“GUYFEST 2012″ – GUYANA CULTURAL FESTIVAL

GUYFEST 2012 is a Cultural Festival celebrating Guyana’s rich and unique cultural heritage on Saturday July 21/2012. The festival will have a lot of the same familiar things everyone has come to love, but one big change. The annual event will be held at the Brandywine Lions Club Park, in Brandywine, (Prince George’s County), Maryland. The change brings easier access and is much closer to the Washington, DC Metropolitan area.

GUYFEST 2012 is more than a festival, it’s an experience you would not want to miss.

This year’s festival promises to be the biggest Caribbean cultural festival in the nation’s capital and will build on the success and excitement generated at last year’s, and aims to attract more that 5,000 Caribbean American nationals from the Delaware, Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia areas.

The festival has added a number of activities for children including Face Painting and Story Telling. A full day of Family Fun, Dominoes Tournament, Art, Music and Comedy, and a huge selection of Guyanese and Caribbean Delicacies.

A LONG LIST OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES ARE SCHEDULED FOR THE DAY LONG EVENT, Including Afro & Indian Cultural Dances, Folk Singing, Comedy shows, Steel Pan Music. The festival will feature an impressive list of iconic  Guyanese Entertainers Including the Dynamic Duo, 2012 Soca Monarch JUMO & Road March 2012 winner ADRIAN DUTCHIN, KAPPA SHANTI, SHATTA YOUTH, along with a line-up of new and promising artists GORDON ANDRES, SHAMAIN, JAY ANDERSON, to name a few will be appearing on stage…backed by The STAR 6 Band.

JUMO 

(RUBBER WAIST)

Born to Anita and Morris Primo, Jumo first taste of entertainment started at age 10 when he worked as a drummer with the National School of Dance until the age of sixteen.
Later at age 17, Jumo did stints as a singerwith the Mischievous Guys, EC Connection,Sheriff and Jahrusalem bands performing in and out of Guyana.

In 2001 he signed with the renowned Byron Lee and the Dragonaires Band. Since joining the Bryon Lee band, Jumohas toured over many countries and teamed up with some of the Caribbean’s top soca, reggae and chutney performers to electrify the crowds.

In 2006 Jumo teamed up with Adrian Ducthin to form the group X2 (pronounced times two). Since then, the group has
produced 8 well received songs under the Kross Kolor label.
An accomplished song writer, Jumo continues to be a sought after entertainer locally, regionally and internationally.
Jumo has written all the songs on his first album “Storm”, and tours with Bryon Lee and the Dragonaires in the Caribbean and North America.

Even though his specialty is soca, Jumo is very versatile which allows him to sing different genres of music including Indian songs. 

X2

X2

ADRIAN DUTCHIN

ADRIAN DUTCHIN IS GUYANA’S 2012 ROAD MARCH KING

Born the first of six, Adrian Dutchin first appeared on the scene in 1998 as part of the group “Seven.” He was the lead singer of the group for four years before venturing into music on his own, and was signed to Kross Kolor records by Burchmore Simon. Adrian continued to work on his music and eventually came out on top in several competitions in Guyana – the Road March, twice, and once with Chris Wilson for the song “Buxton Spice.” He also made a name for himself in the Soca Monarch competition, winning three titles to-date.

After winning the Road March in 2006 Adrian became a member of “X2 (Times Two)”. He recorded with Kross Kolor Records and he was subsequently drafted by renown Bajan band Krosfyah as one of their lead singers. Dutchin sees all this as his opportunity to work hard to “keep the flag flying.”

Adrian has graced the shores of several countries, including the USA, England, Canada, St. Lucia, Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Turks and Caicos, St. Maarten and St. Croix. He has performed with most of the big names in soca such as Rupee, Machel Montano, Alison Hinds, Edwin Yearwood, Peter Ram, Destra, Shurwayne Winchester and Iwer George. He has also worked with people such as Jumo Primo of Byron Lee’s Dragonaires, Terry Gadraj and the Hit Man.

The proud father of one is currently working on his first really serious album called ‘Finally’, working with producers Shawn Noel, Darron Grant and Burchmore Simon.

“Coming from Guyana and being in music is a tough thing seeing that they are not that many people of music known around the world from Guyana,” says Dutchin. “I’m always working on making my voice heard so people know there’s a place called Guyana … where quite a bit of music do come from!”

SHATTA YOUTH

Aleem Hussain, aka Shatta Youth, aka the GT Representa is a young aspiring Soca/Reggae/Chutney Artist from Georgetown Guyana. Spending most of his life on the East Coast village of Industry, he then migrated to the USA where he started his Recordings. From childhood he grew up always singing any and everything such as Reggae, Soca, American Oldies, Indian Oldies, etc. Inspired by Great Icons like Elvis Presley, Eminem, UB40, Beenie Man, T.O.K, Vybz Kartel and many more, he developed a wide range of versatility which makes him bounce from genre to genre. In 2009 he did his first recording of a very popular track which is liked by many, titled “Wine up on me”. After this first proof of creativity and talent, he then went forth to bring about many other very liked songs which built him a fan base & supporters worldwide. With follow up songs “Call Off Me Phone”, “Soca Bacanal”, “Fine Wine” , “What Am I Gonna Do”, and many more he is on a roll creating more and more tracks which are leading up to his first Official upcoming album titled “The Kick Off”, which is said to be released at the break of the new 2012 year. Shatta Youth’s goal is to Represent Guyana and all fellow Guyanese where ever he goes with his Groove and Melodies when it comes to his Music, which speaks for it self. With a mindset of being humble and focused on School and work, he approaches the music game as a hobby just for the enjoyment and experience, also to share his gift of voice and creativity musically. He is already thinking about making his return to Guyana in 2012 (He made his first debut appearance in 2009) to really introduce himself now that he has paved his way on the music scene and is noticed and recognized by many other Artists in the business. Great appreciation is showed to all the Fans/Supporters who has been there for Shatta Youth and has made his journey onto the Music Scene worth it, and Thanks to everyone else who has enjoyed the music throughout the years..

JAY ANDERSON

The name Jay Anderson is by no means popular just yet, but if all goes well this New York-based Guyanese college student may soon be a household name internationally.

Jay Anderson hails from Queenstown, Essequibo, but at age 13 his family migrated to the U.S.. By chance, he wrote a poem that eventually turned into a Hip Hop and R&B song, and now, many moons later, he’s got a repertoire of more than 100 songs recorded.

But of that lot, he has released only two for which he has videos, namely ‘Popular’ and ‘Mirror Mirror’.
That’s just the beginning, as this law major at the Mercy College, NY, unlike some others who have come and gone with big dreams, is focused on educating and qualifying himself with good moral Guyanese grounding from mom – Lurine Jones, an Essequibian who is a nurse in the U.S.
“My mom is serious about education… she says when you done singing, you still need an education to handle your business and it’s one sure thing you can fall back on when the music don’t work,” the 20-year-old says.
Jay Anderson (Jumaine Anderson Walcott) has had many offers since taking music seriously to sign contracts of varying sorts, but none suiting the fancy of his mom that would allow for him to focus on qualifying himself.
“Though tempting, I cannot abandon school. Mom wouldn’t let that happen,” he said.
Now in his third year at college, he says he’s gotten another offer from the Kobalt Company and is seriously contemplating signing on.

However, as the contract awaits his signature, he’s decided that an artiste needs good grounding amongst his people. As such, he opted to take a trip back to Guyana to reconnect and has been the subject of many interviews. He’s hoping that his music will gain popularity at home first, as he will represent as a Guyanese, though his accent is thick American.
“When I’m done doing that, I will sign that contract or any other… and then it’s gonna be… Grammy here I come with the Golden Arrow head in my hand,” he boasts.
Since arriving in Guyana he hooked up with Entertainer Kerwin Bollers. After sampling some tracks, Jay Anderson has hit the studio with Timeka Marshall for a song that will eventually be released.
Though he was never heard of before, after a few minutes on radio, congratulatory messages started flowing with ladies simply ‘loving the vibes’ and wishing him ‘the best’ in his music dreams. Strange enough, while he digs a mean hip hop sound, he has a love for Bob Marley, Beres Hammond and Jah Cure music.

SHAMAIN

Born Shamain Greaves June 3, 1992 in Georgetown, Guyana it was music from the start. Born the daughter to the lead singer of Frontline, a popular band based in Guyana she drew her musical influences from reggae, R&B, soul and those unforgettable golden oldies. At age 3 she moved to the United States and by age 5 began attending Thomas G. Pullen an arts magnet school located in Landover, Maryland. There Shamain studied the violin under the late Leslie Thomas and joined the school orchestra where she would hone her skills and expand her musical influences until graduation in her eight grade year. After Pullen she attended Suitland High School in Forestville, Maryland where she continued to study the violin but began to sense a burning passion for singing. This strong passion for singing took over her sophomore year when through a internship program called “Hip-hop High” she found herself behind behind the microphone in Gudda Musik studios recording her very first song. After graduating from Suitland Shamain singed to GM the label 2010 and began her road to history. As a sultry singer and songwriter Shamain brings a unique element to the music, her velvety vocal texture continues to gain her new fans everyday and is sure to soon win the hearts and soul of people worldwide.

KAPPA SHANTI

GORDON ANDRES

Gordon Andres is a Guyanese Born Singer/Songwriter who has a dream of one day being at the top of the Billboard music charts. Its a dream shared by many, but this young man has been working overtime to ensure that he is much closer to his becoming a reality. Gordon wanted to become a doctor. He had and still has a special interest in medicine and he was firmly on his way to becoming a doctor when he got another calling, a calling that he answered with a microphone and its where his love is right now. But lets rewind a little, back to the days when he wanted to become a doctor. Gordon migrated to the US at a very young age, at the age of 8 years old he traded the hills of Linden for the streets of New York but he kept his eyes set on the prize and worked hard to ensure that his life would be taking on a whole new role. At just 17, Gordon graduated High School in Brooklyn with a diploma in nursing, all set to continue on his drive to become a medical doctor. Afterwards he went on to attending Long Island University. In the meantime, he tried his hands at modeling and graced the pages of some magazines, then he soon realized that he possessed a much greater talent, he could sing. Gordon has now taken on the new world of songwriting and singing and he has been doing pretty well at both. Over the past year he has dropped 3 new singles with 2 music videos and he is confident that his doors are only now opening. Gordon is not sitting idly by waiting for his call from some big music producer, he understands fully well the realities of the world and  he is using his training and education in the medical and science fields to guide the management operations of companies in the field of health. Today, in addition to his music career, Gordon serves as a Clinical Practice Consultant for a United Healthcare Insurance Company and he makes the sacrifice of using a chunk of his salary to pay for his music career, all the studio time, and video recording time that comes with it. He has found himself performing in Radio City Hall and several other main NY concert halls such as Sullivan hall, Symphony space theatre, Susie Wongz, Club Rebel, Bowery poetry Club, SOB’s and Much more. Gordon Andres has a new sound, real talent, and a unique voice that will make a long lasting impression.

GORDON ANDRES

EION GREAVES

EION GREAVES

 If someone had asked any local music fan ten years ago, who was the leading gospel artiste in Guyana, their answer would most likely have been “Eion Greaves”. Ten years on, the man who played an instrumental role in transforming the local gospel music industry, is in another country but is still spreading his message of God’s love. The singer, who gained popularity locally with his album ‘Restoration’ which included the hit tunes “I Have a Plan” and “Restoration”, is currently residing in Maryland, USA. He has been living there for the last eight years with his wife Kim and children. In a recent interview with The Scene, Eion Greaves spoke at length of God’s goodness to him since his migration. He said when he first arrived in the USA it required readjustment as it was a bit difficult in a country where people had a different interpretation of Christianity from what he had been accustomed. However, he said, one of his mottos is: “If you don’t see a model be a model” and that is what he has attempted to be.

Prophet Eion is the founder and senior pastor of Kingdom Reign Ministries International; MD, USA. KRMI is an apostolic and Prophetic Arm of the body of Christ whose purpose is to bring the glory of God through worship to the Earth, and to (impart) and raise up those in the music and arts ministries. Kingdom Reign Ministries was birthed by the spirit of God, and started in 1985 when the Psalmist Eion Greaves from Georgetown Guyana, South America embraced the call of God on his life to Worship Beyond the Veil.

Through this ministry, many nations have been blessed, and impacted: Guyana, S. A., Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Antigua, Barbados and many cities throughout the United States. Kingdom Reign Ministries is a prophetic voice that ministers over Nations, Ministries, and people’s destinies and brings them into their rightful place in God.

To Date, Prophet Eion music is still reigning in Guyana and around the Caribbean. January 2012 Guyana hosted through GT&T its first mega gospel concert at the national stadium featuring international gospel icon Donnie Mcklurkin in which Eion Greaves was also featured as the opening act. Since then he has produced his new music video “Our time has Come” which is the opening song for his new album “Prophetic Moments”.Pastor/Prophet/Psalmist Eion Greaves is called to speak govern-mentally to leadership regarding the music and art ministries throughout the body of Christ. When listening to the ministry of this Prophet one cannot help but be drawn into the very presence of almighty God and experience permanent change.

INFLUENTIAL CARIBBEAN WOMEN, Pt. 7

Here is a collection of profile stories which traces the history, experiences, challenges and successes of outstanding women from the Caribbean territories, as they navigate the traditionally male dominated arenas. 

“The collection brings together in one place, a distinguish group of women who have contributed in significant ways to the development of the Caribbean and the Americas. Who have pushed against the odds to achieve their goals and who have been quite extremely influential in the business and political landscape” 

LUNDEN De’LEON

Some women are go-getters. Some women are business-minded. Some women use their struggles as building blocks for their success. Dirrty Records Founder/Filmmaker Lunden De’Leon is all of these things.

According to dictionary.com, an entrepreneur is a person “who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.” In a perfect world, a smiling picture of the stunning De’Leon would accompany this impressively apt definition.

The Barbados-born, South Carolina-bred Lunden De’Leon had her fair share of ups and downs before she came to be known as the powerhouse she is now. After a brief stint as a Burger King employee as a teenager, De’Leon, who was bitten by the entertainment bug after seeing her gospel-singer father perform, decided to pursue her dreams and found herself in Hollywood, homeless and with only $200 to her name.

Through a roommate, who would offset things in De’Leon’s life in ways she could never imagine, things began looking up. After attending a model calling, De’Leon, whose motivation was solely to overcome her “hungry and penniless” state at the time, the Caribbean beauty not only booked the audition, but scored a one-year modeling contract the same day. Not long thereafter, De’Leon made her small screen debut on the hit series Vital Signs, – filmed in Los Angeles, but broadcast in Germany – in which she starred as a young woman trying to make it in the United States, a storyline not too far off from the rising star’s own life. De’Leon continued to make a name for herself with a host of subsequent movie and television appearances, including the NBC sitcom, Just Shoot Me!

De’Leon’s biggest break, however, came in 2003 when she launched her very own record label, Dirrty Records. Upon the label’s success in its home of Los Angeles, a second branch was set up in South Carolina, where the entrepreneur still calls home. With an eclectic roster of artists signed to the label, including Seattle-based punk band The Slumps and the British indie rock quartet, The Fades, whose music has already been featured on the NBC hits “Life” and “Friday Night Lights,” De’Leon proved that she was an innovative force to be reckoned with. And people took notice.

What followed was a mention in New York-based hip hop magazine The Ave, vaunting De’Leon as “one of the most significant women in entertainment” and in 2004, an induction into the Caribbean Hall of Fame, alongside reggae legend Bob Marley and acting great Sidney Poitier. Since then, De’Leon, who also received her own day (February 7) in Los Angeles as proclaimed by former Mayor James K. Hahn, has made sure not to rest on her laurels. The year of 2009 marked the inception of Palmetto Film Studios, De’Leon’s film company, which distributes between five and seven films a year………..Bio Source: EzineArticles

 QUEEN NANNY

Queen Nanny or Nanny (c. 1686 – 1733), Jamaican National Hero, was a well-known leader of the Jamaican Maroons in the eighteenth century. Historical documents refer to her as the “Rebels (sic) old obeah woman,” and they legally grant “Nanny and the people now residing with her and their heirs . . . a certain parcel of Land containing five hundred acres in the parish of Portland . . .” (quoted in Campbell 177, 175). Nanny Town was founded on this land. Much of what is known about Nanny comes from oral history as little textual evidence exists.

Queen Nanny, born in Ghana in western Africa, to the Ashanti tribe, was brought to Jamaica as a slave, ( there are references to her coming as a free African dignitary). There were already slave rebellions taking place in Jamaica, rebellion and Maroon villages were growing. Soon after arriving in Jamaica, Nanny and her five brothers escaped from slavery. Her brothers Cudjoe, (also a famous Maroon leader) Accompong, Johnny, Cuffy and Quao, became leaders of the Maroons, which included free Africans, escaped slaves.

By 1720 Nanny had taken full control of the Blue Mountain Rebel Town. It was renamed Nanny Town. There Nanny, and her people had cleared land for food cultivation. She was said to have had an excellent knowledge of herbs, as well as being a nurse and a spiritual leader.

 

From 1728 to 1734, Nanny Town was defended against British attack. The Maroons were better equipped and more knowledgeable of the mountainous terrain than the British. In 1734 a party of Nanny’s Maroons were sent to join those in the west of the island. Three hundred men, women and children set out on one of the longest marches in Jamaican history. This march, known as the “great trek” from Portland to St. James, and it is believed that they were to join Cudjoe’s warriors. Some say it is because Cudjoes wanted peace with the British, whilst Nanny wanted to unite the Maroons.

