and much needed tools at a ceremony on Wednesday evening at the San Sauver Primary School which officially opened the celebration of Fete Isidore.
They are Marcielline Antoine, Marietta Laurent, Theresa Lawrence, Royette Seraphine, Stephanie Seraphine, Vignette Toussaint, Rosiette James, Edmay Titre, Christina Titre, Martha Toussaint, Roselyn Seraphine, Isaline Durand, Yvonne Laurent and Monique Charles,
Addressing the ceremony, Secretary of the Fete Isidore committee, Anya Mourillon, described the women as strong pillars in the farming industry.
“Gone are the days when women were seen as child bearers and home makers,” she said. “They are now strong pillars in the farming industry.”
Mourillion mentioned that on many occasions, people associate farming with men only and the Fete Isidore planning committee wanted to change all that.
Meantime, Parliamentary Representative for the Castle Bruce Constituency, Johnson Drigo, told the awardees that they should be proud of their achievements.
“Tonight you must feel proud as a villager, feel proud as married parent, feel proud as a single parent, as a farmer having been toiling the soil to fend for yourselves and your family …,” he said.
He noted that because of their farms and cutlasses, the farmers have been able to work and earn a living.
“I want to say to you congratulations …. please enjoy the moment, it is your moment,” he said.
Each awardee received a plaque compliments Jolly’s pharmacy, certificates from the Ministry of Agriculture, a gift certificate of EC$200 from Agri Sales and Services, a package of hand trowels, shovels, potting trays, vegetable seeds among others from 4-D LTD.
DAPEX also provided 10 bags of fertilizer and the Ministry of Agriculture provided 14 bags of fertilizer while the National Bank of Dominica and AID Bank provided cash contributions.
Other events for Fete Isidore include a traditional night, a fish night, a sports day, an exhibition, a cultural expo and a closing mass.
Popular local bands such as WCK and Fanatik are also set to perform.
Fete Isidore runs from June 4 to June 9.
Very bold and imaginative move by the Committee. Congratulations to all of the awardees. The work and experiences that brought them to this juncture is the manifestation of their creativity and resilience in the face of the challenging circumstances that seem to plague modern rural communities. Their accomplishment is therefore no small feat, and they ought to be given a special place of honor among the eldership of the community. Again I say … CONGRATULATIONS!
very Good. other feast and village festivals, take a page. Alas some of these women worked hard to send their children to school, now people want everything easy come. Look now is a struggle to sell your farine and other produce but hold on. I hope some young female farmers will rise up.
We need to appreciate our people before they die, and thank you Fete Isidore Committee for recognizing these ladies. I am from San Sauveur and I know what my mother in particular had to do to get us an education. At this time, we must remember LEO who as a father and community man did all in his power to have this FETE ISIDORE running. RIP Leo and may the Good God put you alongside him.
When is Isidor in San Sauveur?
Admin: Activities are underway but the actual feat day is Monday June 9
Well deserve congratulation
Congratulations to all the female farmers awarded. However i observed the isidore committee only chose famers who are catholic and cominig to church. next time around i recommend they recognize other churches female farmers, because they are also part of the community and they are jus as hard working as the catholic farmers
yep, im happy that they got off to a good start this year! recognizing pples efforts are key in moving any sector forward.
thank you very much to the private sector for coming forward n helping!
take a bow
Now that is what Fete Isidore is supposed to be about. I like it. I really like it.
I am so impressed with the awards. Great job committee and sponsors! And congrats to all the lady farmers!
very, very nice effort. thanks to the organizers. congrats to the female farmers. simply lovely!