Soroptimists mark 20 years

20.JUL.07

With many communities being over-run by violence, inadequate attention to healthcare, HIV/AIDS and disaster management processes, speaker at the 19th Caribbean Conference of Soroptimist International, Nelcia Robinson-Hazell is of the view that poverty is becoming “increasingly feminized.”{{more}}

This sentiment was expressed at a ceremony to mark the opening of the 19th Caribbean Conference and the 20th Anniversary of Soroptimist International of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday at the Methodist Church Hall in Kingstown. The two-day conference was held under the theme “Forging ahead together for Peace.”

Robinson-Hazell, who is Coordinator of Caribbean Research and Action (CAFRA) added to the main theme, the sub-theme: “Mending the Broken Wing”, and pointed out that the burden of care in today’s society rested heavily on women who also face under and unemployment and drug abuse among other things that lead to conflict.



She called on the state and non-state agencies to note that a report from the World Bank revealed that the home had become a scene of more violence than the streets, and violence had also increased in schools. The report also stated that of money that would have otherwise gone to productive investment and human development was now used to guard against criminal activity.

Robinson-Hazell expounded, “This is the harsh reality not to be dismissed as either promoting gloom and doom or negating the good that exists. Rather it is a fact backed up by reliable statistics. If this broken wing is not fixed, eventually, all are going to be affected.”

The well known community educator said that balance needed to be restored, and government and civil society organizations such as Soroptimist International played important roles in this regard.

She also urged the society to support agendas such as the Millennium Development Goals and the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender equality and called on society to desist from what she described as the “derogatory talk” of the under-achieving males, since she said this devalued both them and females.

Meanwhile, Regional President for Soroptimist International Kathryn Cyrus who welcomed the delegations, also expressed grave concern over the number of women being abused and said that the Soroptimists would play a greater role in helping to curb this problem. Cyrus noted that violent tempers were at times a manifestation of persons who do not have “inner peace”, and believed that more people needed to “return an insult with a smile.”

Federation President, Dr Hillary K Young commended the Caribbean for taking the path for peace and pointed out that in the United Kingdom a similar theme was being used to combat violence against women.

Minister of Social Development, Mike Browne also commended the Soroptimists for striving for peace and said that his government knows the role that non-governmental organizations play in combating negative issues which affect society.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Soroptimists from Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos and host country St Vincent and the Grenadines elected new officers and amended their constitution. (SG)