The slave rebellions that followed were inspired by Nanny and other freedom fighters. These rebellions made the British Government abolish slavery. Queen Nanny is known to the Maroons of today as “Granny Nanny”. Today the Maroons of Moore Town have kept their history through songs and word of mouth. Nanny is regarded as a Priestess and Queen Mother by the Maroons.

After Queen Nanny’s death the Windward Maroons were led by her successor ‘Quao’ who had experience in resisting the British. It was in 1739 that Quao signed a treaty with the British, whereby land was ceded to the Windward Maroons, and they were allowed independence.

The government of Jamaica declared Queen Nanny a National Heroine in 1975 and a Memorial was erected. Her portrait is on the 500 Jamaican dollar bill.

 Dr. PATRICIA ALLISON BISHOP

Dr. PAT BISHOP,TC, H.B.M., BA Hons. (Fine Art), MA (history), Hon. D. Litt

Pat Bishop is was one of the most versatile Caribbean women of our day. A citizen of Trinidad and Tobago by birth, she was a National Scholarship winner from the Bishop Anstey High School. She proceeded to King’s College, Durham University where she studied Art. Upon completion of this degree, Miss Bishop returned to Trinidad where she taught Art at her Alma Mater for a few years. However, her restless spirit led her to U.W.l. Mona where she subsequently received her MA in West Indian History, her thesis being “Runaway Slaves in Jamaica, 1807 to 1823″. Bishop lectured history at U.W.l. at both the Mona and St. Augustine campuses for some eight years. She was also a lecturer in the History of Art and Design at the Jamaica School of Art 1970 to 1972.

 It was this combination of study in both the Arts and History of the Caribbean that later blossomed into her deep interest in, and pioneering work with the steel band movement in Trinidad. She focused this interest with the WITCO Desperadoes Steel Orchestra and as its conductor took the band on eight major USA tours including two major concerts at Carnegie Music Hall. She was the first to conduct a combined steel band and symphony orchestra, this being the Desperadoes and the New York Pops Symphony in mid 1980′s.

Dr. Bishop with the Exodus  Steel Orchestra.

It is as the Musical Director of “The Lydian Singers’ that Miss Bishop has been able to bring to audiences in Trinidad and abroad her talent as a musician, producing first-class performances of the great classics by Verdi, Rossini, Dvorak, and Beethoven. She has also presented the operatic works Koanga by Delius, L’Elisir D’Amore by Donizetti and Turandot by Puccini to Trinidad audiences.

Dr. Bishop has not let her gifts with the paintbrush behind for she has exhibited her work not only in Trinidad, but also in Barbados and London. Of interest she exhibited thirty-seven miniatures, wooden bas-reliefs and objects on the subject of the “Journey of the Magi” – a series on the pursuit of disinterested wisdom and its consequences. Her philosophy, deeply rooted in classical Christian theology and her life in the church are expressed in these and other art forms.

 In 1994 she received the Trinity Cross, Trinidad and Tobago’s highest National Award for her contribution in the field of Art and Community Service.

Over the past eleven years, Pat has been instrumental in establishing the Lydian Singers as one of the Caribbean’s premier choirs. Her fervid passion to let the ethereal medium of music soothe, comfort and uplift has led the choir to victory in 1987 Music Festival, where they were awarded the most outstanding choir and performer of the festival.

Her expert training and guidance have been precipitated numerous triumphs for the Lydian soloists. In 1997, Barry Martin captured the award of “The Most Outstanding Performer” of the National Music Festival. Following a clean sweep of the major awards in the 1990 festival, Pat’s tutorship led Edward Cumberbatch to claim the coveted top honours at the Senior Vocal Recital Class at the International Eisteddfod of South Africa in 1997.

Dr. Bishop at the age of 71 died of a heart attack on August 20/2011.  Bishop strived for excellence in everything she did, from art to advocacy, creativity to commentary. She was intelligent, quick-witted and well-read, knowledgeable about a plethora of subjects, and passionate about art and music…with a special affinity for the music of the steel pan, Trinidad and Tobago’s national instrument. A believer in the power of the arts to transform and uplift, she was a staunch cultural advocate.

SEN. BERTHIA MONICA PARLE 

Sen. Hon. Berthia Monica Parle, MBE, Deputy President of the Senate.

Born is Castries, St. Lucia, she received her education at St. Joseph’s Convent in Castries. Berthia began her career at the Government  Treasury, where she received a CIDA Scholarship to pursue a Diploma Course in Middle Management/Hospitality Studies at the Barbados Hotel School from 1973 – 1975.

She graduated with honours. In addition, she received the K.R. Hunte Award for Excellence, for the most outstanding student and the Pink Pelican Award for excellence for the best Housekeeping student. This was the beginning of an illustrious 27-year hospitality career.

On completion of her Diploma Course, Berthia held several Housekeeping and Accounting positions at an Executive level in various fine Resorts in St. Lucia, Bermuda and Germany where she became fluent in German.

In 1983 Berthia (now married) returned to St. Lucia and after one Accounting position at Steingerberger Hotel, she joined in with several other investors and opened St. Lucia’s famous “Capones” Italian Restaurant/Pizzaria and Sweet Dreams Ice Cream Parlour, and then opened a second restaurant, The Patio. Berthia was the major managerial force behind the success of these restaurants.

After ten years in restaurant operations, Berthia decided to return to the hotel industry, as the General Manager of Bay Gardens Hotel in 1995, together with her husband.

As General Manager of this 71-room resort, Berthia has in just six years, created another success story. Together with her husband and her management team, they have a facility which is a market leader in the small hotel sector, being used as a model by lending institutions, as a hotel that exemplifies the highest standards of service, excellence and profitability. As a result, Bay Gardens now enjoys average occupancies of 80% due to her creativity, marketing skills, knowledge of the hotel and tourism industry, and a dedication to consistently strive for perfection and total quality operations in all her endeavours. Bay Gardens has also gained the reputation as one of the foremost small hotels in the Caribbean region. She is also responsible for marketing the new Bay Gardens Inn, and working very closely with the Hotel’s General Manager.

Berthia herself is widely considered to be one of the most powerful women in OECS tourism, and St. Lucia’s foremost small hotelier. Her contribution to the hotel sector and tourism in general are well documented and her dedication, commitment and professionalism are greatly admired by her peers in the industry. Her influence, energy, and enthusiasm are admirable qualities, which she brought to her appointment as Chairperson of the CHA Small Hotels Committee from 1998 – 2000. 

Mrs. Parle conducted several training courses for the small hotel sector in the Bahamas, Dominica and Tortola, and was instrumental in organizing two successful Caribbean Small Hotel Retreats in St. Lucia, giving independent hotels the knowledge and tools to survive in this fiercely competitive environment.

Mrs. Parle also played a major role as a panelist, moderator and keynote speaker at every Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMEx) meetings – a gathering of regional, leading journalists and Editors from the region, Europe and North America, to educate journalists on a myriad of tourism topics, to better assist in educating the populace at large and creating a greater awareness of tourism as the engine of growth and its impact on the economies of the region.

Berthia has been married for twenty-four years to John Anthony Parle, a fellow Irish Hotelier.They have a nineteen-year-old son.

She held several positions in the tourism industry including President Elect of the Caribbean Hotel Association, (former) President of the St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) and Director of the St. Lucia Development Bank, Member of the St. Lucia Tourist Board and Deputy Chairperson of the Board’s Marketing Committee, Chairperson of the Caribbean Hotel Association Advocacy Committee, (former) 4^th and 1^st Vice President of the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA). She was inaugurated to President in June 2004 for a 2-year term – June 2004 to June 2006. Berthia is the first woman in the history of this regional organization to be appointed to such high-ranking positions of this prestigious Organisation. 

In June 2004, Berthia Parle was awarded the honor of Member of the Order of the British Empire, MBE, on the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England.

House ladies of St Lucia: From left—Rosella King, Justice Suzie d’Auvergne, Berthia Parle, Jeannine Compton-Antoine, Dame Pearlette Louisy, Virginia Albert-Poyotte and Emma Hippolyte at the Opening of the House of Parliament.

Berthia  was appointed by the Governor General to serve as independent Senator in the First Session of the Tenth Parliament in Castries, Saint Lucia. She was subsequently elected by her peers to serve as Deputy President of the senate.

PAT McGRATH

Pat McGrath was raised in Northampton, England by her mother Jean McGrath, a Jamaican immigrant. McGrath credits her mother for her love of fashion and make-up, saying that Jean would comment on clothes as they watched classic movies together. McGrath has no formal training in fashion or make-up, having completed only an art foundation course at a Northampton college. Of her career, she has said, “I really love being a makeup artist. It never gets mundane or predictable and every shoot and show is different.”

McGrath’s career breakthrough came while working with Edward Enninful (then fashion editor of i-D magazine) in the early 1990s, when her innovative use of color “brilliantly solved the world’s ennui with grunge” and helped launch i-D to a position of international importance. In the mid-1990s, she worked both with minimalist Jil Sander and with surrealist John Galliano, where she became known for her “latex petals stuck to faces, vinyl lips, bodies drenched in powder paint, [and] stylized Kabuki physiognomies.”

Since then, McGrath has worked with photographers including Steven Meisel (who now rarely shoots without her), Paolo Roversi, Helmut Newton, and Peter Lindbergh. In addition to appearing in i-D, photos of her work have been published in fashion magazines including American, English, and French Vogue, W, and Harper’s Bazaar. She attends four fashion show seasons (counting couture) each year and has worked with designers including Prada, Miu Miu, Comme des Garçons, and Dolce and Gabbana. Additionally, she designed Armani’s cosmetics line in 1999 and in 2004 was named global creative-design director for Procter and Gamble, where she is in charge of Max Factor and Cover Girl cosmetics, among other brands. During McGrath’s constant travels to work locations, she takes between thirty and fifty bags of materials, tools, and reference materials.

As a makeup artist, McGrath is known for her wide range; according to Edward Enninful, her work spans from “the highest couture to club kids.” She is also known for her inventive use of materials: her most creative make-up is handmade, and she works mainly with her fingers instead of with brushes.

In an interview with Vogue.com UK during London Fashion Week (Sept. 2008) McGrath explained her creative process, saying: “I’m influenced a lot by the fabrics that I see, the colours that are in the collections, and the girls’ faces. It’s always a challenge but that’s the key – to make it different every time.”

DIANE JULIE ABBOTT

Diane Julie Abbott (born 27 September 1953) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, when she became the first black woman to be elected to the House of Commons. In 2010, Abbott became Shadow Public Health Minister after unsuccessfully standing for election as leader of the Labour Party

Abbott was born to Jamaican immigrants in London in 1953. Her father was a welder and her mother a nurse. She attended Harrow County Grammar School for Girls, and then Newnham College, Cambridge, where she read history. At Cambridge, she was tutored by historian Simon Schama. After university she became an administration trainee at the Home Office (1976 to 1978), and then a Race Relations Officer at the National Council for Civil Liberties (1978 to 1980). Abbott was a researcher and reporter at Thames Television from 1980 to 1983 and then a researcher and reporter at the breakfast television company TV-am from 1983 to 1985. Abbott was a press officer at the Greater London Council under Ken Livingstone from 1985 to 1986 and Head of Press and Public Relations at Lambeth Council from 1986 to 1987.

Abbott’s career in politics began in 1982 when she was elected to Westminster City Council serving until 1986. In 1987 she was elected to the House of Commons, replacing the deselected serving Labour MP Ernest Roberts as MP for Hackney North & Stoke Newington.

Abbott has a record of differing from some party policies, voting against the Iraq war, opposing ID cards and campaigning against the renewal of Britain’s Trident nuclear weapons. She has been seen as a ‘maverick, a free-thinker, willing to rebel against the party machine.’

Abbott’s speech on civil liberties, in the debate on the Counter-Terrorism Bill 2008 won The Spectator magazine’s ‘Parliamentary Speech of the Year’ award and further recognition at the 2008 Human Rights awards.

Abbott has served on a number of parliamentary committees on social and international issues. For most of the 1990s she also served on the Treasury Select Committee of the House of Commons. She went on to serve on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee.

Abbott chairs the All Party Parliamentary British-Caribbean Group and the All Party Sickle Cell and Thalassemia Group.

Abbott is founder of the London Schools and the Black Child initiative, which aims to raise educational achievement levels amongst black children.

In May 2010, she was re-elected in her constituency of Hackney North and Stoke Newington, with a doubled majority on an increased turn-out.

On May 20/2010 Abbott announced her intention to stand in the Labor leadership contest. She secured the necessary 33 nominations by 9 June, assisted by the withdrawal of fellow left wing candidate John McDonnell and unexpected support from fellow candidate David Miliband. On Saturday 25 September 2010, Ed Miliband was announced as the new leader of the Labor Party with Abbott eliminated in the first round of voting after securing 7.24% of votes.

Abbott was later appointed Shadow Minister for Public Health by Ed Miliband, taking shadow responsibility for a range of issues including children’s health, maternity services, sexual health, tobacco, nursing, obesity and alcohol abuse. Following her move onto the front-bench, the Telegraph said on 27 September 2011 that Abbott had ‘become one of Labour’s best front bench performers’.

Hon. PAULA COX, JP., MP., PREMIER

Premier Cox was first elected to Parliament as a Devonshire North MP, in a bye-election in October 1996. This followed the death of the former Opposition Leader, L. Frederick Wade, JP, MP on August 13, 1996. Currently Premier Cox is the Minister of Finance.

She has had varied experience in Government having held a number of portfolios. She has served in a number of Cabinet portfolios. Under the premiership of the Honourable Jennifer Smith, JP, MP, now Dame Jennifer Smith, Premier Paula Cox was appointed as the first PLP Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety. She and her father, the late C. Eugene Cox, JP, MP were unique as both were Ministers in the first PLP administration and the only serving father-daughter duo.

Premier Cox has gained respect across party lines for her brilliance as an articulate young lawyer and administrator. While the Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety, she was named in the Bermudians’ Best of Bermuda Gold annual listing as the most effective politician for 2001.

She was appointed Minister of Education and Development on November 1, 2001.

Following the July 2003 General Election, Premier Cox was appointed as Attorney-General and Minister of Education. She served in this dual portfolio until January 2004. In 2003 she was again cited in the Bermudian’s Best of Gold’s annual listing as the most effective politician. This accolade was repeated in 2006 in her capacity as Minister of Finance.

In 2003, while Premier Cox was currently serving as the Attorney-General and Minister of Education and Development, Wheelock College invited Premier Paula Cox to accept an honourary doctorate in Education. Premier Cox received this honourary degree at the May 2004 Wheelock Commencement exercise. In January 2004, after the death of her father, the former Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, the late C. Eugene Cox, CBE, JP, MP, Premier Paula Cox was appointed the Minister of Finance.

In her professional life, Premier Paula Cox works as a lawyer, is Corporate Counsel, at ACE Limited. She previously worked as Vice President and Senior Legal Counsel of Global Funds Services at The Bank of Bermuda Limited. This impeccable background, allows her to give the PLP Government and Party a strong voice in international financial matters, particularly with her expertise in the field of international law and international business organisation.

Premier Paula Cox for many years was one of the closest aides of the late Opposition Leader, Hon. L. Frederick Wade. She was his first Shadow Parliamentary Secretary, and at the same time the PLP’s Public Relations Officer.

Premier Cox earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from McGill University, a post-graduate Diploma in International Law from the University of Manchester, England and is a member of the Bermuda Bar, having trained in the United Kingdom as a Solicitor.

Premier Cox is the only daughter of retired educator Mrs. F. Alinda Cox. She is married to a businessman from Cameroon, Mr. Germain Nkeuleu and she has two brothers, Jeremy Cox, the Supervisor of Insurance at the Bermuda Monetary Authority and Robert Cox, an electrical engineer, who currently works in the United States.

Bermuda Premier Paula Cox (right) and U.S. Consul General Grace Shelton exchange copies of the ratified U.S. – Bermuda Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) on April 12, 2012.

CARIBBEAN WOMEN OF POWER

Here is a collection of profile stories which traces the history, experiences, challenges and successes of outstanding women from the Caribbean territories, as they navigate the traditionally male dominated arenas. 

“The collection brings together in one place, a distinguish group of women who have contributed in significant ways to the development of the Caribbean and the Americas. Who have pushed against the odds to achieve their goals and who have been quite extremely influential in the political landscape” 

The Honorable KAMLA PERSAD-BISSESSAR, SC., MP.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC, MP (born 22 April 1952 in Siparia) is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the seventh person to hold this position. She was sworn in as Prime Minister on May 26, 2010 and is the country’s first female Prime Minister.

Persad-Bissessar is the political leader of the United National Congress and leads the People’s Partnership, a coalition of five parties, formed for the general election of 24 May 2010. She was the first woman to serve as Attorney General, acting Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition of Trinidad and Tobago. She became Political Leader of the United National Congress and Opposition in 2010

The Prime Minister greets US. AG Eric Holder Jr. at the Diplomatic Center, St Ann’s, Trinidad & Tobago

Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s ancestors originally hail from Bhelupur village of Buxar district, Bihar, India. Her ancestors migrated from Bihar to the Caribbean islands in the 19th century as Girmitiya labourers to Trinidad and Tobago.She graduated from Iere High School and went on to further her studies at the University of the West Indies, Norwood Technical College (England), and the Hugh Wooding Law School. Consequently, she was awarded a B.A. (Hons.), a Diploma in Education, a B.A. of Laws (Hons.) and a Legal Education Certificate. In 2006 she obtained an Executive Masters in Business Administration (EMBA) from the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, Trinidad.

