By Suelika N. Buchanan
“Pretty women wonder
where my secret lies.
I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I’m telling lies…”
A mother raising 16 children and still saw it fit to adopt a few more, a nurse pursued a course in Microscopy and Herbal Medicine owning her own business. Another time, a noble teacher felt rewarded knowing she has helped shape her students life positively. While a woman who gave her life to Christ at a young age and after the sadness of her husband’s passing opened up her heart and home to the less fortunate.
These were some of the characteristics of the women who were awarded on Monday March 20 at the Foundation for National Development conference room.
A ceremony was held to recognise and highlight women who have lived extra-ordinary lives, making outstanding contributions to the society in their everyday lives.
…It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
The women were awarded in the areas of Business, Education, Health Care, Parenting, Agriculture and Community Development.
The six women who were recognised were Marilyn Claxton, Louisa Grant, Veronica Byron, Sylvia Smith, Caroline Christmas and Sheryl Richardson.
Also present at the ceremony that was organised by the Department of Social Development, Community Development and Gender Affairs, were Sam Condor, minister responsible for that ministry. Marcella Liburd, speaker of the National House of Assembly. Linda Adams, permanent secretary within the ministry and members of various women NGO’s.
Eugenie Condor and Cindy Demming were also recognized by the two major political parties in St. Kitts. Condor was recognized by the Labour Party while Demming was recognized by the People’s Action Movement Party for their work done in the community and active roles in the parties.
…I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honeybees.
Marilyn Claxton began her career as a nurse with expertise in midwifery, Family Planning, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Adolescence Health and Counselling.
In 1972, Nurse Claxton was transferred from the Joseph N. France Hospital to the district and served the Cayon Community for 20 years as Public Health Sister. During her extensive career, Claxton served as Family Planning Administrative, and the Director of Health Promotion and Advocacy. Nurse Claxton, is very active in her community, and is always willing to offer advice to members of the community. In 1966, Nurse Claxton did a course in Microscopy and Herbal Medicine and is currently the proprietor of Quality Lifestyles where she practices microscopy and provides counseling with respect to health.
Lousia Neale Grant hails from Nevis and at the tender age of 8 surrendered her life to Christ and became very active in the New Castle Wesleyan Holiness Church.
At age 20, she entered full time ministry and pastured the Brown Hill Wesleyan Holiness Church from 1954 until 1957 when she left to pursue studies in Theology and Christian Education at the Caribbean Weselyn College in Barbados.
In 1961, she married Reverend Charles Grant and became an associate pastor to him in all of his pastoral charges. After her husband was elected to serve as district superintendent in 1975 she moved to St. Kitts where she served in the Old Road, Molyneaux, Sandy Point, Conaree and Stapleton communities.
Following the death of her husband in 1989, she became the pastor of the Conarree Wesleyan holiness Church. Throughout her ministry, Rev Grant assisted several members of the church and the community by allowing them to live at her home, where she provided meals and ensured that they were clothed. Her generosity and maternal instinct was even extended to providing basic furniture for these persons when they moved out.
Her love and concern for children was the driving force behind the first pre-school established in Conaree in 1992. It was her vision, that the church should help meet the needs of women who entered the workforce. Today the school is housed in its own building and is equipped with modern facilities.
Pastor Grant takes an active role in community activities and is a regular speaker at forums for women and rallies advancing concerns of women and children.
…I say, It’s the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
Veronica Byron of Shadwell is the epitome of parenting, she gave birth to 16 children, and has over fifty grand and great grand children. Despite the large size of her biological family, Mrs. Byron, has adopted a number of other children whom she raised with her own. Many persons in the Cardin Avenue area where Byron resided before moving to Shadwell, regard her as their mother and can attest to her kindness and generosity.
