50 INSPIRATIONAL CARIBBEAN WOMEN Can you name an inspiring Caribbean woman who has left her mark on the region? In commemoration of International Women’s Day 2015, celebrated on March 8th, we highlight 50 Caribbean women from diverse fields who have made a positive contribution to Caribbean society. May you also be inspired to live a life of passion and positivity!
1. Celia Sánchez Manduley (Cuba) Cuban revolutionary, politician, researcher and activist
10. Dame Pearlette Louisy (St. Lucia) First Governor General of St. Lucia and lifelong educator
First female agronomist in Barbados and first agronomist to serve as an Independent Senator
2. Cher Corbin (Barbados) First forensic scientist in Barbados, actress, photographer, poet and novelist
11. Dame Ruth Nita Barrow (Barbados) Regional expert on public health and education, served as an Advisor for the Caribbean Area to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and as a health consultant to the World Health Organisation (WHO), appointed as Governor General of Barbados in 1990 and is the first woman to receive the Order of the Caribbean Community
17. Dr. Rosalind Ambrose (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) First trained female Vincentian radiologist, pioneer for advancement in medical imaging technology in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and founding member of the Caribbean Society of Radiologists
3. Constance Mitcham (St. Kitts and Nevis) Lawyer, champion for women’s rights and first female elected to the Parliament of St. Kitts and Nevis 4. Cynthia McLeod (Suriname) Surinamese historical writer and intellectual with novels of international acclaim that feature prominently in Surinamese school literature and society 5. Dame Dr. Doris Johnson (Bahamas) Teacher, leading advocate for women’s suffrage in the Bahamas, first female appointed to the Senate, first female President of the Senate, first female Minister of Government and author 6. Dame Elmira Minita Gordon (Belize) First Governor General of Belize, Patron of the Belize Girl Guides Association and Scout Association of Belize and trained psychologist 7. Dame Eugenia Charles (Dominica) First female lawyer in Dominica and first female to be elected as Prime Minister in the Caribbean 8. Dame Hilda Bynoe (Grenada) First Governor of Grenada and in the British Commonwealth, general physician and writer 9. Dame Louise Lake-Tack (Antigua and Barbuda) Lawyer and first female Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda
12. Dame Yvonne Maginley (Antigua and Barbuda) Lifetime pioneer of tourism development in the Caribbean, Director General of the Tourism Board in Antigua and Barbuda and Deputy Governor General from 1999-2004 13. Dana Seetahal (Trinidad and Tobago) Attorney-at-law (appointed Senior Counsel in 2006), served as State Prosecutor, Assistant Solicitor General, Magistrate and Independent Senator, university lecturer, newspaper columnist and author. Her first book “Commonwealth Caribbean Criminal Practice and Procedure” is the first of its kind to be published in the region 14. Dr. Camille Wardrop Alleyne (Trinidad and Tobago) Aerospace engineer and only woman of Caribbean descent to hold a senior management position at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) agency 15. Dr. Desiree Cox (Bahamas) First woman from the British Caribbean to win a Rhodes Scholarship, medical doctor, social entrepreneur, jazz singer, artist and writer 16. Dr. Frances Chandler (Barbados)
18. Ertha Pascal-Trouillot (Haiti) First woman in Haitian history to hold the office of President, first female lawyer in Haiti, first female Justice of the Supreme Court of Haiti, writer and teacher 19. Edwidge Danticat (Haiti) Haitian author of more than 10 books representing life in Haitian society and her experience as a Haitian in America 20. Ellen Peters (Montserrat) Pioneer of the labour movement in Montserrat, General Secretary of the Montserrat Trades and Labour Union 21. Gladys Bustament (Jamaica) Leading advocate for workers’ and women’s rights in Jamaica and prominent member of the Jamaican trade union movement 22. Heraldine Rock (St. Lucia) First female member of Parliament in St. Lucia, first female Minister of Government and Senator from 1982-1987 23. Her Excellency Menissa Rambally (St. Lucia) Youngest member elected to the Parliament of St. Lucia at age 21, youngest serving Minister and St. Lucia’s first female Permanent Representative to the United Nations