On completion of her studies, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar entered the teaching profession. While in England pursuing studies, she worked as a social worker with the Church of England Children’s Society of London. She taught at the St. Andrew High School in Kingston, Jamaica and at the Mona Campus in Jamaica. Later, she taught at the St. Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies in Trinidad. At the Jamaica College of Insurance she was also a Consultant Lecturer. Her next step was to lecture at a Tertiary Education institution. After lecturing for a total of six years, Mrs. Persad-Bissessar then became a full-time Attorney-at-Law.

Persad-Bissessar has served as Member of Parliament for the Siparia constituency since 1995. She served as Attorney General in 1995 untilRamesh Maharaj was able to disassociate himself from ongoing cases and again in 2001 after Maharaj left the party. When the United National Congress formed Government on December 22, 2000, she was sworn in as the Minister of Education.

On April 25, 2006 she received the support of the majority of Opposition MPs for the post of Leader of the Opposition. The position of Leader of the Opposition was declared vacant by President George Maxwell Richards after Basdeo Panday was convicted of failing to make an accurate declaration to the Integrity Commission concerning a bank account held in London.  His Appeal is pending. Persad-Bissessar was subsequently appointed Leader of the Opposition on April 26, 2006.

Persad-Bissessar is married to Dr. Gregory Bissessar and has one son.

The Honorable, PORTIA LUCRETIA SIMPSON-MILLER, ON., MP.

The Most Honorable Portia Simpson Miller was sworn in as Prime Minister of Jamaica on January 5, 2012. Previously she had been Prime Minister from March 2006 to September 2007, after having served for 17 years as a Cabinet Minister with portfolio responsibility for Labour and Social Security, Tourism and Local Government, Community Development and Sport. She was conferred with the Order of the Nation in May 2006.

Mrs Simpson Miller has a distinguished record of service at the regional and international levels: she is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders (an international network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers whose mission is to mobilize on women’s issues); vice president of  the  Organization of American States’ High‐level Inter‐American Network on Decentralization, Local Government and Citizen Participation; Chairperson of the Caribbean Forum of Ministers responsible for decentralization,  local government, community development and citizen participation, and board member of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum.  She has also been a member of the Board of Trustees of CIFAL (an international training centre for governmental authorities) in Atlanta, Georgia.

In March 2007, Mrs. Simpson Miller was awarded the International Olympic Committee’s World Women and Sport Trophy for her outstanding dedication to women in Jamaican Sports – both athletes and administrators.

The leading architect of Jamaica’s Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development, Mrs Simpson Miller has been tireless in promoting and strengthening urban renewal and community development, leading to fundamental reforms in local government.

As Minister of Labour and Welfare, she presided over a significant expansion of Jamaica’s Overseas Work Programme and under her watch; the National Insurance Scheme was transformed into a major component of the government’s social protection system. She was also instrumental in establishing a Labour Chair in the University of the West Indies, Department of Government.

The Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller has had a distinguished record of service at the regional and international level. She was Vice President of the Organization of American States’ High-Level Inter-American Network on Decentralization, Local Government and Citizen Participation (RIAD). She was also the Chairperson of the Caribbean Forum of Ministers responsible for Decentralization, Local Government, Community Development and Citizen Participation and is a Board Member of the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) and CIFAL Atlanta. As Jamaican Prime Minister, she served as Chairman of the CARICOM Prime Ministerial Sub-committee on External Negotiations.

Simpson-Miller was first elected in 1976 to the Parliament of Jamaica, for the constituency of South West St. Andrew Parish, as a member of the People’s National Party. The PNP boycottedthe elections called in 1983. She was re-elected to the same seat in a later election, and served as Minister of Labour, Welfare and Sports from 1989 to 1993. She was Minister of Labour and Welfare from 1993 to 1995, Minister of Labour, Social Security and Sports from 1995 to February 2000, Minister of Tourism and Sports from February 2000 to October 2002, and Minister of Local Government and Sport since October 2002.

She was a vice president of the PNP from 1978 to 2006, when she became its president. In the PNP’s internal vote to elect P. J. Patterson’s successor, held on 26 February 2006, she received 1,775 votes, while her nearest rival, security minister Dr. Peter Phillips, took 1,538 votes. She garnered approximately 47% of the delegates’ vote, making her the first PNP president to be elected by less than half of eligible delegates. In July 2008, Simpson-Miller was challenged for the presidency of the PNP by Phillips. The election was held among the party’s delegates on 20 September. She was re-elected as the head of the PNP for her second consecutive year, defeating him by an even wider margin that that of the previous election.

She replaced outgoing Prime Minister Patterson on 30 March 2006, becoming the first female head of government of the nation and the third in the Anglophone Caribbean following Eugenia Charles of Dominica and Janet Jagan of Guyana. In appointing her first cabinet following her swearing-in, she also assumed the portfolio of defence minister.

Portia Simpson Miller pursued her education up to the secondary level in Jamaica, before reading for her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Administration at the Union Institute and University in the United States of America, which later awarded her an Honorary Doctorate. She completed the Executive Programme for Leaders in Development at the prestigious John Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

 Simpson-Miller is married to Errald Miller, formerly CEO of Cable & Wireless Jamaica Ltd. On 29 May 2006 she was vested with the JamaicanOrder of the Nation, giving her (and her husband) the style “The Most Honorable”

BARBARA MAKEDA BLAKE-HANNAH

Barbara Makeda Blake-Hannah is a Jamaican author, journalist, filmmaker, public speaker and managing director of Jamaica Media Productions. Mrs. Blake-Hannah was the first Rastafarian to sit in the Jamaican Parliament, appointed an Independent Opposition Senator in 1984-1988. She first made history in 1968, when she became the first Black TV journalist in Britain on THAMES-TV’s daily evening show, Today with Eamonn Andrews. She worked with BBC-TV, ATV-Birmingham and CHANNEL 4-TV.

Mrs. Blake-Hannah is one of Jamaica’s most respected cultural historians and authors. Her book Rastafari – The New Creation first published in 1982 is the first book about Rastafari written by a practicing member of the faith, now in its 6th edition. Her novel Joseph: A Rasta Reggae Fable is inspired by the life of Bob Marley. She was presented with a Gold Centenary Adowa Award by the Ethiopian Crown Council for her work on behalf of the global Rastafari community. Her book Home – The First School is a homeschooling guide book based on her own parenting experience.

Mrs. Blake-Hannah has spoken on Caribbean culture at several universities including NYU Graduate School of Cultural Anthropology; The University of Vienna, Austria; the University of the West Indies, Kingston and Guyana; the University of the Virgin Islands; Florida International University and she was a member of the Jamaican Delegation to the 2001 UN World Conference Against Racism.

She has served in the Office of 3 Jamaican Prime Ministers: Michael Manley, Edward Seaga and Bruce Golding. Her most recent assignment was as Advisor/Consultant to the Jamaican Minister of Information, Culture, Youth & Sports, during which she established the Jamaica Film Academy and initiated the first Reggae Film Festival.

She has made 8 films including the world-famous documentary Race, Rhetoric, Rastafari produced for CHANNEL 4-UK in 1982, and Kids Paradise a children’s TV drama that won an audience award at the 1994 Chicago Childrens’ Film Festival. Her latest documentary The Road through the Blue Mountains, is a spiritual journey through the most beautiful natural locales of Jamaica’ famous coffee region.

On a personal level, she is well-known in Jamaica as a pioneer of homeschooling, as her son Makonnen made international history in 1998 when he was appointed at age 13 years as the Government’s Youth Technology consultant. Her book Home – The First School: A Guide to Early Childhood Education’ was published in 2009. Growing Out her autobiography of her London years was published in August 2010.

The Hon. MIA AMOR MOTLEY, Q.C., MP.

Mia Amor Mottley, Q.C., M.P, Bachelor of Laws (born 1 October 1965) is a member of Parliament for the Constituency of St. Michael North East in Barbados.

 Mottley first served Barbadian politics as early as 1991, when she had lost an election race in St. Michael North East between herself and the late Leroy Brathwaite (a defeated of less than 200 votes). Between 1991 and 1994 she was one of two Opposition Senators in the Upper House where she was Shadow Minister of Culture and Community Development. During that time, she also served on numerous Parliamentary Joint Select Committees on areas ranging from Praedial Larceny and Domestic Violence.

In September 1994, Mottley became one of the youngest Barbadians ever to be assigned a ministerial portfolio at age 29, she was appointed to the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Culture. During her tenure she co-authored the White Paper on Education titled “Each Child Matters” that draws the link between better education and job fulfillment.

She was elected General Secretary of the Barbados Labour Party two years later. In that same year and again the following year (1997) she served as Chairman of the Caricom Standing Committee of Ministers of Education.

Mottley was appointed Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs in August 2001 and is the first female (in Barbados) to hold this position. She is also the youngest ever Queen’s Council in Barbados. In addition to being a Member of the Privy Council of Barbados, she was Leader of the House and a member of the National Security Council and the Barbados Defence Board. She is also credited with being the visionary behind the Education Sector Enhancement Programme, popularly known as Edutech, which aims to increase the number of young people contributing to the island’s sustainable social and economic development. This revolutionary program involves the widespread use of information and communication technologies to assist in improving the quality of the teaching/learning process.

In Youth Affairs, Mottley directed the establishment of the Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme and a National Youth Development Programme.

Two years later Mottley was to serve as Barbados’s second female Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Social Council of Barbados and the Deputy Chairman of Barbados’ Economic Council. A position she held until 2008 and allowing her extended responsibilities including the chairmanship of a number of key Cabinet sub-committees, notably Telecommunications Reform and one oversight of the administrative and legislative initiatives to prepare Barbados for the advent of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.

Under Prime Minister Owen Seymour Arthur’s (17 October 1949-) administration of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) in February 2006, a government reshuffle ensured Mottley became Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, a post she also held until 2008, where her responsibilities put her in charge of key economic agencies.

Following the defeat in the election held on 15 January 2008 and Owen Arthur’s laying down the mantle as party leader, Mia Mottley was chosen as BLP party leader on 19 January 2008. She is the first woman to lead the party, as well as the country’s first female Opposition Leader. Mottley was sworn in as Opposition Leader on 7 February 2008; since her inauguration as Leader of the Opposition she has promised the people of Barbados that the Barbados Labour Party will be a strong and unified Opposition who will fight for the rights of all citizens in the country.

Ms. Mottley remind political leader until October 18, 2010

CLAUDETTE WERLEIGH

Claudette Werleigh (born 1946) was Prime Minister of Haïti from November 7, 1995 to February 7, 1996. She was Haiti’s first female Prime Minister.

She had previously been Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Religion in 1993 and 1995. Before that, she was the executive director of the Haitian embassy in Washington, D.C.

From literacy education in rural Haiti to her post as Haiti’s first female prime minister and on to secretary general of the Catholic peace movement Pax Christi International, Claudette Werleigh of Haiti has witnessed conflict and worked for peace in all corners of the world, with people from every corner of society. She is a peacemaker at every level.

The daughter of a prosperous business family, Werleigh was brought up on one side of Haiti’s social fabric, but she soon saw the realities of the other side. The structural violence embedded in the Haitian society had a profound effect on Werleigh, now known in her life’s work as a staunch advocate for keeping policies and practices firmly rooted in the needs and voices of the grassroots.

As a young adult focused on justice for those caught in Haiti’s disparate social structure, Werleigh was drawn to the field of education – specifically adult literacy – and started a school for adults and rural Haitian farmers. Community-owned and run throughout Haiti’s tumult of political violence, earthquakes and epidemics, the school has been open and running for 33 years. Under the dictatorship of Jean-Claude Duvalier, Werleigh served as secretary general of Caritas Haiti for 10 years, coordinating relief assistance, civic education and respect for human rights.

Werleigh’s entrée into a career in public administration and politics began in 1990 as part of a broad democratic consensus government. The 1991 coup d’etat that overthrew the first democratically elected government convinced her of the need to work not only for justice, but also for peace. ‘She served as executive director of the Washington Office on Haiti from 1992 to 1993 and minister of foreign and religious affairs in Haiti from 1993 to 1995, and then made history as Haiti’s first female prime minister in 1995, during the Aristide administration. While always connected to her home country, Werleigh’s path has also taken her outside of Haiti’s borders into issues of international peace and conflict – as the director of conflict transformation programs at the Life and Peace Institute in Sweden until 2007, and then with Pax Christi where she was secretary general until this year and now serves as a peace envoy.

Werleigh has worked with diverse communities in conflict and those transitioning out of war and violence around the world, deepening her understanding of the factors that trigger violent conflict. And the disparities she saw as a young girl in Haiti continue to transcend borders and inform her work. “The widening gap is not only between rich and poor nations but also between classes within a same single country,” she says of the chasm she’s spent her life working to bridge. Whether at home or in a new community, Werleigh is known for her commitment to keeping her ear tuned to the voices at the grassroots.

The Honorable, Senator, SANTIA J. O. BRADSHAW

Santia Bradshaw, the second child of Delisle and Shirley Bradshaw was born on 13th March, 1976, the same year her father won his seat. It goes without saying then that Santia has politics flowing through her veins and according to her she is “ready to work with the people”.

With a penchant for justice, Santia, a former Christ Church Foundation School student, went to the United Kingdom and trained as a barrister-at-law. In 2000, she returned to Barbados to begin her legal career in chambers with two of Barbados’ most distinguished Queen Counsel’s Patterson Cheltenham and Dr. Richard Chelthenham.

Santia has since developed a successful civil practice in personal injury law, mortgages, conveyances, company law and entertainment law. So passionate about being involved in the development of the legal fraternity in Barbados that between 2006 and 2008, she held the position of Honorary Secretary of the Barbados Bar Association.

This vibrant young woman is also an accomplished entrepreneur. With a blossoming interest in entertainment law and recognising a need for a more structured approach to the music industry, Santia started Pyramid Entertainment Management Inc. an artist representation and booking agency. Her company currently represents some of the leading entertainers and deejays in Barbados and across the region.

Always on the look out for new and exciting opportunities, Santia also operates a music content label, Pyramid Music Group, which produces music videos, licences and distributes music content additionally she will soon be launching a television series, Pyramid TV. Santia is the co-owner of Headline Publishing, a music publishing company which publishes the music of several leading Caribbean songwriters. She recently relaunched Braddie’s Bar, a family owned business and restaurant located in Dover Christ Church which offers a once a week opportunity for emerging talent to be showcased.

Santia has been heavily involved in the development of the cultural industries in an advisory capacity and has often been engaged by Government institutions to advise on culture and cultural policy.  She has organized and hosted several music seminars and workshops focused on artist development and the business of music including the Bridging the Music Seminar (2004) and the Barbados Music Seminar and Showcase (2007).

Resolute in her mission, Santia embraces her new role as constituency representative and balances public service with her life as an attorney and entrepreneur.

The Honorable, YVETTE DIANE CLARKE

Yvette Diane Clarke (born November 21, 1964) is the U.S. Representative for New York’s 11th congressional district, serving since 2007.Representative Yvette D. Clarke is a Brooklyn native whose roots are firmly planted in her Jamaican heritage.  A product of the New York City Public School System, Rep. Clarke received a scholarship to Oberlin College and was a recipient of the prestigious APPAH/Sloan Fellowship in Public Policy and Policy Analysis.

Rep. Clarke was first elected to Congress in November 2006 and represents the 11th Congressional District which includes the communities of Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, Sunset Park, Carroll Gardens, Kensington, Park Slope, Prospect Heights,  Prospect-Lefferts Gardens and Prospect Park.

Prior to being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Clarke served on the New York City Council representing the 40th District in Brooklyn.  She succeeded her pioneering mother, former City Council Member Una S. T. Clarke, making them the first mother-daughter succession in the history of the Council.

As the Congressional Representative of the 11th district, she is committed to continuing the district’s legacy of excellence as set forth by the late Honorable Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman and Caribbean American elected to Congress.  As an activist, a community organizer and now as a legislator, Rep. Clarke’s boldness, compassion and love for humanity has allowed her to become an effective leader and an outspoken advocate on numerous issues of great importance to her constituents.

 Flatbush Haitian Center 25th Anniversary Gala Awards Dinner

Currently in the 112th Congress, Rep. Clarke sits on the House Committee on Homeland Security and House Committee on Small Business.

In the 111th Congress, Rep. Clarke sat on several committees including the House Education and Labor Committee, the House Homeland Security Committee and the House Small Business Committee.

Just two years in office, Rep. Clarke was appointed Chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity and Science and Technology for the 111th Congress.  Under her leadership, this Committee will exercise its oversight jurisdiction on a variety of issues, including cybersecurity, biodefense, pandemic influenza preparedness, nuclear detection, mitigating radiological attacks, agro-terrorism, and research and development within the Department of Homeland Security.

Known in the community for speaking truth to power, she is often called the “authentic voice of Brooklyn.”  Rep. Clarke also plans on using this voice to make the needs of her community a priority within the 112th Congress as the newly appointed Secretary for the Congressional Black Caucus and the Senior Whip for the Democratic Caucus.  The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc., (CBCF) also recently welcomed Rep. Yvette D. Clarke of New York to its Board of Directors.

 An unwavering champion for her native Brooklyn, she has worked with non-profit organizations, local community groups and appropriators to secure millions of dollars in essential federal support for the district.  As a result, major institutions received funds, including the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Brooklyn Public Library, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the Prospect Park Alliance and the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT).

