Women’s Commission Recognizes Several Outstanding Women

Today, on the last day of Women’s Month, the Ministry of Human Development along with the Women’s Commission and the Office of the Special Envoy for Women and Children held an awards ceremony. The purpose was to recognize a number of outstanding women from across Belize. Marion Ali attended the virtual ceremony and filed this report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

The hashtag of choice for this Women’s Month on various Facebook pages “break the bias” – a catchy line that keynote speaker at today’s award ceremony, Joan Burke-Skeen said she wished truly carried through.

Joan Burke-Skeen

Joan Burke-Skeen, Executive Director, B.F.L.A.

“As a country, we break the bias when more men – and Minister Balderamos, I’m not saying that you’re not doing the job – but when more men are given the portfolio of the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous People’s Affairs, allowing greater understanding by our males and appreciation of the struggles and hardship of women, young girls and children, especially in the equality and equity conversation. We break the bias when a female be given the portfolio of Ministry of Works. We have many upcoming female engineers.”

But for us to break the bias, the keynote speaker said women must be emboldened.

Joan Burke-Skeen

“As a people, we need the gut – the gut to stand up for what we believe in, even if you’re the last one standing. We must have the gut not to be afraid to take on and to embrace challenges. We must have the gut to defend and to respect differences. However, with the gut we need the heart to show compassion and to care; the heart to recognize every woman for her worth.”

Burke coined the words “Women of Worth” to create the acronym W.O.W. – an exclamation that should be befitting of every woman.

Marion Ali for News Five.