Address Alida Francis, Government Commissioner International Women’s Day
I would like to thank the organisers of today’s event for inviting me to be part of this special occasion to honour an extraordinary Statian woman.
Having come from a large family of farmers and contractors, Dr. Dorette Courtar is a true daughter of the soil who has gone on to build an impressive resume as a medical specialist with extensive experience in the field of obstetrics and gynaecology.
At the same time, she has skillfully deconstructed the barriers to success imposed by an antiquated, patriarchal society intent on “keeping women in their place.”
Dr. Courtar, like a growing number of talented, educated and determined Statian women, has ignored the societal limits, and shattered the proverbial glass ceiling.
To achieve these great heights she has had to, according to the American poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, toil upward in the night. Every successful woman here has had to.
But you know as well as I do, that whenever a Statian woman sets her sights on achieving a goal, nothing gets in her way.
Dr. Courtar’s achievements being celebrated today are a manifestation of how far we have come as a people, in accepting that our daughters, our girls, our women are as intelligent, as creative, as passionate and as capable as our male counterparts of achieving great things.
After all, our society has been, and continues to be, built on the strength of our women. Over the ages, Statian women have quietly provided the discipline, direction and decorum that our children need to grow into productive citizens.
I would like to mention here Gloria Gibbs (Mammie) the stay-at-home mother who has nurtured four generations of her own and many others who did not belong to her. She recently left us, but her influence and impact will last several lifetimes. And there are many others like her; Christine Flanders, Tr. Olive Berkel, Miriam Schmidt, Ingrid Whitfield, Leonora Sneek-Gibbs, Tr. Louise van Putten.
Then there are those of these times, who just like Dr. Courtar, have excelled in their chosen professions: Adelka Spanner, Rechelline Leerdam, Aisheline Maduro, Xiomara Balentina, Dr. Jean Marie Schmidt.
On this international Women’s Day, I reserve a special place in the spotlight for my schoolmate Joan Windefelde, a single mother who did not get the chance to pursue her education beyond primary school, yet because of her drive and determination today she is an entrepreneur who employs others.
The evidence then is clear that the women of Statia and the Caribbean are the true architects and builders of our society.
Yet, we have been told again and again that we must know our place. Thankfully, in these modern times we are no longer condemned to the kitchen, neither do we settle for the few professions assigned to us by the rest of society.
We have become successful business owners, executives, psychologists, accountants, lawyers, doctors, and island commissioners.
Yet, we are a long way from achieving the level of equality envisaged in the United Nations declaration of human rights.
We are told that we can aspire to be successful in whatever field we choose, but only to a point. We are told we can achieve greatness, but only to a point. We are told we can be great political leaders, or top-class senior officers or the best mechanics or scientists, but only to a point. Because the moment we begin to excel, the moment we begin to demonstrate assuredness in our abilities, the moment we begin to show the world that we have what it takes to be successful, the patriarchal societal structure begins to feel threatened and we are asked, who do we think we are.
Therefore, today’s theme, “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow - Break the Bias” is so timely and apt.
It reminds us that in order to realise our true potential as an island, men and women must be treated as equals in every way.
Therefore, we will know we have achieved equality when we no longer differentiate between our female and male teachers, or doctors or any other professional.
We will know we have achieved equality when no longer limits are placed on the amount of ambition that our girls must have, what our women can aspire to become, or how successful our professional women must be.
And we will know we have achieved equality when we no longer hold our women on Statia to a higher standard than their male counterparts.
We can do it, Statia. We can and must break the bias.
Happy International Women’s Day!