As a testament to what Representative Clarke has accomplished in her first term, she received an “A” rating from the Drum Major Institute, The MiddleClass.org, and 100% ratings by Peace Action, The Brady Campaign and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). She was also named After-School Hero by The After-School Corporation for her work on the House Education and Labor Committee.  In May 2009, Rep. Clarke was also presented with an honorary Doctorate Law Degree from St. Francis College.

Rep. Clarke currently resides in the neighborhood where she grew up, in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn.

INFLUENTIAL CARIBBEAN WOMEN, PT. 6

Influential Caribbean Women….. who has impacted our history, culture and society.

HER EXCELLENCY DAME IVY DUMONT, DCMG.

Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas 2002 – 2005  

November 2001 – 2002 Acting Governor General 

Dame Ivy Leona Dumont was born on October 2nd., 1930 in Roses, Long Island, where she spent her early childhood years. She received her primary education at the Government schools at Roses and Buckleys, and her high school education at Government High School, New Providence. After leaving high school Dame Ivy entered the field of education moving through the system: firstly, as a student teacher, then as a classroom teacher, a Head Teacher, and Education Officer and as Deputy Director of Education. She culminated her career as a public servant at the Ministry of Works and Utilities where she served as Deputy Permanent Secretary for three years from 1975 to 1978.

In 1978 after serving thirty years in the Public Service, Dame Ivy joined NatWest Trust Corporation (Bahamas) Limited, now SG Hambros Bank and Trust (Bahamas) Limited, as a Training Officer. In the thirteen years which she spent with that company, Dame Ivy was promoted to Personnel Manager and then to Group Relations Manager, a position she held until her retirement in 1991.

Dame Ivy Dumont Receives Honorary LLB from UWI.

In 1946 Dame Ivy received the Cambridge Junior Certificate; she gained the Cambridge Senior Certificate in 1947. In 1952 Dame Ivy received a certificate as an Associate of the College of Preceptors, a British Organization, and in 1954 she was awarded a Teacher’s Certificate by the Bahamas Teachers College. She furthered her training in the United States of America on a Fulbright Grant as a participant in the International Teacher Development Programme, in 1962/1963.

From 1968 – 1970 Dame Ivy continued her studies at the University of Miami where she earned a Bachelor of Education degree; and she earned a doctorate in Public Administration (DPA) from Nova University (1976 – 1978). Dame Ivy also participated in a number of in-service workshops and public service courses over the years.

Dame Ivy is an active member of Emmanuel Gospel Chapel where she formerly served as a Sunday School Teacher. She is Past President of the United Sisters Fellowship of the Assemblies of Brethren, a former Awana Team Leader, a founding member and Past President of Women’s Aglow International (Bahamas). She is a Bible Teacher/Speaker at Ladies’ Retreats, Seminars and Workshops.

Dame Ivy was married to Mr. Reginald Deane Dumont (deceased – December 2011) and is the mother of two children; Cheddie Dean Dumont and Edda Dumont Adolph and the grandmother of four; Deidre, Jihan and Cheddi Dumont and Kobé Paul Adolph

Her hobbies include dressmaking and design, upholstery and soft crafts, and the cultivation of roses.

Dame Ivy Dumont Receives Honorary LLB from UWI.

In 1990 Dame Ivy was elected Secretary General of the Free National Movement (FNM). When the FNM became the Government on 19 August 1992, Dame Ivy began a new career. She was appointed as a Senator and Leader of Government business in the Senate and Minister of Health and Environment. From 1995 – 1999 Dame Ivy served as the Minister of Education and as the Minister of Education and Youth until 2001. Upon her retirement, Dame Ivy was appointed Chairman of the Public Service Commission with effect from 1 February, 2001.

In 1995 Dame Ivy was made a Dame Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (DCMG) by Her Majesty The Queen.

On 13 November, 2001 in an impressive ceremony witnessed by thousands of Bahamians, Dame Ivy was appointed to serve as Acting Governor-General of The Bahamas. She was confirmed in the position on 1 January, 2002.

Dame Ivy retired on November 30, 2005.

WENDY MARCELLE FITZWILLIAM, LLB

Wendy Fitzwilliam (born October 4, 1972 in Diego Martin) is a former Miss Trinidad & Tobago Universe, the third woman of African heritage to capture the Miss Universe crown and the second Miss Universe in history from Trinidad and Tobago.

Wendy was born to Juditha and Noel Fitzwilliam, one of two daughters. She grew up in Jade Gardens Diamond Vale, Diego Martin and attended Diego Martin Girls R.C before attending St. Joseph’s Convent in Port of Spain. She graduated in 1996 from University of West Indies with a LLB and then from Hugh Wooding Law School. She was admitted to the bar in May 2000.

Wendy modeled for local fashion designer Meiling in her teenage and early years. At age 25, she participated in the 1998 Miss Universe pageant held at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. She beat off challenges from the other semifinalists: Russia, Ireland, South Africa, India, Brazil, Colombia, USA, Puerto Rico and eventual first runner-up Veruska Ramírez of Venezuela, who would prove to be her main competitor.

Fitzwilliam’s regal air and perfect evening gown presentation won her the favor of the judges and made her the favorite to capture the crown that night. However, once the final 3 were announced, her halting final answer led people to suspense, since there was a deadlock between her and Ramirez of Venezuela, who had won the swimsuit competition with the highest score ever seen at the time and gave a straightforward answer. Because there were eight members on the panel of judges and no way to break an eventual tie, the decision promised to be a nail-biter.

In the end, Fitzwilliam prevailed and became the first contestant in history to win wearing a bikini in the swimsuit competition, denying Ramírez that title as well. Her win came 21 years after another Trinidadian, Janelle Commissiong, who also happened to be the first Miss Universe of African heritage, captured in 1977 the crown for her country for the first time. Fitzwilliam is, thus, the second titleholder from Trinidad & Tobago and the third of African heritage, after Commissiong and Chelsi Smith of the USA.

During her reign, she was honored by the United Nations and bestowed the title of UNAIDS and UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador for her work in HIV/AIDS education and awareness.

Her dedication to the HIV/AIDS cause also led her to found The Hibiscus Foundation (THF) in Trinidad and Tobago on the 6th of September 1998. This organization was established to heighten AIDS awareness in Trinidad and Tobago and to give assistance, financially and otherwise, to children’s homes in Trinidad.

She was the international spokesperson for Clear Essence Skin Care and made several notable television appearances having hosted segments of “Wild On…” for E! Entertainment Television and the Miss Universe Special for the same network.

She made appearances on “Live with Regis and Kathy Lee”, “The Magic Hour”, “Politically Incorrect”, “The O’Reilly Factor”, CNN’s “Talk Back Live”, Trinidad and Tobago Carnival” for BET, “The Johnny Cockran Show” on Court TV, Soca Monarch Finals for Synergy TV with Danny Glover and Chris Tucker, among others.

After her reign, she recorded a jazz demo and continued her education. In 2000, she was admitted into the bar.

Wendy has also acted as a judge and host for many regional and international pageants, such as Miss Guyana, Miss Trinidad & Tobago, and Miss Universe.

Currently, she is the Vice President of Investment Promotion at the Evolving TecKnologies and Enterprise Development Company Limited (E TecK), a state-owned company in Trinidad and Tobago. She is also attached to the Trinidad Guardian’s Guardian in Education: Making a Difference project, a series of motivational school tours that also features former World Champion sprinter Ato Boldon and cyclist Michael Phillips, aiming to promote the development of the country’s diversity.

Her dedication to hard work isn’t just limited to her career, over the years she has lent herself greatly to her passion for human and social development by championing various charitable causes both big and small.

A highlight of her social work came when she became appointed the Red Cross Ambassador of Youth for the Caribbean. This is the first time the Red Cross has appointed anyone to this high honourary office. In this capacity she has been afforded the opportunity to address the World’s Youth globally, most recently as the keynote speaker of the Summit of The Americas V in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Wendy gave birth to her son, Ailan Andrew Panton in June 2006, and separated from his father, David Panton, in 2008. She currently resides in her native Trinidad and Tobago with her 5 year old son, who became muse for her first book, “Letters To Ailan”, an ode to him and about her experience as a mother. She achieved great success with her book and has launched “The Wendy Fitzwilliam Radio Show” 

CHANCELLOR FLOELLA KAREN YUNIES BENJAMIN, OBE., DL.

BARONESS BENJAMIN

Floella Benjamin was born Floella Benjamiyn in Point-a-Pierre,Trinidad in 1949. She has three brothers and two sisters. Her father, a policeman and a talented jazz musician, decided to migrate to England to play jazz saxophone.  Her parents left the children in the care of family friends and travelled to Britain, settling in Beckenham, South London.

It was 1960 when her parents sent for all the children and they travelled via ship to be reunited as a family in a new environment. Benjamin had a harsh introduction to London when she first experienced discrimination based on colour. Benjamin was an outstanding athlete but she was prohibited from taking the running trophy home because of her colour. She recalls her mother’s advice to focus on her education, as it was the passport to success in England. Benjamin remembers realising that she had to double her work rate and had to be dually accomplished to succeed in England. Her ambition was to be a teacher but her parents could not afford the educational fees to keep her on at school beyond her sixteenth year. She studied A levels at evening classes with the ambition of becoming the first black bank manager. However, frustration at achieving her dream set in and in 1973 she successfully auditioned for a part in the musicalHair. It was on tour that she met her future husband Keith Taylor. Benjamin was to have several more stage and film roles including The Black Mikado (1975), and Black Joy (1977) – also starring were Norman Beaton and Paul Medford.

She debuted on television in 1974 in an episode of Love Thy Neighbour. Her true acting opening occurred when she played in six episodes of prison drama Within These Walls (1974 – 1975). She also acted in the situation comedy Mixed Blessings (1978) and the drama serial Send in the Girls(1978). She changed the spelling of her name to Benjamin and she joined the children’s programme Play School as a presenter in 1976 and remained there for 14 years. Benjamin was the first person in Britain to wear beads in her hair in the 1970s – it was to become her trademark look. She was also the first woman to be allowed to appear fully pregnant on television.

 With her husband, Keith Taylor, she started a production company in 1987 – Floella Benjamin Productions Ltd. The company has made hundreds of programs in different areas e.g., children’s programmes, documentaries, cookery series programs and have been successful in winning several award for their productions that have been sold and viewed worldwide. Some of the titles of production that have been achieved are Treehouse, Hullabaloo, Playaway, Caribbean Kitchen, Jamboree, and Coming to England.

Ever conscious of the links from the Caribbean to Britain Benjamin works hard to promote the Commonwealth and was a member of the Caribbean Strategy Advisor Committee reporting to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office between 1998 and 2002. As an author she has written over twenty books for children and adults including her autobiography: Coming to England (1994),Exploring Caribbean Food in Britain (1988) and Handa’s Surprise (2005).

Benjamin has held a number of statutory and voluntary positions and she has been a member and patron of several committees including numerous children’s charities. She was Chairman of BAFTA from 1997 through to 2000. In 2001 she became a governor of Dulwich College; the same institution her mother worked in as a laundry supervisor in 1963 and where her son attended for 11 years. In 2001 Floella Benjamin was awarded the OBE for services to broadcasting and charity.

In 2004 Benjamin was chosen to carry the Olympic torch through Peckham, South London and the Floella Benjamin Productions Company received a RTS education award for the production ofComing to England – based on Benjamin’s autobiographical book of the same name. Benjamin also won a Children’s BAFTA special lifetime award in 2004 for her outstanding contribution to children’s film and television. As her charity work continued Benjamin was elected to be a Vice–President of the charity Barnardo’s in 2004.

Her Excellency Dr. Jean Ramjohn-Richards First Lady of  The Republic of Trinidad & Tobago receives Lady Floella Benjamin, Baroness of Beckenham

In 2005 she was inducted into the NSPCC’s Hall of Fame for her work as a campaigner on behalf of children’s issues and she received a Lifetime Achievement Award for her services to broadcasting from Garavi Gurjarat (GG2) Diversity and Leadership awards. Benjamin was awarded the IVCA Clarion Champion Award in 2005 for her major contribution to most sectors of the media industry. Also recognised were her creativity, passion and dedication to a range of important causes. The IVCA awards are the world’s only communication awards and they highlight social inclusion, corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainable development and ethical debate.Benjamin was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters (DLitt) from Exeter University in 2005 in recognition of the influence she has had on British society.

In 2010 Benjamin was nominated by the Liberal Democratic party as a life peer and subsequently introduced to the House of Lords with the title of Baroness Benjamin, of Beckenham in the County of Kent.

MARYSE CONDé

Maryse Condé (born 1937) is a Guadeloupean, French language author of historical fiction, best known for her novel Segu (1984–1985). Maryse Condé was born as Maryse Boucolon at Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, the youngest of eight children. In 1953, her parents sent her to study at Lycée Fénelon and Sorbonne in Paris, where she majored in English. In 1959, she married Mamadou Condé, a Guinean actor. After graduating, she taught in Guinea, Ghana and Senegal. In 1981, she divorced, but the following year married Richard Philcox, English language translator of most of her novels.

In addition to her writings, Condé had a distinguished academic career. In 2004 she retired from Columbia University as Professor Emerita of French. She had previously taught at the University of California, Berkeley, UCLA, the Sorbonne, The University of Virginia, and the University of Nanterre.

Condé’s novels explore racial, gender and cultural issues in a variety of historical eras and locales, including the Salem witch trials in I, Tituba: Black Witch of Salem (1992) and the 19th century Bambara Empire of Mali in Segu (1987). Her novels trace the relationships between African peoples and the diaspora, especially the Caribbean. She has taken considerable distance from most Caribbean literary movements, such as Negritude and Creolité, and has often focused on topics with strong feminist concerns. Her recent writings have become increasingly autobiographical, such as Memories of My Childhood and Victoire, a biography of her grandmother. Who Slashed Celinaire’s Throat also shows traces of her paternal great-grandmother.

PEARL PRIMUS, Ph.D. 

Pearl Primus (November 29, 1919, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – October 29, 1994) was a dancer, choreographer and anthropologist. Primus played an important role in the presentation of African dance to American audiences. Early in her career she saw the needs to promote African dance as an art form worthy of study and performance. Primus’ work was a reaction to myths of savagery and the lack of knowledge about African people. It was an effort to guide the Western world to view African dance as an important and dignified statement about another way of life. Additionally, her work provided a knowledge and meaning for dances that had been plagued by distortion of movement and excessive hip shaking of the backside.

Primus was born in Trinidad in 1919 to Edward and Emily (Jackson) Primus. Among her relations were drummers and initiates into the Shango/Spiritual Baptist faith. Her maternal grandfather, in particular, was an Ashanti musician from Ghana. When Pearl Primus was two years old she, with her two brothers were brought to New York City where they were reared. Although her parents did not exhibit theatrical tendencies, Primus’ mother had learned the social dances of Trinidad from her grandfather. Primus also had a colorful aunt who sympathized with her decision to embrace dance. When that came, this aunt who dressed in unusually colorful clothing, exclaimed that she would have been shocked had Primus not become an entertainer.

Primus did not set out to be a dancer. When she finished Hunter College High School, she entered Hunter College as a pre-medical student majoring in biology. There she was an outstanding athlete in track and field and could run at an award winning pace. Upon graduating in 1940, Primus entered graduate school at New York University. While there, in pursuit of work to finance her studies, Primus found herself in the employ of National Youth Administration. Although she was looking for another type of work, she was fortuitously assigned to the NYA dance group as an understudy. She then studied at the New Dance Group. Her natural abilities made her an excellent dancer and her instructors, who were among the leading modern dance pioneers of that era, recognized her talents and encouraged her to develop them.

Primus’ dance orientation, then, began with experimental choreography in dances that expressed social protest and explored ethnic material. As her interest in dance grew, Primus also studied with the major modern dance pioneers: Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Charles Weidman, Hanya Holm and Louis Horst.

During this period, Primus combined studies in educational sociology and anthropology with her dance training (not unlike Katherine Dunham a decade before her) and performances with the choreographers listed above. Among some of her most significant performances was that with Beryl McBurnie in Antilliana. From McBurnie, Primus learned Afro-Caribbean dance and the folk dances of the Caribbean. Her dancing ability and dramatic presence was noticed during one of thse performances when McBurnie had her dancing a minute part in a Caribbean market scene. Primus obviously performed the piece above and beyond McBunie’s expectations because she was so provocative that she stole the show. Primus, however, was unaware of the audience’s reaction and quietly left after the piece to go to work on her part time job as a riveter.

Primus began to research African dance, “consulting books, articles, and pictures and visiting museums’. After six months, she had completed her first composition, African Ceremonial. It was presented along with Strange Fruit, Rock Daniel, and Hard Time Blues at her debut performance on February 14, 1943 at the 92nd Street YMHA. Her performance was so outstanding that John Martin of the New York Times states that “she was entitled to a company of her own.”

Her next performances began in April 1943, as an entertainer at the famous night club, Cafe Society Downtown, for ten months.

In June 1943, Primus performed at the Negro Freedom Rally at Madison Square Garden before an audience of 20,000 people.

Primus also choreographed a work to Langston Hughes’s famous poem, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”, which was performed at her Broadway debut on October 4, 1944 at the Bealson Theatre.

She then began to study more intensively at the New Dance Group and became one of their instructors. In the summer of 1944, Primus visited the Deep South to research the culture and dances of Southern blacks. She visited over seventy churches and picked cotton with the sharecroppers. In December 1943, Primus appeared as a guest artist in Asadata Dafora’s African Dance Festival at Carnegie Hall.

