International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 every year. It is a focal point in the movement for women’s rights.

After the Socialist Party of America organised a Women’s Day on February 28, 1909, in New York, the 1910 International Socialist Woman’s Conference suggested a Women’s Day be held annually. After women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8 became a national holiday there. The day was then predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted in 1975 by the United Nations.

Today, International Women’s Day is a public holiday in some countries and largely ignored elsewhere. In some places, it is a day of protest; in others, it is a day that celebrates womanhood.

In this year women around the world will again gather to commemorate this important day in their calendar. The theme this year should be to encourage unity among women with a view to taking what is lacking. I do believe that there will be protests around the world fighting for rights, equal pay among many other things that are on their agenda.

I want to recognize some women that have contributed to the development of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Honourable IVY Joshua

Honourable Yvonne Francis-Gibson

Justice Monica Joseph

Mrs Norma Keizer

Honourable Girlyn Miguel

There are so many women that have contributed to the development of this beautiful country of ours “St. Vincent land so beautiful”. It will take pages to record all the names and their contributions. I chose a few but I will not close this chapter without mentioning the name of my mother Deldie Gregg-Bynoe. A devoted woman and mother to the family she raised and created this love among us and the community where we were brought up into good men and women.

May this day be a celebration for all to remember.