Mother Byron as she is affectionately known is always willing to teach respect, sharing and caring to the residents of the community. Mrs. Byron’s love extended beyond her home. She lived next to the Cardin Home and actively participated in the care of the inmates. She provided food and clothing and her home became a place of comfort and joy to many of the residents in the home. Mother Byron, taught her family the value of hard work and discipline. Her large family was raised partly from the proceeds of a shop, where Mother Byron sold fish, bread, gingerbeer and other goods. As her children attained adulthood, Mother Byron, used her culinary skills to start a restaurant at New Street. She managed the Excelsior Restaurant for a few years before passing it on to her daughter in law. An active member of the St. Peter’s Anglican Church and the St. Kitts Nevis Labour Party, Mother Byron is always willing to assist with projects and fundraising.
Sylvia Smith has dedicated her entire life to the noble profession of teaching. Her passion for teaching is best described in her own words, “I love the profession, helping the children and seeing them achieve, gives me a sense of satisfaction knowing that I helped to shape their lives and bring them up in the way they should go”.
From the tender age of 15, Mrs. Smith has been shaping the lives of children and providing them with knowledge, discipline, and principals. Her professional career, which spanned an impressive period of 41 years took her to various schools including St. Johnson Village, Basseterre Girls School, St. Peter’s School and finally the Irish Town School where she provided twenty years of service. In April 1957, Smith retired from the teaching profession. She however continues to be active in education and invigilates at every sitting of overseas examinations. Her love for teaching also extends to the church, and every Sunday morning, Mrs Smith can be seen walking to her church (always early) where she teaches the word of God to a Sunday school class.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery,
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see…
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, women play critical role in agriculture throughout the world, producing, processing, and providing the food we eat.
From the age of 18, Mrs. Caroline Christmas, of Saddlers Village has been active in agriculture. Christmas worked her land up until the age of 92 and at 93 still manages the planting of provisions giving her the distinction of being the oldest farmer in the country.
Allotted six acres of land by the Hon Robert L. Bradshaw in 1940, Christmas takes great pride in the fact that she was able to raise her eleven children from farming. Christmas boasts that she cooked what she planted and seldom bought any food from the market.
She is a generous person by nature and worked for eight months in her land and raised $10,000 which she donated to the Bethel Moravian Church about three years ago to build the new church in which they are currently housed. Christmas has the distinction of being the oldest farmer in the country, and is the only person who has continued her agricultural work on lots of land allotted in 1940. Christmas will be 94 years in December but shows little or no signs of giving up her farming activities.
…I say,
It’s the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style
I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me…
Sharyll Richardson holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Journalism from the University of the Virgin Islands and has worked at several institutions including the Planning Unit, Jack tar Village and taught English and French at the Basseterre Junior High School. However, it was when her mother opened a snackette at the Industrial Estate that Richardson was able to reveal her full potential. In 1990, Richardson became fully engaged in the family business and in 1997 she took over the management of the snackette at Richardson’s Enterprises. She knew that the task would be challenging but was nevertheless undaunted. Today, the business which is synonymous with local tasty drinks and low cost meals, has expanded in size and service, Richardon’s Enterprises has gone from lunch only to breakfast and lunch and has extended its days of service to include Saturday, It is a Home away from home for the workers on the Industrial Estate and the other faithful customers. The growth of Richardson’s Enterprises is in no small measure attributable to Sharylle’s commitment discipline, organizational skills and friendly disposition. Sharyll also served as a member of the Harris’ Home Outreach Society, and made regular visits to the boys at the Home until it was destroyed by Fire.
…Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud…
After all the awardees received their awards the vote of thanks was given by Ella Ryner, secretary within the department of Gender Affairs.
The Keynote address was delivered by Ingrid Charles-Gumbs, director of Gender Affairs, while Janelle Lewis read the citations of the awardees.
Charles-Gumbs said in her speech that International Women’s Day is not the regular bun and cola day.
“It is a day for effective reflections on the struggles women experience daily a day in the struggle for realization for equality with men,” she said.
She also said that women must become knowledgeable with the issues in their lives, younger women need embracing and encouraged women to become stalwarts in the community. She highlighted that nation building is about sacrifice and that there should be some women in parliament.
…I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care.
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