Pearl Primus performing “Fanga”

In December 1944, Primus, who was primarily a solo artist recruited other dancers and performed in concerts at the Roxy Theatre. African Ceremonial was rechoreographed for a group performance. At this time, Primus’ African choreography could be termed interpretive, based on research and her imagining of the way in which a piece of African sculpture would move.

In 1946, Primus was invited to appear in the revival of the Broadway production Showboat choreographed by Helen Tamiris. Then, she was asked to choreograph a Broadway production called Calypso whose title became Caribbean Carnival. She also appeared at the Chicago Theatre in the 1947 revival of the Emperor Jones in the ‘’’Witch Doctor’’’ role that Hemsley Winfield made famous.

Following this show and many subsequent recitals, Primus toured the nation with a company she formed. While on the university and college circuit, Primus performed at Fisk Universityin 1948, where Dr. Charles S. Johnson, a member of Rosenwald Foundation board, was president. He was so impressed with the power of her interpretive African dances that he asked her when she had last visited Africa. She replied that she had never done so. She then received the last and largest ($4000) of the major Rosenwald Fellowships for an eighteen month research and study tour of the Gold Coast, Angola, Cameroons, Liberia, Senegal and the Belgian Congo.

Primus in “Folk Dance”, October 1945

Primus was so well accepted in the communities in her study tour that she was told that the ancestral spirit of an African dancer had manifested in her. The Oni and people of Ife, Nigeria, felt that she was so much a part of their community that they initiated her into their commonwealth and affectionately conferred on her the title Omowale- the child who has returned home.

Pearl Primus focused on matters such as oppression, racial prejudice, and violence. Her efforts were also subsidized by the United States government who encouraged African-American artistic endeavors. In 1944, she interpreted Langston Hughes The Negro Speaks of Rivers (1944), and in 1945 she created Strange Fruit (1945), based on the poem by Lewis Allan about a lynching. Hard Time Blues (1945) is based on a song about sharecroppers by folksinger Josh White.

A former Pearl Primus student @ Legacy Performance: Celebrating Pearl Primus, April 29/2011 

Primus married the dancer and choreographer Percival Borde in 1954, and began a collaboration that ended only with his death in 1979. In 1959, the year Primus received an M.A. in education from New York University, she traveled to Liberia, where she worked with the National Dance Company there to create Fanga, an interpretation of a traditional Liberian invocation to the earth and sky. In 1978, Primus received a Ph.D. in Dance Education from New York University. The following year she created Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore(1979), about the 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, church bombing. From 1984 to 1990 Primus served as a professor of ethnic studies, and artist in residence at the Five Colleges consortium in Massachusetts. Her original dance company eventually grew into the Pearl Primus Dance Language Institute, where her method of blending African-American, Caribbean, and African influences with modern dance and ballet techniques is taught. Primus has received numerous awards. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush honored Primus with the National Medal of Arts.

CLAUDIA PEGUS CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

Reblogged from CARIB LIFE STYLE:

Trinidad fashion designer extraordinaire Claudia Pegus unveils her Christmas Collection.

INFLUENTIAL CARIBBEAN WOMEN PT. 5

Here is a collection of profile stories which traces the history, experiences, challenges and successes of outstanding women from the Caribbean territories, as they navigate the traditionally male dominated arenas. 

“The collection brings together in one place, a distinguish group of women who have contributed in significant ways to the development of the Caribbean and the Americas. Who have pushed against the odds to achieve their goals and who have been quite extremely influential in the business and political landscape” 

JUDGE CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY

The Honorable Constance Baker Motley was a civil rights lawyer, lawmaker and judge whose career spanned six decades and was highlighted by numerous historic achievements, including becoming the first African American woman accepted at Columbia Law School, the first African American woman elected to the New York Senate, the first woman and the first black woman to hold the position of Manhattan Borough President, and the first African American woman appointed to serve as a federal district judge.

Constance Baker Motley was born on September 14, 1921 in New Haven, Connecticut, the ninth of 12 children born to parents who had emigrated from the island of Nevis in the West Indies. Her father worked as a chef for various Yale University student organizations, including Skull and Bones. She attended local schools in what was then an overwhelmingly white community. Wanting to attend college but lacking funds, Constance Motley was lowered to working as a struggling housekeeper after high school.

When she was 18, Motley made a speech at local African-American social center that was heard by Clarence W. Blakeslee, a white businessman and philanthropist who sponsored the center. He was impressed and offered to finance her education. Thrilled with the opportunity, Constance chose Fisk University in Tennessee, but was unprepared for the Jim Crow South. After less than two years, Constance Motley returned to the North and attended New York University.

After graduating from New York University in 1943, Constance Motley took a well-paying job with a wartime agency that aided the dependents of servicemen. A year later, she turned down a promotion to attend Columbia Law School. “That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard, a complete waste of time,” her supervisor told her. “Women don’t get anywhere in the law.” While still a law student at Columbia, Motley met Thurgood Marshall, the NAACP’s legal director, who offered her a job as a law clerk in the organization’s New York office. 

In 1948, Constance Baker Motley began a 16 year career as a lawyer with the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, serving as a key attorney in many of the major legal challenges of the civil rights era, including dozens of school desegregation challenges. She was the only woman on the legal team in the historic legal challenge to school segregation in Brown v. Board of Education.  She was lead counsel for James Meredith in his successful battle to gain admission to University of Mississippi.  She argued ten cases to the United States Supreme Court, winning nine of them.

Always a staunch supporter of civil rights, Constance Motley visited  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in jail, sang freedom songs in churches that had been bombed, and spent a night under armed guard with Medgar Evers, the civil rights leader who was later murdered.

In February 1964, Constance Motley’s high-level civil rights profile drew her into politics. A Democratic State Senate candidate from the Upper West Side was ruled off the ballot because of an election-law technicality. She accepted the nomination on the condition that it would not interfere with her N.A.A.C.P. work and handily defeated a Republican to become the first black woman elected to the State Senate. She was re-elected that November.

She remained in the job until February 1965, when she was chosen by unanimous vote of the City Council to fill a one-year vacancy as Manhattan borough president. In citywide elections nine months later, she was re-elected to a full four-year term with the endorsement of the Democratic, Republican and Liberal Parties.

In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Constance Motley as a judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York at the urging of Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York, a Democrat, and with the support of Senator Jacob K. Javits, a Republican. The opposition of Southern senators like James O. Eastland, a Mississippi Democrat, was beaten back, and her appointment was confirmed. She became chief judge of the district in 1982 and senior judge in 1986.

Judge Motley won cases that ended segregation in Memphis restaurants and at whites-only lunch counters in Birmingham, Alabama. She fought for King’s right to march in Albany, Georgia. Motley also played an important role in representing blacks seeking admission to the Universities of Florida, Georgia Alabama and Mississippi and Clemson College in South Carolina.

In 1993, Constance Motley was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2001, President Bill Clinton awarded her the Presidential Citizens Medal. The NAACP awarded her the Spingarn Medal, the organization’s highest honor, in 2003.

BARBARA ANN CADET

Barbara Ann Cadet

Born: July 17, 1965    Instrument: Saxophone

A former head of the woodwind department at the St. Lucia School of Music, Barbara studied music in England where she was born and lived for some time. With her roots in Saint Lucia, and clearly destined to music , Barbara in an undisputed heavyweight in the industry in the Caribbean. She has lectured on Caribbean Music at the University of Miami and her musical callaborationsand experimentations are several and legendary. She has performed throughout the Caribbean Jazz circuit- Martinique, Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba, Grendad, Barbados, Guadeloupe, Cayenne and Jamaica, and has opened for Tanya Maria, Patti La Belle, Anita Baker, and Spro Gyra, among several others over the 20 year span of St. Lucia Jazz. In February 2004, Barbara was awarded the St. Lucia Medal of Merit (Gold) for her long and meritoriuos service in the field of music Her work with Poetry, Theatre and Dance Productions are also worth noting.. Supported by the Cultural Development Foundation and the St. Lucia Heritage Tourism Programme, she collaborated with the original composer of the musicals of one of the regions most acclaimed playwrights to score, arrange and produce “Songs from the musicals of Roderick Walcott ( twin brother to Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott) for the mass market. The project spans various genres from indigenous Folk to Latin, from Jazz to Country and Western. She worked with ST. Lucian award winning writer/poet Adrian Augier to produce Soundtracks for Theatre Productions , for the St. Lucia’s 25th & 30th Independence Celebrations “Anthem” & “Esperance” and several Dance Production Soundtracks for local dance companies. Barbara was also commissioned by the St Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority to produce the Soundtrack for the St. Lucia Animation Centre featuring a twenty-five minute multi-faceted presentation of the History of the Land of St. Lucia.

Her musical collaborations and experimentation are legendary as are her innovative musical projects. Barbara was instrumental in the establishment of award winning All-Female Steel Orchestra “Allegro Pan Groove” as well as the All Female group “Sisterhood” who performed Main Stage St. Lucia Jazz Festival 1999. In 1992 Barbara was invited to perform for the 28th Birthday Party of the Prince of Morocco at the Royal Palace, Rabat. In 2008 Barbara launched her Jazz/Folk Cd “Indigenously Yours” on Main Stage, St Lucia Jazz. In May 2009 Barbara headlined alongside Moroccan born Paris based Virtuoso Percussionist Khalid Kouhen, Main Stage act for the Festival. Barbara Cadet was featured as the face of the 2009 “Lime” St. Lucia Telephone Directory and over the years made many local Newspaper Covers. Her unique vocal attributes have impressed no less than Ellis Marsalis, and she has had the honor of exchanging notes with the likes of McCoy Tyner, Michael Brecker and the Legendary Denis Chambers. Currently commissioned by the St. Lucia Tourist Board, Barbara is Producing and Directing “The St. Lucia Collective” a collaboration of the island’s Music icons, that performed Main Stage, St Lucia Jazz 2011. The Group opened for Richard Bona, Mike stern, Chuck Brown and John Legend..

DAME RUTH NITA BARROW, G.C.M.G., D.A.

Governor General of Barbados: 6 June 1990 – 19 December 1995

Dame Ruth Nita Barrow was awarded the honour of being appointed Governor General of Barbados on June 6th 1990. Barrow served as Head of State until her eventual death on December 19th 1995.

Born on the 15th of November 1916, Nita Barrow was an ambitious woman born to a family of political activists.

Her father, an Anglican priest, was removed from his posting on the island of St. Croix for his controversial sermons preaching against racism and social stratification.

Her uncle, Dr. Charles Duncan O’Neal, was founder of the Democratic League of Barbados and one of the island’s 10 National Heros.

While her younger brother, Errol Barrow fought for independence of the nation. With independence, Errol become Prime Minister of Barbados (1966 – 1976 and 1986-1987).

An activist and leading humanitarian herself, Nita paralleled her family’s achievements.

Nita Barrow studied nursing in Barbados, continuing her studies at the University of Toronto, Edinburgh and Columbia Universities. She began her career as a trained nurse, midwife, and health care administer, holding a number of positions in Barbados and Jamaica.

Barrow soon rose to international acclaim becoming an accomplished international public health official and diplomat.

Appointed to a number of international bodies, Nita Barrow held the following position during her long and illustrious career:

Public health advisor to the World Health Organization & the Pan-American Health Organization

President of the World YWCA (1975-83)

President of the International Council of Adult Education (1982-90)

President of the World Council of Churches (1983)

Ambassador to the United Nations (1986-90)

Nita Barrow was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1980 as Dame of St. Andrew and Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George. Thereafter, she became known as Dame Ruth Nita Barrow.

Like her brother Errol, Nita Barrow was known for her outspoken nature and commitment to development. A founder and member of the Global Fund for Women’s Board of Directors, Dame Nita was especially concerned with women’s rights vis-à-vis health care.

In 1985, Dame Nita presided at the International Women’s Conference in Nairobi, Kenya. The next year, Barrow was appointed as Barbadian Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), a post which she held until 1990. Nita Barrow was the only woman named to the Eminent Persons Group. The group was responsible for investigating racism in South Africa.

In 1988, Dame Nita ran against then foreign minister of Argentina Dante Caputo for the position of President of the UN General Assembly.

A fiery campaign led to the first secret ballot Assembly President election since 1983. One of the most contested and heated campaigns in the history of the United Nations, Dame Nita lost the election.

Dame Ruth Nita Barrow died of a stroke on December 19th, 1995. She was 79 years old. She is honoured by a number of national and international initiatives and awards including:

She was made Dame of the [British] Order of St. Andrew’s in 1980 and awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of the West Indies. Although she refused to call herself a feminist, she cared deeply about the plight of the people and was awarded the Carribean Prize for Peace through Struggle for Justice in 1986, and the CARICOM Award for Women in 1987. A pioneer and advocate she was; for many, many in the world.

DAME MONICA JESSIE DACON, DBE. CMG.

DEPUTY GOVERNOR GENERAL OF ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES:

Monica Jessie Sheen was born on 4th June 1934. She has the distinction of being the first woman ever appointed as Deputy Governor General and as Acting Governor General in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  She is the widow of the former, well loved and highly respected parliamentarian, The Hon. St. Clair Dacon.

Monica Dacon attended The Girls’ High School where she passed both the Cambridge School Certificate and the Cambridge Higher School Certificate.  She then went on to enjoy a distinguished teaching career that spanned thirty-five years.  In 1952 she began teaching at her alma mater and the Boys’ Grammar School. She would return to the Girls’ High School eleven years later having taught in two Trinidad and Tobago schools, before returning to St. Vincent to teach at the Bishop’s College, Kingstown in 1966. Mrs Dacon acted as Principal of Bishop’s College for a few months before going back to the Girls’ High School where she remained for nearly fifteen years.

Mrs. Dacon continued her studies and gained the St. Vincent Teachers’ College Certificate in 1980 and two years later her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of the West Indies. On her return to St. Vincent she moved from secondary education to the tertiary level and became a lecturer at the St. Vincent Teachers’ Training College.

Throughout her life Monica Dacon has been involved in church and civic activities.  She was a member of the Girl Guides Association and served as a Brownie Guider as well as teaching Sunday school for many years and assisting with the preparation of the Methodist Church’s School Curriculum. In 2001 she was appointed as a member of the Public Service Board of Appeal.

Monica Jessie Dacon was appointed Deputy Governor General in 2001 when Sir Charles Antrobus was Governor General, she continued in this office upon his death and with the subsequent appointment of Dr. Frederick Ballentyne as Governor General. She has been Acting Governor General on numerous occasions, and continues to carry out her duties with grace and dignity.

ANGELA E. VERNON-KING, B.A., MA

Angela Evelyn Vernon King (August 28, 1938 – February 5, 2007) was a Jamaican diplomat. She worked for the United Nations for 38 years, from 1966 to 2004, working mainly for equal rights for women. She was appointed Assistant Secretary-General for gender issues in 1997, remaining in that post until she retired in 2004.

King was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Her father was Canon R.O.C. King; her brother was Peter King. She was educated at St Hilda’s High School and Wolmer High School in Kingston, and studied for a B.A. in history at the University College of the West Indies. She received an MA in educational sociology and administration from the University of London in 1962. She then joined the Foreign Office of the newly-independent Jamaica, and was posted to Jamaica’s Permanent Mission at the United Nations in New York.

Angela joined the UN Secretariat in 1966 from the Permanent Mission of Jamaica, where she worked on matters relating to human rights and social development. She was one of the first two women Foreign Service officers posted after Jamaica joined the UN. While at the UN, she held the positions of director of Recruitment and Placement, director of Staff Administration and Training, deputy to the Assistant Secretary General for Human Resources Management, and director of the Operational Services Division, where she worked closely with the Focal Point for the Improvement of the Status of Women in the Secretariat on issues such as special measures for women and sexual harassment.

Angela had a long history of active work for the advancement of women in the UN Secretariat.  She was a founding member of the ad hoc Group on Equal Rights for Women (GERWUN) and chaired the Secretariat’s High-level Steering Committee on Improving the Status of Women. Angela attended the First, Second and Fourth Women’s World Conferences in Mexico (1975), Copenhagen (1980) and Beijing (1995) and organized and directed the Beijing  Special Session of the General Assembly (2000).  She served as director of the Division for the Advancement of Women of the Department for Economic and Social Affairs (1996), where she was responsible for the†follow-up to the Beijing Conference and for managing the central UN program for the advancement of women. She also chaired the Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender and Equality (IANWGE) and supervised the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW).

The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has issued a statement in which he says: “Angela King led the United Nations’ efforts for the empowerment of women with knowledge, passion and courage as the United Nations worked to translate into practice the Beijing Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Dame Elmira Minita Gordon, GCMG, GCVO. Born on December 30, 1930, in Belize City Dame Minita Gordon has the distinction of being Belize’s first Governor–General from its independence to 1993, being the first woman in a Commonwealth realm to assume that position. She was educated in Belize City at St. John’s Girl’s School and St. Mary’s Primary School, before attending the Government Teacher’s Training College. Her teaching career began as an Anglican school teacher including missionary work throughout Belize, extending from 1946-1958. During the years 1959-1969 Dame Minita lectured at the Belize Teacher’s Training College, after which she became an Education Officer. She furthered her academic achievements by correspondence course from the College of Preceptors, Oxford, England. Dame Minita then went on to attend the Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham in England, the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada, then pursuing a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology followed by a Ph.D course in Applied Psychology at the University of Toronto, Canada. She became Belize’s first Psychologist in 1980. She has been a member of the Girl Guides since 1946, becoming District Commissioner for the Belize district in 1970.

