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President of the National Council of Women, Beverley Richards, left, and an unidentified woman chat at Heritage Square after the postponement of the march and rally on Friday. (iWN photo)
President of the National Council of Women, Beverley Richards, left, and an unidentified woman chat at Heritage Square after the postponement of the march and rally on Friday. (iWN photo)
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The march and rally that was scheduled to take place in Kingstown on Friday to highlight women’s rights issues in St. Vincent and the Grenadines was postponed because of rain.

“Unfortunately, due to the inclemency of the weather, a lot of folks called and said they couldn’t make it. A lot of people came around 5 [o’clock] when we had already made the decision to postpone the march,” Beverly Richards, president of the National Council of Women told iWitness News at Heritage Square, where the march was to culminate with a rally.

She said that the event has been postponed to March 8.

The inclement weather that has been affecting St. Vincent and the Grenadines for the past few weeks continued on Friday with light to moderate showers.

Meteorological officials say that the nation received 19.4 millimetres of rain in the 24 hours ending 6 p.m. Friday.

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The relative chill that has enveloped the nation continued on Friday with the minimum temperature being 19.4 degrees Celsius and the maximum 26.4 degrees Celsius.

At the time of the 6 p.m. weather report, the temperature was 22.6 degrees Celsius.

iWitness News noted to Richards that some persons have criticised the decision, saying that other persons have protested in even harsher weather for issues that they consider important.

“Well, I’m just the servant in this aspect of it, so there were differences of opinion,” Richards said, telling iWitness News that representatives of the different organisations said that because of the rain they would rather if the event was postponed.

Richards told iWitness News that about 75 persons turned up for the rally.

“Persons came and went away and there were those who were there hanging around… Persons came from Bequia and from the country (Windward) and from the Leeward side to join the march,” Richards said.

She told iWitness News that she is confident that they will attend the event when it is held on March 8.

“I spoke to them individually and we have their support.”

Organisers had planned to march four times around a block in Kingstown, with each lap highlighting a different issue.

“We were [going to march] against domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, sexual abuse and the different aspects of sexual violence against women and girl,” Richards said.

She said that through the event, organisers hope that women would be “more sensitised and get to the understanding that a victim is not a perpetrator and we need to stand by the victims when they are victimised.

“And also we need not violate each other. We ought to be good to one another.”

Forecasters said Friday evening that during the 12 hours ending 6 a.m. Saturday, unstable conditions (low level shearline) would continue to affect St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

This would result in generally cloudy and windy with some light to moderate showers and periods of rain, forecasters say.

They urged residents and motorists to continue to exercise caution near rivers, streams and low-lying areas.

A high surf advisory and small craft warning were also issued because of above normal northerly sea swells.

Small craft operators are being advised to exercise caution and beachgoers to stay out of the water.

5 replies on “Women’s rights march postponed because of rain”

  1. Is Ms. Beverly Richards, the same woman who was at the court appearances of Yugge Farrel who failed to acknowledge that there IS another woman i.e. Mrs. Duncan-Gonsalves? This woman’s statements on that day were tasteless and bias. I truly hope that the Woman’s Council will issue a statement distancing themselves from her statements made on that day that DOES NOT and SHOULD NOT represent a group aimed at protecting the welfare et al of ALL WOMEN.

    I really thought a group/organization of this caliber should be non-partisan, fair, unbiased etc. I was truly disappointed that as a representative of such a group that Ms. Richards made those utterances.

    Perhaps, the rain was a blessing in disguise!!!

  2. Ricardo Francis says:

    I am a firm believer in FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY. I respect and appreciate every person’s perspective, but it does not mean that I have to agree. I can simply understand the person’s perspective. Now, I have some questions respecting the Women’s Movement in St. Vincent and the Grenadines:

    1. Where was this women’s movement all these years?

    2. Is this a legally registered organization with a charter?

    3. Who is/are the FOUNDER/s ?

    4. Does this entity have an office?

    5. Does it have a Board of Directors?

    6. Is this entity and or movement affiliated and or associated with any given political party and or political parties in SVG, the Caribbean and more specifically, globally?

    7. Who is funding this entity and or this movement?

    8. Are their individual POLITICIANS and or LAWYERS in St. Vincent and the Grenadines funding this movement/ entity?

    9. Who is paying for the T-Shirts? Where is the money coming from?

    10. Can the women’s movement be blamed for some of the destruction in the family structure?

    11. Can FEMINISM be blamed for some of the destruction in the family structure?

    12. How many men in St. Vincent and the Grenadines have been abused by their girlfriends and or wives?

    13. How many of these men are afraid to speak out?

    14. Do men have rights, also?

    15. Are there different sides to a story and or issues?

    16. Is this a FRINGE movement?

    17. Are some of these women in the movement, currently members of the ULP and or NDP? and

    18. Where do you strike the balance?

    The Good Lord knows that there are so many more questions that I can ask about this issue. Remember, I believe every person rights should be respected. Forensically speaking, the photo above speaks to an agenda that may be more than what the eyes can see. I am confident that with the blessing of the GOOD Lord and the GOOD people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, I am the only person who make this country right.

    For the record, I am not a member of any political party in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

    Ricardo Francis, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in Waiting and in the Making.

  3. They are probably UN & Canada funded also probably under the umbrella of the National Organisation of Women Barbados. St. Vincent ratfied the UN CEDAW treaty in 1981 it obliges St. Vincent to have set of standards and laws that eliminate all forms of discrimination to Women.

    Sounds ok in theory but in practice its a traditional family destructive treaty which starts with the marginalisation of Heterosexual men under the guise of domestic violence.

    SVG will then have a government funded women’s shelter and range of female brainwashing seminars and empowerment education seminars.

    We all know opportunity is limited across the Caribbean so they are effectively selling them a dream. Women will be taught that in order to be independent and liberated they must leave heterosexual men alone. Once they have fully brainwashed the gullible majority they will lobby government for domestic violence legislation change using the international threat of the UN CEDAW treaty. In the face of international pressure the ULP or the NDP will fold and amended legislation will be passed. Shortly after the raping and abusing of women in SVG which is an alleged epidemic will miraculously disappear.

    Up next the rights of the child via the UN CRC which SVG also ratified comprehensive sexual education im school which promotes homosexuality in particular lesbianism, and transgenderism simultaneously will run the fight for gay rights and legalisation of same sex unions. This will be fought predominantly by LGBT women using the UN CEDAW treaty. All the newly created gay women that they have brainwashed in SVG will say they are entitled via treaty to protection ftom discrimination.

    SVG are at the beginning of their Radical Femimist driven roller coaster. When the ride stops the children will be sexualised via education, marriage will be a lesson taught in history class, homosexuality will be rife, youth crime will increase and hetrosexual fathers/husbands will be 4th class citizens buckle up guys! check it out on “kids against broken homes and the NGO’s creating them in Barbados” on Facebook. That page will detail to you why, who, when, where & How they plan to tear apart SVG for financial gain.

  4. Rain, my ass! The crowd was too thin so they called it off. It will never be held on March 8 because of too much hot sun.

    Also, many good questions and comments in the posts already made above. Equal treatment for women is a goal we should all support — but radical lesbian feminism is something we should all fight tooth and nail to prevent.

    1. C-Ben, there were about 30 people in yesterday’s march and the sun was “burning down” Kingstown. It’s unfortunate that issues surrounding women will never be highlighted because of the clear bias by some of those who head these organisations.

      I hope Mr. Chance does a follow up story so we can hear the reasons behind the poor turn out.

      Time for some introspection Women’s Council. Act for ALL WOMEN AND NOT JUST A FEW, WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE!

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