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Are women not worthy of national recognition in BVI?

This was the imagery used on government’s official poster to celebrate National Heroes and Foreparents Day on October 17, 2022.

Radio talk show host Claude Skelton Cline has called on the territory’s leaders to ensure that women are highlighted in conversations about stalwarts who’ve contributed to the advancement of the BVI.

Skelton Cline referred to the official government poster that was used to promote National Heroes and Foreparents Day on October 17 and pointed out that only outstanding men were featured on the poster. He said this should be corrected as many local women have played a role in developing the BVI.

“There is a myriad of women-living history, recent history, distant history. We don’t always have a photograph — but someone like Pereen Georges, someone like her should be on these kinds of flyers we put out publicly,” Skelton Cline argued.

He continued: “You have the Honourable Eileen Parsons, Honourable Deloris Christopher, the first female political candidate Millicent Mercer. Dorothy Turnbull, Precious — the slave who testified in the trial of Author Hodge.”

Skelton Cline called on leaders and the public to stand against gender inequality, adding that women sometimes play a role in marginalizing their own gender.

Skelton Cline isn’t the only public commentator to call for gender equality in conversations about national stalwarts. Talk show host Cindy Rosan also criticized the official poster used by the government to celebrate National Heroes and Foreparents Day.

“On the first Heroes & Forefathers day, we begged for women to be recognised. The name was then changed to ‘Heroes & Foreparents Day’. Here we are two celebrations later, still begging that our women be recognised. Do we get it or not?! Or do we only respond to pressure?
Who has time for the continued disrespect?” Rosan said in a Facebook post.

Territorial At-Large Representative Shereen Flax-Charles also criticised the lack of female representation on the official graphic used for the public holiday, calling it a “blatant exclusion of women.”

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12 Comments

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  1. Too Disrespectful says:

    Agreed 100%……..And what happened to Ralph O’Neal

  2. Weird says:

    When being woke goes wrong lol the so-called woke generation are causing more chaos in this world. There was no need to change it from St.Ursula’s day SMH

    Like 10
    Dislike 1
  3. truth says:

    NO , now thats the truth , women are only now making strides after being held back, they were looking after the family, and now they are making strides, no one is looking after the family and look at the country…

    Like 2
    Dislike 4
  4. muslim says:

    Women need to stay at home and raise children and do chores around the house, they should not be out working

    Like 4
    Dislike 9
  5. The TRUTH says:

    I mean yeah I agree women heroes need to be recognized. But does this need to devolve into a gender war as if modern women are being held down? Stop it.

    Like 7
    Dislike 1
  6. Anonymous says:

    Agree with the message, but the messenger, that’s a whole different kettle of fish!

  7. W.E Man says:

    What about white people, what about our cousins from the Middle East, I don’t see any in this line up. Many notables have contributed to the development of this territory. It’s almost like you want to eradicate our contribution to the BVI’s from the history books. We should be striving to build an inclusive society not a racist xenophobic society. a more racially diverse lineup of heroes and sheroes please.

    Like 2
    Dislike 4
  8. Strupps says:

    It’s only a picture!!!!!

  9. ok says:

    the problem with this guy is that he takes all his talking points and opinions from the US. not one original thought in his head

  10. @muslim says:

    I do not know if you are serious but the reality is in the current economic climate can the majority men full take care of the family financially without the woman working? Men that want women to stay home need be able to fully provide not just scrape by.

  11. Hmmm says:

    Recognition for taking people man?

  12. But wait.... says:

    Where is the picture of Hon. Conrad Maduro?? Well sah !

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