Awards.

In 1981 became the first Belizean to receive a Certificate of Inclusion in the International Who’s Who of Intellectuals.

Justice of the Peace in 1974.

In 1975 awarded the Certificate of Honour and Life Membership of the British Red Cross.

Conferred with an honorary degree from the University of Victoria, Canada, in 1984.

Appointments.

Member of the National Library Service Board until 1976.

Member of St. Hilda’s College Board of Governors.

Deputy Chairperson of the Domestic Wages Council.

Member of the Y.W.C.A.

Member of the Educational Psychology Programme Planning Committee, University of Toronto 1977-1978.

Member Leather Craft Club, Toronto 1978-1980.

The Honorable  Madame Justice Désirée Bernard, O.R.,CCJ., C.C.H.

The Honorable Mme. Justice Désirée Patricia Bernard, a citizen of Guyana, was born on 2 March 1939. She read Law at the University of London, graduating with the LLB degree in 1963. Qualifying as a solicitor in 1964, Mme Justice Bernard engaged in private practice in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Guyana from 1965 to 1980. During that period, she was appointed a Magistrate (1970), Commissioner of Oaths & Notary Public (1976) and was admitted to the English Roll of Solicitors (1977).

Thereafter, Mme. Justice Bernard, established a number of professional “firsts”, being appointed the first female High Court Judge of the Supreme Court of Guyana (1980); the first female Justice of Appeal (1992); the first female Chief Justice of Guyana and in the Commonwealth Caribbean (1996); and the first female Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana and in the Commonwealth Caribbean (2001). Mme. Justice Bernard took the oath of office as a Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice at the Court’s Inauguration Ceremony, on Saturday 16 April 2005.

During her long and distinguished career, Mme. Justice Bernard has held memberships in various regional and international organizations, having been the founding Secretary of the Caribbean Women’s Association (CARIWA-1970-1974); first President of the Organisation of Commonwealth Bar Associations (OCCBA-1976); member and Chair of the Caribbean Steering Committee for Women’s Affairs, later established as the Women & Development Unit of UWI (WAND-1978). Internationally, Mme. Justice Bernard served as both rapporteur (1982-1984) and Chair (1985-1989) of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women during her membership, which ran from 1982 to 1998. Mme. Justice Bernard has presented many scholarly papers at and participated in numerous international seminars and colloquia both regionally and internationally.

For her exceptional contribution to the improvement of the status of women and to the development and practice of law, Mme. Justice Bernard has received several awards, the most notable being: the Cacique Crown of Honour, and the Order of Roraima, Guyana’s 3 rd and 2 nd highest national awards respectively.

The Honorable Mme. Justice Bernard is single, and has an adopted daughter, Ms. Carol Ann Bernard, herself an attorney-at-law.

Dame Billie Antoinette Miller, D.A. BCH

Dame Billie Miller was born in Barbados on January 8th, 1944.  She was educated at Belair Junior School and Queen’s College in Barbados, King’s College, Durham University, and the Council of Legal Education in England and was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1968 and one year later to the Bar of Barbados.  During the periods 1969-1976 and 1987-1994, she worked as a practising Barrister and Attorney-at-Law.  For several years she was the only woman practising at the private Bar.  Her practice was mainly a civil court and chamber practice where she carved out a specialty in family law in advance of modern family law legislation in Barbados. She is a member of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn-of-Court, London and was a member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers from 1975-76.

Dame Billie Antoinette Miller was re-elected Member of Parliament for the City of Bridgetown for the seventh time and was appointed Senior Minister in May 2003, retaining the portfolios of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.  She was the first woman to sit on the Cabinet of Barbados. Over the years, her ministerial portfolios have included Health and National Insurance (1976-1981), Education (1981-1985, with the Culture portfolio being added (1985), Senator and Leader of Opposition Business (1986-1991), Deputy Leader of the Opposition (1993-1994), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Business with the responsibility of Leader of the House of Assembly (1994), Foreign Affairs, Tourism and International Transport (1995), Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (1999-2008).

At the international level, Dame Billie Miller was the Co-ordinator of CARICOM Ministerial Spokespersons with Responsibility for External Negotiations in Bilateral, African Caribbean and Pacific States-European Union (ACP-EU), World Trade Organization (WTO) and Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) matters (appointed February 2002). At the national level, she is a member of the Barbados Family Planning Association, the Barbados National Trust and the Barbados Museum and Historical Society. In the past, she has served as:

• Member of the Council of the University of the West Indies (1981-1986)
• Chairman of the NGO Planning Committee for the International Conference on Population and Development which was held in Cairo, Egypt in 1994
• Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (1996-1999) – the first time a woman has been chairman since its establishment in 1911.
• President of the International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region (1991-1993, 1993-1995, 1995-1997)
• Member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation/Central Council, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc.
• Member of the United Nations Population Fund’s Advisory Panel for Activities Concerning Women
• Member of the Inter-American Dialogue
• Chairman of the Inter-American Development Bank’s Advisory Council on Women in Development in Washington (1996-2002)
• The first woman Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (1997-1998)
• President of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States Council of Ministers (1998)
• Chairperson of the Association of Caribbean States’ Ministerial Council (2000-2001)
• Vice-Chairperson of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (2000-2002)
• President of the 32nd Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) held in Barbados (2002)
• Vice Chairperson in the bureau of the Chair of the Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference held in Hong Kong, China (2005)
• President of the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Parliamentary Group on Population and Development for the Caribbean and Latin America (1999-2006)

She has received many distinguished awards including: the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal (1977); the Barbados Centennial Award 2000; the Grantley Adams Award for public service (2001 – the highest award given by the Barbados Labour Party); the National Order of Juan Mora Fernandez (2001, Government of Costa Rica); the “Woman of Great Esteem Award” (2002, US-based Q-Kingdom Ministries); and the “Dame Elsie Payne Award of Excellence” (2002 by the Queen’s College Association). She was also named “Grand Officer of the National Order of Benin” (June 2000) and was vested with the title of “Honorary Fellow of the Honors College at Florida International University” (2001) The accolade of Dame of St. Andrew (Barbados’ highest honour) was conferred on her by His Excellency the Governor General on December 1, 2003, in recognition of her distinguished career and her outstanding contribution to Barbados, International Organizations and Politics. Dame Billie was honoured on October 21, 2004, in New York, by the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Western Hemisphere Region during its 50th Anniversary Celebration for her outstanding contribution to the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health. On April 12, 2006, in Washington D.C., she was presented with the Order Bernardo O’Higgins in the rank of Gran Cruz by the Government of Chile for her contribution in the forging of stronger bilateral relations between Barbados and Chile.  On June 16, 2006, in New York, the Caribbean Tourism Organization presented her with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her distinguished service to the Caribbean and her promotion of the region as the world’s premier warm-weather destination.

Dame Billie Miller was selected as the Laureate for the United Nations Population Award, 2008, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the awareness of population issues.

CLAUDIA PEGUS CHRISTMAS COLLECTION GALLERY

INFLUENTIAL CARIBBEAN WOMEN – Pt. 4

Influential Caribbean Women….. who has impacted our history, culture and society.

AMBASSADOR BETTY E. BOYEA-KING

Ambassador Betty E. Boyer-King, St. Vincent born was nominated on October 22, 2009, by President Obama to serve as the Representative of the United States to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and attested by the President on February 12, 2010.

Ambassador King served as the United States Representative to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. In that capacity, she worked on human rights, development, children, aging, and population issues. She was the principal U.S. negotiator on the Millennium Development Goals.

Ms. King has an extensive background in philanthropy having served as the Vice President of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged children. She served as the Senior Advisor to the CEO of the California Endowment where she worked to improve health services and systems, and as an advisor to the Atlantic Philanthropies on their programs for children and youth.

In the public sector, Ms King has served as the Deputy Commissioner for Mental Health Services in the District of Columbia, as the Director of the Department on Aging in Arkansas, and as an Assistant professor at the University of Arkansas. Before assuming her duties in Geneva, she also served on the boards of Refugees International, The United Nations Association of the United States, Phoenix House, and on the Advisory Board of the Annenberg School of Public Diplomacy.

Ms King earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, a Masters Degree at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, was a National Humanities Fellow at Harvard University, and a Public Policy Fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles.

TIPHANIE YANIQUE

I’ve been writing as long as I have a memory. When I was five, I thought I wrote a novel. It was probably the alphabet over and over again. I was raised by my grandmother, who was a librarian. We always had books around and reading was the most celebrated activity in the house. I don’t have a granny that makes sugar cake or crochets. I have a granny who tells stories. I knew my mother had been a poet, but it wasn’t until I started to become a professional writer that the other, secret writers in my family started revealing themselves to me. My mother had been a poet, a cousin writes history, another journals. I’m sure there are more still.

Schoolteachers often asked me and other students to read our writing out loud. While this may seem kind of trivial and silly (I was still a child) it was vital to helping me consider writing as something that had a listening audience. Even when a reader is in a room by herself she’s still hearing the words in her own mind. Sound and rhythm are now a very important part of my writing.

But the most memorable story of my work being performed was not me performing it. When I was in my final year of high school, St Thomas, Virgin Islands, was victim to a major hurricane, Marilyn. We lived without running water and electricity for three months. Once school was back in session, a group called the Birch Forum put together a number of important events. One was inviting Maya Angelou to come read at our Reichhold Center. Associated with her coming was a poetry prize for high-school students. About four of us won and our poems were put into a book for her. When she started on stage she began her own performance by reading the poem I had written! She said something else about me being a part of the future of Virgin Islands writing…but I don’t remember exactly because I just about fell out of the balcony seat I was in.

Tiphanie Yanique 28, is the author of How to Escape from a Leper Colony, her work has attracted considerable critical acclaim, including the Boston Review Prize in Fiction, a Pushcart Prize a Fulbright in Creative Writing and an Academy of American Poet’s Prize. Her work has also appeared in Callaloo, Transition Magazine, American Short Fiction, & the London Magazine. She is an assistant professor of creative writing & Caribbean Literature at Drew University. The Boston Globe listed her as one of sixteen cultural figures to watch out for in 2010.”

MICHELE DUVIVIER-LOUIS

MICHELE DUVIVIER-LOUIS (born 5 October 1947) is a Haitian politician who was Prime Minister of Haiti from September 2008 to November 2009. She was Haiti’s second female Prime Minister, after Claudette Werleigh who served from 1995 to 1996.

Pierre-Louis has been the Executive Director of the Knowledge and Freedom Foundation (FOKAL), a non governmental organization financed by  George Soros, since 1995. In June 2008 she was nominated as Prime Minister by  President Rene Preval, after Préval’s two previous nominees were rejected by the  Chamber of Deputies.  Her nomination was approved by the Chamber of Deputies on 17 July 2008, with 61 votes in favor, one opposed, and 20 abstentions. It was approved by the Senate on 31 July, with 12 votes in favor, 5 abstentions and none opposed. Her political programme and government still had to be approved by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

Préval announced the composition of the new government on 25 August; aside from Pierre-Louis herself, there were 17 ministers, seven of whom were retained from the previous government of Jacques-Edouard Alexis. Pierre-Louis was appointed as Minister of Justice and Public Security, in addition to serving as Prime Minister. The government was to have been installed on 26 August, but this was delayed due to the impact of  Hurricane Gustav.

Pierre-Louis’ political programme and government were approved by the Chamber of Deputies and subsequently by the Senate on 5 September 2008, following extended negotiations. 16 votes were needed in the Senate; she received only 15 in the first vote, but in a second vote held shortly afterward she gained the necessary additional vote. There were no opposing votes, but one senator abstained. This vote occurred as Haiti was ravaged by the effects of Hurricane Hanna and Hurricane Ike, presenting a daunting challenge to Pierre-Louis and her government.

HAZEL SCOTT

Hazel Dorothy Scott (June 11, 1920 – October 2, 1981) was an internationally known, American jazz and classical pianist and singer.

She was called the “Darling of Café Society” back in 1939 when New York City was alive with the sounds of swing. A sexy siren sitting bare-shouldered at the piano, Hazel captivated audiences with her renditions of classical masterpieces by Chopin, Bach and Rachmaninoff. Nightly, crowds would gather at Café Society, New York’s first fully integrated nightclub, the epicenter of jazz and politics nestled in Greenwich Village, to hear the nineteen-year-old bronze beauty transform “Valse in D-Flat Major”, “Two Part Invention in A-Minor,” and “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2” into highly syncopated sensations. “But where others murder the classics, Hazel Scott merely commits arson,” wrote TIME magazine.

Hazel Scott was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago to Alma Long Scott, a musician. They moved to New York when Hazel was four. Recognized as a child musical prodigy, the young Scott was awarded scholarships to study classical piano at the Juilliard School from the age of eight. As a teenager, she performed piano and trumpet with her mother’s “Alma Long Scott” all-girl jazz band, which sometimes featured Lil Hardin-Armstrong.

By the age of 16, Hazel Scott regularly performed for radio programs for the Mutual Broadcasting System, gaining a reputation as the “hot classicist.” In the mid-1930s, she also performed at the Roseland Dance Hall with the Count Basie Orchestra. Her early musical theatre appearances in New York included the Cotton Club Revue of 1938, Sing Out the News and The Priorities of 1942.

Throughout the 1930s and 40s, Scott performed jazz, blues, ballads, popular (Broadway songs and boogie-woogie) and classical music in various nightclubs. From 1939 to 1943 she was a leading attraction at both the downtown and uptown branches of Café Society. Her performances created national prestige for the practice of “swinging the classics”.

In addition to Lena Horne, Scott was one of the first African American women to garner respectable roles in major Hollywood pictures. She performed as herself in several features, notably I Dood It (MGM 1943), Broadway Rhythm (MGM 1944), with Lena Horne and in the otherwise all-white cast The Heat’s On (Columbia 1943), Something to Shout About (Columbia 1943), and Rhapsody in Blue  (Warner Bros 1945). In the 1940s, in addition to her film appearances, Scott was featured in Café Society’s From Bach to Boogie-Woogie Carnegie Hall  concerts (1941 and 1943).

She was the first woman of color to have her own television show, The Hazel Scott Show, which premiered on the DuMont Television Network on July 3, 1950. During a period of continued racism in the advertising industry as well as economic hardships for jazz musicians in general, the show was canceled in 1950. Some journalists speculated that the show was canceled because of her name’s appearance in the Red Channels published by Counterattack. Scott was called to testify by the House Un-American Activities Committee just before her television variety program was canceled on September 29, 1950. Scott remained publicly opposed to McCarthyism and racial segregation throughout her career.

n Scott moved to Paris in the late 1950s, where she appeared in the French film Le Désordre et la Nuit’ (1958). She maintained a steady but difficult career in France and touring throughout Europe until returning to the US in 1967. She continued to play occasionally in nightclubs, while also appearing in daytime television until the year of her death. She made her television acting debut in 1973 on the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live,” performing a wedding song at the nuptials of her “onscreen cousin”, Carla Gray Hall, portrayed by Ellen Holly. Scott recorded as the leader of various groups for Decca, Columbia and Signature, among them a trio that consisted of Bill English and the double bass player Martin Rivera, and another featuring Charles Mingus on bass and Rudie  Nichols on drums. Her album Relaxed Piano Moodson the Debut Record label, with Mingus and Max Roach, is generally her work most highly regarded by critics today. In 1945 Scott married Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., a U.S. Congressman. They had one child Adam Clayton Powell III, but divorced in 1960 after an earlier separation. On January 19, 1961, she married again, to Ezio Bedin, a Swiss-born comedian. New York City.  She was 61 years old, and survived by her sodam Clayton Powell III.

BARONESS PATRICIA JANET SCOTLAND, QC

Baroness Patricia Scotland QC, is currently the Shadow Attorney General and Spokesperson for the Law Office. Previously she served as Attorney General in the last Labour Government under Gordon Brown, when she was the first woman appointed to hold this position since its foundation.

Baroness Scotland is a distinguished lawyer becoming the youngest ever QC at age 35, before receiving a life peerage in 1997. From 1999 to 2001 Baroness Scotland was the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor’s Department and Government Spokesperson for Law Officers’ Department 2001-03; Minister of State and Government Spokesperson for Home Office 2003-07; Government Spokesperson for: Trade and Industry 2004-05, Women and Equality Issues.

Baroness Scotland was born in the Commonwealth of Dominica as the tenth child of twelve. Her family moved to Walthamstow when she was two years old. She attended the Walthamstow School for Girls. She was educated at Mid Essex Technical College in Chelmsford where she pursued a London University (LLB) law degree in 1976 (in association with University College London). She was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1977, specialising in family and children’s law. Baroness Scotland made history in 1991 by becoming the first black woman to be appointed a Queen’s Council. She later founded 1 Gray’s Inn Square barristers chambers. Early in 1997 she was elected as a Bencher of the Middle Temple. Scotland was named as a Millennium Commissioner on 17 February 1994, and was a member of the Commission For Racial Equality. She received a life peerage on a Labour Party list of working peers in 1997.

Baroness Scotland is the Patron of the Corporate Alliance Against Domestic Violence. She is the joint Patron of Missio, a charity which is the Catholic Church’s official support organisation for overseas mission.

Baroness Scotland resides in London and in Asthal, the Oxfordshire village, where she and her barrister husband live with their two sons.

(Source: Golden Map)

CLAUDIA JONES

Claudia Jones (15 February 1915—24 December 1964) was born in Belmont, Port of Spain, Trinidad. She was a feminist, Black Nationalist, political activist, community leader, journalist, and communist in the U.S.. She is also remembered in the UK as ‘the mother of Notting Hill Carnival’.

As a result of the post-war cocoa price crash in Trinidad, when she was eight years old, she moved to Harlem, New York. Her mother died five years later and her father eventually found work to support the family.

She went on to win the Theodore Roosevelt Award for Good Citizenship at her junior high school, however due to her poor living conditions she was struck with tuberculosis in 1932. This was a condition that irreparably damaged her lungs, and she was plagued by it for the rest of her life.

She lived in New York for almost 30 years, becoming an active member of local Communist politics, and in 1941, at the age of 25. she became the National Director of the YCL. By 1948 Jones had been elected to the National Committee of the Communist Party of the USA and became the editor of the column ‘Negro Affairs’ for the party’s paper the Daily Worker.

Soon she had become an experienced public speaker on human and civil rights, giving speeches to increasingly large crowds. She travelled around the country to attend various political events, however soon her activities and rousing speeches began to attract the attention of the authorities. This was at a time when the U.S. was experiencing the McCarthy witch-hunts and anti-communist hysteria, which is now known as McCarthyism.

In total she was arrested and imprisoned four times by the U.S. government. In 1955 she was deported from the U.S., and given asylum in England.

In London during the late 1950s the cultural and social pressures were coming to a head. Racist gangs and supporters of Oswald Moseley’s Union Movement and Colin Jordan’s White Defence League were leading attacks on members of the Afro-Caribbean community. In the summer of 1958 tensions reached a new high, which resulted in the Notting Hill race riots in late August and early September. Racist violence in the area peaked on 17 May 1959, with the murder of a young Antiguan man, Kelso Cochrane by six white men who have never been arrested.

Claudia became very active in the campaigns to defend the Black community and involved herself in local politics, as well as joining the British Communist Party. She founded and edited The West Indian Gazette which was a strong vehicle for her ongoing campaign for equal opportunities for black people. She was embraced by the British Afro-Caribbean community, and become one of the most charismatic Black leaders of her day.

Claudia Jones lasting contribution in the UK is the Notting Hill Carnival. In 1959 she helped to launch Mardi-Gras celebrations, an annual showcase for Afro-Caribbean talent. These early events were held in halls and were epitomised by the slogan, ‘A people’s art is the genesis of their freedom’. These celebrations grow in popularity each year.

Claudia Jones died on Christmas Eve 1964 aged just 49, due to a heart condition and tuberculosis. She died alone and broke, and it was around 48 hours before her body was discovered. She is buried in Highgate Cemetery next to Karl Marx.The National Union of Journalists’ Black Members Council holds a prestigious annual Claudia Jones Memorial Lecture every October, during Black History Month, to honour Jones and celebrate her contribution to Black-British journalism.

In October 2008, Britain’s Royal Mail commemorated Jones with a special postage stamp.

INFLUENTIAL CARIBBEAN WOMEN – Part 3

Influential Caribbean Women who has impacted our history, culture and society…..

INFLUENTIAL CARIBBEAN WOMEN

CLASSICAL PIANIST MARIA THOMPSON CORLEY

Jamaican-born Canadian pianist Maria Thompson Corley gave her first public performance at the age of eight. Since then, she has appeared on radio, television, and concert stages in Canada, the United States, Central America, the Caribbean, Bermuda and Europe, both as a solo and collaborative artist, including performances in Budapest at the Liszt Academy, and in Carnegie Recital Hall, Aaron Davis Hall and Alice Tully Hall, all in New York City. She has collaborated with such artists as Metropolitan Opera soprano Priscilla Baskerville, and internationally renowned clarinetist James Campbell. Her performances as soloist with orchestra include engagements with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Gunther Schuller, the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Stephen Gunzenhauser, and the Allegro Chamber Orchestra, with Brian Norcross.

Her first CD, Dreamer, a collaboration with tenor Darryl Taylor, was released internationally on the Naxos label. Her subsequent discs, on Albany, include a recording of the first twelve of African American composer Leslie Adams’ etudes for solo piano and Soulscapes, consisting of music for solo piano by African American women.

Her undergraduate work was completed at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, where she studied with Alexandra Munn, whose teachers include Irwin Freundlich. Maria Corley received both Masters and Doctorate degrees in piano performance from the Juilliard School, where she was a student of renowned Hungarian pianist Gyorgy Sandor and the only pianist admitted into the doctoral program for the period of two years. She was also chosen to represent her alma mater in a tour of Central America, where she gave performances and master classes.

Aside from being an accomplished pianist, Maria Corley is an author, whose first novel, Choices, was published by Kensington. She is also a composer and arranger of music for both solo voice and chorus, with pieces commissioned and recorded by the Florida A&M University Concert Choir, the Tallahassee Boys Choir, and soprano Randye Jones.

She currently serves as staff accompanist at Millersville University in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Maria Corley is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota and a Rotary Club Paul Harris fellow.

www.jdosinternational.com

HER EXCELLENCY DAME LOUISE LAKE-TACK, GCMC

GOVERNOR GENERAL, ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

Dame Louise Agnetha Lake-Tack, GCMG, DStJ

 Louise Lake-Tack was born on July 26, 1944 at Long Lane Estate in the Parish of St. Phillip’s, Antigua.

She was educated at the Freetown Government School before attending the Antigua Girls High School in St. John’s

After graduation Dame Louise migrated to the United Kingdom (UK) where she pursued studies in nursing at the Charring Cross Hospital. Following her studies, she was employed at the National Heart Hospital and the Harley Street Clinic. She also studied at a number of educational institutions. These include City of Westminster College, Thames Valley University, the Open University, Holborn Law School and the Council of Legal Education to Study for the bar. She also served as a magistrate, and sat at Pocock Street Crown Court and Middlesex Crown Court to hear appeals from the lower courts.

 A devout member of the Anglican Church, she studied for one year to become a Christian counselor at her local church. “All Souls.” Langham Place, London. She also worked as a volunteer in the All Souls Christian Bookshop for several years.

 Dame Louise is a former member of the Anti-Apartheid Movement and helped to raise funds for the educational arm of that movement. She is a member of the Antigua and Barbuda National Association (London) for the past twenty-four (24) years. She sat on the church committee of that group which was instrumental in arranging the annual Antigua and Barbuda Independence Church Service in London.

 Dame Louise is an avid reader, occasional writer and a very keen gardener who enjoys growing grapes.

 She took office as Governor-General on 17 July 2007. She is the first female Governor-General of  Antigua & Barbuda.

Dame Louise is a widow with two (2) children.

DAME DEBORAH MAE LOVELL

Governor General Dame Louise Lake-Tack presents Dame Deborah Mae Lovell, Antigua & Barbuda’s Ambassador to the USA and the OAS with her insignia as a Dame Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation (DCN). 

Dame Deborah Mae Lovell, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS, was knighted during an investiture ceremony at Government House on Thursday.

Governor General Dame Louise Lake-Tack, presented Dame Deborah Mae with her insignia as a Dame Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation (DCN) for services as a civil servant and career diplomat.

Dame Deborah Mae credited her late mother Mrs Delores Lovell, for her accomplishments and the resulting recognition.

“The late Mrs Delores Lovell instilled in us the need for public service, and the imperative to give back. She died too soon, before she could have seen the fruit of her labor,” Lovell said.

“I would want at this moment not to think of Dame Deborah Mae Lovell, but to think of Mrs Delores Lovell who was my hero, who is my inspiration, and to whom I owe this high honor.”

Dame Deborah Mae has given nearly 29 years of her life to the public and diplomatic services.

HER EXCELLENCY, AUDREY PATRICE MARKS, B.Sc., MBA.

The Honorable Audrey Patrice Marks, Jamaica’s tenth Ambassador to the United States and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), assumed duties in May 2010. Ambassador Marks holds both a Bachelor and Master degrees in Business Administration. Ambassador Marks is the founder of Paymaster (Jamaica) Limited, a multi-transaction company which she conceptualized and started in 1997. The company has created 150 agencies in Jamaica, providing services to over 1.4 million customers and employment for over 400 persons with annual transactions of over $40 Billion Dollars. It is the first multi-transaction agency in the Caribbean.

Marks was born in St. Mary, Middlesex, Jamaica, and graduated from Marymount High School in Highgate. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica, and, in 1991, her Master’s degree in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship in Florida. Marks worked for Air Jamaica while studying for her Bachelor’s degree. In 2003, she became chairperson of the Tourism Product Development Company.

A career entrepreneur, Ambassador Marks started and operated businesses, ranging from a 100-acre banana exporting farm, transportation company, to a real estate sales and development company. She has also operated a Venture Capital Company with diverse investments, including manufacturing, travel and entertainment companies. .  

Ambassador Marks holds the distinction of being the first female President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (AMCHAM), an organization which promotes investment and trade between the US and Jamaica.

Ambassador Marks is married to Jassel Dunstan and they have two daughters – Morgan and Madison. She enjoys playing golf, mentoring young adults and spending time with her family.

 Ms. JENNY GUMBS, B.A., Honorary Consul General, GRENADA

Jenny Gumbs

Jenny Gumbs, Honorary Consul General, was born in St. George’s, Grenada. She attended the St. George’s Methodist School and the Anglican High School in Grenada. She continued her studies at the Ryerson University in Toronto, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Administration and Governance.

Ms. Gumbs was appointed to the Grenada Public Service before being transferred to the Consulate General of Grenada in Toronto. She was appointed as Hon. Consul in 2000 and to the position of Hon. Consul General in 2007.

Ms. Gumbs combines an active career with a deep commitment to volunteerism. She is actively involved with community organizations serving the Grenadian community in Canada and has also volunteered for the National Kidney Foundation of Canada. She is a founding director of the Grenada Hospital Endowment Fund. She also served on the Entertainment Committee of the Consular Corps Association of Toronto and on the Board of the Caribbean Canadian Literary Expo.

In 2007 she was the recipient of a Ryerson University Alumni Award of Distinction.

Ms. Gumbs was appointed to the Advisory Council for the Department of Public Administration and Governance at Ryerson University in May 2008.

She is married with one daughter.

CHERINE SMITH VALBURN, ESQ.

Cherine Smith Valbrun concentrates her practice in complex commercial, securities, and tort litigation matters. She has extensive experience in civil litigation, including breaches of contracts, employment issues and disputes, commercial torts, and shareholder and partnership disputes. She also has experience in drafting and negotiating commercial agreements. She has represented clients from a wide variety of industries including manufacturing, accounting services, information technology consulting, retail merchandising, homeowners’ associations, and other service providers. She has represented individuals and corporate entities in class action and multi-party litigation. Ms. Smith Valbrun was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica.

EDUCATION:

University of Miami, B.A., Political Science, cum laude, 2003.

General Honors, Departmental Honors.

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 2006.

Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association Scholar.

2005 Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women Lawyers Division National Bar, Association Scholar.

2004 Pro Bono Pledge Honoree, International Law Society.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

President (2009-2010), Board Member (2010-2011), Caribbean Bar Association.

Member, Broward County Bar Association.

Member, Dade County Bar Association.

Member, Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Bar Association.

www.lisdc.com

Her EXCELLENCY PAULETTE A. BETHEL, Ph.D.

Her Excellency Dr. Paulette A. Bethel is a global citizen with a wide range of experience as an educator, diplomat and negotiator. She received her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in 1980 and obtained her M.A. and B.A. from Howard University and the University of Toronto, respectively. Ambassador Bethel also holds a Certificate for Creative Processes Facilitation, as well as a Certificate for International Negotiations: Practical Skills and Techniques.

In 1976, Dr. Bethel lectured in Sociology for the Social Sciences Department at the College of The Bahamas (COB). She was subsequently appointed Chairperson of that Department in 1977 in which capacity she served for one year.

Ambassador Bethel began her career in international affairs in 1980 when she was employed by the United Nations as Assistant Social Affairs Officer in the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs (CSDHA) in Vienna, Austria. In 1983, after joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she was accredited as Deputy Chief of Mission/Minister Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the United Nations. She was subsequently posted to Washington D.C, in 1988, as Deputy Chief of Mission/Minister Counsellor with dual accreditation to the White House and to the Organization of American States (OAS).

After many years in the Foreign Service of her country, Dr. Bethel continued her work in the international arena, taking on the post of Director of the Department of Fellowships, in 1994, at the OAS becoming the first Bahamian national to hold a senior-level position in that Organization.

Upon relocating to The Bahamas in 1997, Dr. Bethel was employed in the private sector in the area of international financial and corporate services dealing with risk management and compliance issues.

In 2003, Dr. Bethel was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Commonwealth of  The Bahamas to the United Nations and presented her credentials to then-Secretary-General Kofi Annan on March 4, 2003. She is the first female Ambassador of  The Bahamas to the United Nations.

Dr. Bethel’s keen interest in global governance and global democracy has evolved as a natural outcome of her formal education in the field of Sociology, combined with her wide range of experiences on the global stage as both a diplomat and international civil servant.

Dr. Bethel has one daughter; Avery Bethel.

http://www.caribbeancargodc.com/

HER EXCELLENCY DESSIMA M. WILLIAMS

Dessima M. Williams was appointed Ambassador of Grenada to the United Nations on February 17, 2009. Williams’ diplomatic service prior to her new assignment includes representing her country as chief non-governmental organization (NGO) delegate to the Special Committee on Decolonization’s Caribbean Regional Seminar in Saint George’s, Grenada, in June 2007. She served also as Grenada’s NGO observer/delegate to various General Assembly sessions over the last nine years; NGO delegate to the 1995 Fourth United Nations Conference on Women and NGO Forum in Beijing; and NGO delegate to the World Summit on Social Development in Copenhagen, Denmark, also in 1995.

Williams has extensive academic experience: as an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Social Policy at Brandeis University, from 2003 to 2006; visiting Professor at Florida Atlantic University in 2002; and Jacob Ziskind Visiting Associate Professor of Sociology, also at Brandeis University, from 1992 to 1995. She is the author of the report, Gender Dimensions of HIV/AIDS in Grenada, and was a co-author of a multi-volume report to the United Kingdom Department for International Development, Realization of Human Rights in the Caribbean Territories, in 2002.

Williams serves on the board of the Inter-Agency Group of Development Organizations in Grenada, and the Center for International Policy in Washington, D.C., among others.

She received a doctorate in international relations and a master’s degree in international development from the American University in Washington, D.C., in 1995, in addition to a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Minnesota in 1976.

HER EXCELLENCY JACINTH LORNA HENRY-MARTIN

Jacinth Lorna Henry-Martin became Ambassador of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United States on Feb. 23, 2011, with concurrent accreditation as Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States in Washington.

Henry-Martin most recently served as director of U.S. operations for the St. Kitts Tourism Authority. She also previously served as director of culture and parliamentary secretary for culture in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Environment; federal minister of government, an elected position with portfolio responsibilities in information, culture, youth and sport; and as the deputy high commissioner of St. Kitts and Nevis in the United Kingdom.

HER EXCELLENCY La CELIA A. PRINCE, LLB. (Hons.)

La Celia A. Prince became Ambassador of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on May 30, 2008.

Ambassador La Celia Prince was born in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In 1999 she obtained an LLB (with honors) from the University of the West Indies in Barbados and then went on to gain her Legal Education Certificate from the Sir Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad, qualifying as a lawyer in 2001. In that year, she was enrolled at the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) as well as the Supreme Court of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Ambassador Prince first practiced as a barrister-at-law and solicitor in St. Vincent and the Grenadines before going off to do master’s studies in law at Cambridge University. In 2003, through a technical cooperation agreement between the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Ambassador Prince took up a fellowship in multilateral trade negotiations. She was assigned to the CARICOM delegation at the Secretariat of the Free Trade Area of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico, followed by a brief stint at the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. At the end of this assignment she worked at the Secretariat of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) in Brussels, Belgium on matters pertaining to multilateral trade and development, and in particular the negotiations of the Economic Partnership Agreements between ACP countries and the European Union. Her final assignment in Belgium was as a consultant with the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery, where she focused exclusively on CARICOM-EU trade and development partnership.

Arriving in Washington in September 2005, she has served as minister counselor at the Embassy of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and alternate representative to the Organization of American States, working on bilateral agreements between St. Vincent and the Grenadines and partners in Latin America, as well as actively participating as a delegate of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Government in various multilateral trade forums.

HER EXCELLENCY GILLIAN M. BRISTOL, B.A., LL.B.

Her Excellency Gillian M. S. Bristol is a national of Grenada, born in that nation’s capital of St. George’s to parents from St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. She was educated at the prestigious St. Joseph’s Convent High School in Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago, and obtained honors degrees in languages and law at the regional University of the West Indies studying in Barbados and Jamaica (B.A. and LL.B.). Ms. Bristol is a true West Indian in every sense of the word.

 Ambassador Bristol is no stranger to the multilateral relations community of the Americas having served for nearly 17 years in several portfolios at the Organization of American States (OAS) based in Washington, DC, with a membership of the 35 independent countries in this region. Her initial role at the OAS in 1992 as Special Assistant to the then Assistant Secretary General, was followed by a lengthy tenure as Committee Secretary responsible for hemispheric security-related matters, and concluded with specialized programmatic work in a senior position at the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism.

 In May 2009, Ms. Bristol was appointed by the Government of Grenada as its Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America as well as its Permanent Representative to the OAS. In those capacities Ambassador Bristol heads Grenada’s Mission in Washington, DC, representing her country’s interests to the Government of the United States and the other 34 other countries which comprise the OAS, and fosters closer relations between Grenada and Grenadians in the Diaspora throughout the United States. In August 2010, Her Excellency was also accredited as Grenada’s non-resident Ambassador to Mexico and presented her credentials to the President in January 2011.

The Ambassador has held several elected posts at the OAS including representing Grenada as Vice-Chair and Chair of the Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (March 2010 to March 2012) and President of the Retirement and Pension Fund Committee (2009 to present). Between January and June 2011 she assumed additional multiple roles as the Coordinator for the Caucus of CARICOM Ambassadors in Washington, DC, the Chair of the OAS Permanent Council, Chair of the OAS General Assembly Preparatory Committee and General Committee. She also presided over preparations for the Special General Assembly at which Honduras was reinstated to the regional body.

 Among her interests Ambassador Bristol ranks the protection of fair labor practices as reflected in her successful roles in three different periods as President, Vice-President and member of the OAS Staff Association Committee. She also has a passion for empowering youth, and a love of culture, the performing arts and foreign languages.

INFLUENTIAL CARIBBEAN WOMEN, Part 2

Influential Caribbean Women who has impacted our history, culture and society…….

DAME  PEARLETTE CALLIOPA LOUISY, GCMG.

Dame (Calliopa) Pearlette Louisy, GCMC (born 8 June 1946) is the Governor General of Saint Lucia. She is the first woman to hold this office, which she was sworn into on 19 September 1997.

Born in the village of Laborie she attended the Laborie Infant School and Primary Schools. In 1960 she proceeded to the Saint Joseph’s Convent on the Javouhey Scholarship. In 1966, a year after the completion of her secondary education she was awarded the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) scholarship to pursue a Bachelors’ Degree in English and French at the University of  The West Indies at Cave Hill, Barbados.

In 1972, she was awarded the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan to pursue a M.A. degree in Linguistics, in the field of Didactics at the Université Laval in Quebec City, Canada. In 1991, she proceeded to the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom where she read for a Ph.D. degree in Education.

Presentation of Credentials by Ambassador of Norway His Excellency Mr. Torbjorn Holthe to Her Excellency.

Louisy has contributed significantly to the development of Education in Saint Lucia, having spent most of her professional life in the teaching profession. During the periods 1969-72 and 1975-76 she taught at the St Joseph’s Convent. From 1976-86, she served as a tutor of French, and was subsequently appointed as Principal of the St. Lucia A Level College. When the A Level College and Morne Technical School merged into the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, she first served as Dean, and was subsequently appointed as the Vice Principal and Principal of the College.

In 1999, she was awarded with the Honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) by the University of Bristol. In that same year, Queen Elizabeth II, conferred on her the title of Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George.

http://www.bairdandbairdattorneys.com/

ALLYSON R. SOLOMON

Allyson R. Solomon was born in Trinidad and Tobago, and moved to Maryland with her family in 1971. She is a 1986 graduate of Loyola College of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Public Administration from Auburn University.

General Solomon began her military career by enlisting in the Maryland Air National Guard (MDANG) in 1979, and was later selected to attend the ANG Academy of Military Science. In November 1986, she was commissioned as a second lieutenant. General Solomon worked her way through the ranks, commanding at two different levels. She is the first woman and first African-American to be appointed as a senior commander in the MDANG. In January 2003, she was the first woman to be promoted to Colonel in MDANG history. She became the Commander of the 175 Mission Support Group in March 2003, and was responsible for over 585 personnel. General Solomon has also been assigned as the MDANG Executive Support Staff Officer, supporting the Assistant Adjutant General-Air and The Adjutant General, as well as the Maryland National Guard Equal Employment Officer.

In 2006, General Solomon was selected to serve as the Chief of the General Officer Management Office at the National Guard Bureau (NGB), Washington, DC. Reporting directly to the Chief, NGB, her office was responsible for managing the careers and training of over 350 general officers nationwide. General Solomon was asked to return to Maryland in June 2008, and was appointed by the Governor as the Assistant Adjutant General for Air. As the senior ANG general officer, she also commands the entire MDANG, which is an organization of approximately 1600 personnel that performs dual state and federal missions in support of the Governor and the United States Air Force. In addition, General Solomon serves as a Special Assistant to the Chief, NGB. She is an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

But being first did not come without its challenges.
With the help of mentors, she learned to overcome barriers by staying focused on the job at hand and that ultimately, the person you work for determines whether you meet their expectations and no one else’s opinion matters.

General Solomon currently resides in Bowie, Md., and attributes much of her success to her family.

“My most influential role model and mentor is my mother,” said General Solomon. “The things that I’ve learned from her both personally and professionally have made me who I am today.”

During her career, General Solomon has had many other role models who reinforced the values instilled in her by her mother. According to the general, being able to accept constructive feedback from peers and understanding your own weaknesses presents an opportunity to improve yourself while waiting for doors to open to other opportunities.

“As I reflect back on my career, where I’ve served, every position and rank from Airman to General, I recognize the role mentorship and guidance played in my achievements, especially the support from family and friends,” said General Solomon. “None of us achieves in isolation. Support, perseverance, and attitude are critical to achieving ones goals.”

General Solomon’s accomplishments have earned her accolades from both the military and civilian sectors.

Education:

• 1986 Loyola College, Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration and Management, Baltimore, Maryland
• 1992 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Alabama
• 1997 Auburn University, Master of Arts, Public Administration, Montgomery, Alabama
• 1997 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, Alabama
• 2001 Air War College, by correspondence
• 2009 CAPSTONE, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C.

http://villageacademydc.org/

ANNE CLARE COOLS, B.A.

The Honorable Anne Clare Cools, B.A.

The Honorable Anne Cools is an outspoken Senator residing in Ontario, Canada. Radical activist, author, politician, paternal rights/shared parenting supporter and child’s rights lobbyist, she is the first ever person of colour to be appointed to Canada Upper House. Born in Barbados in 1943, Anne Cools immigrated to Canada with her family in 1957 where they settled in Montréal, QC. In the 1960′s, Anne attended McGill University where she studied Social Work. It was during her time at McGill where she got involved in radical school politics and participated in a 10 Day sit-in at Sir George Williams University (Now Concordia University) in protest of alleged racism at the school. The demonstration resulted in over $2 million dollars in damages to computer equipment, and while Anne never participated directly in any of the damaging, she was sentenced to 4 months in prison for participating in the sit-in.

In 1974, Anne helped to start one of the first Women’s Shelters in Canada; Women in Transition Inc., where she acted as Executive Director.

She twice sought election to the Canadian House of Commons as a candidate of the Liberal Party of Canada. She lost the Liberal nomination in a highly contested race against John Evans for the 1978 by-election in Rosedale.

She ran again in 1979, and won the nomination but was defeated in both the 1979 and 1980 elections by Progressive Conservative candidate David Crombie. On her second attempt, she lost by fewer than 2,000 votes.

In 1984, she was summoned to the Canadian Senate by then Governor General Edward Schreyer, on the recommendation of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

In the 1990s, Cools served on the Senate/House of Commons Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access, which in December, 1998 issued its report, For the Sake of the Children. A principal recommendation of this report was that, following a relationship breakdown, shared parenting should be presumed to be in the best interests of the child. Her extensive work on the Committee, and its wide investigations, saw her become increasingly outspoken on the issues of fathers’ right, divorce  and family values. She was candid in her criticism of the Liberal government of Prime Minister Jean Chrétien when proposed legislation to be introduced in the House of Commons was shelved after intense lobbying by women’s groups.

Cools also became increasingly critical of the Liberal governments of Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin, and of same-sex marriage. On June 8, 2004, she announced that she was crossing the floor to join the Conservative Party of Canada.

Cools was vocal in criticizing Martin after the passing of a motion of non-confidence against his government in 2005. She openly called for Martin to resign rather than dissolving Parliament, stating that the motion of non-confidence was expressing no-confidence in the Prime Minister, and not directly in the government. Rather than calling for a general election, Cools stated that Martin should have resigned.

On June 25, 2007, she was removed from Conservative caucus for speaking out against Prime Minister Stephen Harper and for voting against the 2007 budget. She currently sits as an Independent.

She has designated herself as representing the Senate Division of Toronto-Centre-York.

http://www.lisdc.com/

BARONESS ROSALIND PATRICIA-ANNE HOWELLS, OBE

Baroness Howells of St Davids, OBE. born 10 January 1931 is a Labour member of the House of Lords.

She was made a Life peer as Baroness Howells of St Davids, of Charlton in the London Borough of Greenwich in 1999. The name St Davids refers to the parish in Grenada where she was brought up, to the south east of the Island. She has complemented the Howells family of Wales in taking the peerage name St Davids, perhaps unwittingly, since the patron saint of Wales is indeed St David.

Howells was educated at St Joseph’s Convent, South West London College and City College in Washington, DC. In 1955, she married John Charles Howells and they have two daughters.

Her career background includes being the Director of the Greenwich Racial Equality Council as well as a Community and Equal Opportunities Worker. Baroness Howells is a trustee of the Stephen Lewis Charitable Trust, and served as the unofficial adviser to the Lawrence family.

Howells was the first black woman to sit on the GLC’s Training Board; the first female member of the Court of Governors of the University of Greenwich and was the Vice Chair at the London Voluntary Services Council. She has worked with the Carnival Liaison Committee, and the Greater London Action in Race Equality and has been an active campaigner for justice in the field of race relations.

http://www.caribbeancargodc.com/

VALERIE ANN AMOS, BARONESS AMOS, PC.

Born March 13/1054 in Georgetown, British Guyana – (Guyana). Amos, who grew up in Wakenaam in Essequibo, left Guyana at age nine in 1963 with her mother and two siblings. Her father went to England two years earlier to set the stage for his family’s arrival.

Baroness Amos is former Leader of the House of Lords and  Lord President of the Privy Council.

She was appointed to the House of Lords in 1997. She became the first black woman to enter cabinet in 2003 and preside as Leader of the House of Lords. She was the longest serving Leader of the Lords since the mid-1980s and second longest in the last half century. Following a successful career in Local Government, Baroness Amos was Chief executive of the Equal Opportunities Commission from 1989 – 1994, before working extensively in post-Apartheid, South Africa.

Baroness Amos was the Personal Representative of the Prime Minister to the G8 on Africa from 2001-03 drawing up the G8 Africa Action Plan. In this capacity she accompanied the Prime Minister to G8 Summits in Kananaskis and Evian and represented the UK at African Union and NEPAD meetings across Africa.

From 1998 to 2001 Baroness Amos was appointed a Government Whip in the House of Lords. She was also the International Development Spokesperson from 1998 to 2007 and the Minister of State for Africa from 2001 to 2003. In 2003 she was appointed Secretary of State for International Development.

Between 2003 -2007 Baroness Amos became leader of the House of Lords and Lord President to the Privy Council. She also attended the Africa Union summit on behalf of HM Government in Accra, Ghana 2007, and the EU/AU Summit in Portugal 2007.

British High Commissioner to Australia October 1/2009 to September 2010

Baroness Amos, is the eighth and current UN  Under Secretary General of Humanitarian Affairs and Relief Coordinator, one of the top five jobs at the UN.

Baroness Amos has an Honorary Professorship in recognition of her work on equality and social justice from Thames Valley University.

Ms Amos was the first black woman appointed to a British Cabinet and the first black Leader of the House of Lords. In the United Kingdom, she has played a central role in the Government’s broader diversity and community-cohesion agenda.

DAME HILDA BYNOE

Dame Hilda Bynoe is the first female Governor in the British Commonwealth and the first native Governor of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique.

The first few years of her adulthood were spent as a Teacher at the St. Joseph’s Convent in San Fernando and at Bishop’s Anstey High School in Port of Spain, Trinidad, as a Science Student; and afterwards at her Alma Mater as a Teacher. In 1944 she left for Europe to study Medicine and graduated from London University, Royal Free Hospital, then the London School of Medicine for Women in 1951. While still a student, she met and married Peter Bynoe, a Trinidadian, R.A.F. Officer and student of Architecture; and it was there that her two sons Roland and Michael were born. The Bynoes returned to the West Indies in 1953 and Dr. Hilda Bynoe served in various disciplines of Medicine in Guyana and in Trinidad and Tobago for the next fifteen years.

Her life was to service in the teaching and medical professions to family and community. Her appointment as Governor of the Associated States of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique in 1968 was no surprise and gave tangible proof of the esteem in which she was held. She was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1969 and retired from the duties of Office in February, 1974.

It was in Grenada that Dame Hilda first began to write her poems and short stories, her essays and vignettes and she continued off and on with these after she returned to Trinidad in 1974 to resume her medical practice and her community service.

St. George, July 6, 2011: ‘Country Boy’, a painting by local artist Joseph Browne, was presented to Dame Hilda Bynoe, by the Grenada Women’s Parliamentary Caucus. In acknowledgment of her contribution to Grenada and the Commonwealth, the gift was presented to Dame Hilda by His Excellency Governor General Sir Carlyle Glean. The presentation was made during the dinner and awards ceremony of the 36th Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association – the Caribbean, American and Atlantic region.

In 1990, she retired to continue her writing and to assist in the care of her grand-daughters, Olukemi and Nandi Peta. She continues her Patronage of a number of organizations , including that of The Caribbean College of Family Physicians, The John Hayes Memorial Kidney Foundation and The Caribbean Women’s Association. She is a member of the Academic Board of St George’s University.

Her book “I Woke at Dawn” was published in 1996.

MARCIA GRIFFITHS – “THE QUEEN OF REGGAE”

Marcia Griffiths, born Nov 23rd. 1949 in Kingston, Jamaica, is, thus far, the most successful female reggae artist in the world with songs like “Young, Gifted And Black” (1970), “Feel Like Jumping” (1978) and “Steppin’ Out Of Babylon” (1979), and “Electric Boogie (1990) . She cooperated with Bob Marley on all his LP albums for Island Records and in all tours until his death.

THE QUEEN OF REGGAE: Marcia Griffiths has sung professionally for over 40 years, and had an early career with Bob Andy in the duo Bob and Marcia, who delivered hit songs like “Young, Gifted And Black” (1970) and “The Pied Piper” (1971). She was already an international star and more known than Bob Marley in 1973 where she contributed to the group’s first LP on Island Records – Catch A Fire – by running in songs like “No More Trouble”. In 1974, she joined Bob Marley & The Wailers as one of the permanent members of the I-Threes – the vocal trio that also included Judy Mowatt and Rita Marley, who lifted and reinforced Bob Marley’s messages on the stage and studio albums.

 Solo she delivered heavy love songs like “The First Time I Saw Your Face” and “Sweet Bitter Love” (1974) on the album Play Me Sweet And Nice and immortal roots reggae classic “Steppin’ Out Of Babylon” on the album Steppin’. In between, she released the album Naturally, where she sang Bunny Wailer classic Rastafarian song “Dreamland”, Bob Marley’s “Lonesome Feeling” and her own hit songs, “Feel Like Jumping” , “Truly” and “Melody Life” – songs that are still played by radio stations worldwide.

 With some help from Bunny Wailer 1990 she hit the Billboard chart with “Electric Boogie” (Carousel) and created a world class dance, the Electric Slide. This super star has been recording and performing ceaselessly.

 

At a recent reggae concert in South Florida, Marcia Griffiths demonstrated the same level of performance she has been known for over the years, as both a solist and a member of different groups. She displayed, in combination with Reggae rapper Cutty Ranks, on their duet of “Fire Burning”, all the zeal and elements that go into dancehall music. Marcia exibit the same exuberance when performing her international crossove hit “Electric Boogie.”

JANELLE “PENNY” COMMISSIONG 

First Black Miss Universe 1977

Janelle Penny Commissiong, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, was born in June 1953, migrated to the United States at the age of 13, and returned to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad in 1976. After winning the Miss Trinidad title, she went on to be crowned Miss Universe 1977 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She was the first woman from the Caribbean and the first woman of African ancestry to be crowned Miss Universe. Commissiong is the daughter of a Venezuelan mother and a Trinidadian father. In 1976, just before winning the Miss Universe crown, she studied fashion at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

During the Miss Universe pageant, Commissiong was a very popular contestant who won the photogenic competition of the pageant. Nonetheless, she was not considered the favorite to win the pageant. Most observers claimed Miss Austria, Eva Maria Duringer, was the odds on favorite to take the crown. Duringer finished as 1st runner up.

During her reign (1977-1978) Commissiong was a public advocate for black rights in nations where people of African ancestry were minorities, and she campaigned for world peace. In 1977, Commissiong was awarded the Trinity Cross, Trinidad and Tobago’s highest honor. Three postage stamps were also issued in her honor by her country. In 1978, Commissiong’s successor was Margaret Gardnier, Miss South Africa. For many it was tragically ironic to see the first Miss Universe of African ancestry crowning a woman from a nation that was internationally known for its racial injustice toward black people.

As the first black Miss Universe, Commissiong attracted more than normal international attention. For the U.S. to Asian media especially she was a particularly interesting topic. She was also in demand around the globe as a speaker. Much of the interest continued after her reign. Soon after she relinquished the crown in 1978, Joaquin Balaguer, President of the Dominican Republic, invited her to interview him in the National Palace. As she did during her tenure as Miss Universe, she continued to visit many African, Asian, and European nations as well as the United States.

After her reign ended Commissiong married Brian Bowen, the founder of Bowen Marine, a Trinidadian pleasure boat manufacturing company. When her husband died in an accident in 1989 she headed the company for a brief period. She remarried for a second time to Alwin Chow, another Trinidad businessmen and they adopted a daughter, Sasha. .