Hon Flax-Charles rejects official Heroes & Foreparents Day flyer excluding women

- says there is absolutely no excuse for no women appearing on flyer

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Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) has rejected the official flyer released by the Department of Information and Public Relations for Heroes and Foreparents Day only has photos of men considered heroes in the Virgin Islands. Photo: GIS/VINO

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Today is Heroes and Foreparents Day in the Virgin Islands (VI); however, not everyone is celebrating without a grievance.

Some women are peeved that the official flyer released by the Department of Information and Public Relations for Heroes and Foreparents Day only has photos of men considered heroes in the Virgin Islands.

‘Every day it is a fight for women’- Hon Flax-Charles

One of the persons who is not taking this well is Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development Honourable Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL).

“I suppose whoever did the flyer couldn't think on ONE BVI WOMAN that have done anything significant. It is insulting and shameful. Every day it Is a fight for women and the Sister islands.

“I refuse to use this flyer on anything I post today. I respect and love the men and their contributions but this is a blatant exclusion of women. There is absolutely no excuse for this,” Hon Flax-Charles shared on social media.

Although no woman is featured on the flyer it does state that Heroes and Foreparents Day honours both “men and women” who helped to build the Virgin Islands.

Up to the time of publication, Chief Information Officer in the Department of Information and Public Relations Desiree Smith did not respond to our request for comment.

39 Responses to “Hon Flax-Charles rejects official Heroes & Foreparents Day flyer excluding women”

who cares (17/10/2022, 14:14) Like (23) Dislike (59) Reply
child U need go practice on your so called calypso which U wasn't good at , and now U managed to fool people and got elected , U want to play U are a super ????
- Smh (17/10/2022, 14:33) Like (28) Dislike (13) Reply
  @whi cares whi cares what you think. She us right. These men are despicable and disrespectful
- Shameful (17/10/2022, 22:23) Like (24) Dislike (0) Reply
  It has a certain set who claim the former disgraced Premier is a hero with some saying unsung hero SMH.
  
  If it was their child who got caught up in the drug world or killed because of drugs and guns allowed to enter and pass through through this place because of a disgraced premier, they WOULD NOT be saying that must less their free him hashtags.
  
  Goes to show some people lack INTEGRITY.
Preach it Sista. (17/10/2022, 14:18) Like (41) Dislike (11) Reply
I fully agree with you.
St. Ursula (17/10/2022, 14:26) Like (14) Dislike (14) Reply
OMG the BVI Dept. of Information and Public Relations left me off the flyer! Big mistake BVI government, the Pope in Rome will be sending his Swiss guards to investigate this abomination!! Remember its MY feast day along with your BVI heroes/ fourfathers celebration.
???????? (17/10/2022, 14:33) Like (10) Dislike (8) Reply
Rejected????????
- Down West (17/10/2022, 20:53) Like (28) Dislike (9) Reply
  If they had leave the holiday with its official name St. Ursula’s Day there would be no need to whine and fuss about it. But the bad mind, rejection and hatred towards the UK caused them to change it. This country is in serious trouble. Who to blame?
Bucket (17/10/2022, 14:34) Like (14) Dislike (38) Reply
Child go sid dung with you nonsense.

You are a one termed representative. No more for you sah!
Anonymous (17/10/2022, 14:44) Like (14) Dislike (9) Reply
The director of culture and her Deputy are female plus the two ps in the ministry of culture (premier office) are female these people just less and useless i with you on this Flax-Charles
- @Anonymous (17/10/2022, 21:45) Like (2) Dislike (7) Reply
  all those people you mentioned are still alive fool.
  - @@Anonymous (18/10/2022, 09:10) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who says a person must be dead to be considered a National Hero? Why can't an individual enjoy the alcove of being recognized as such while they are amongst the Living before joining their Ancestors. It's our ways of thinking sometimes contributes to the divisiveness in our Communities.
outta place (17/10/2022, 14:46) Like (13) Dislike (22) Reply
Wha wrong wid dis woman lib?
gal (17/10/2022, 14:58) Like (12) Dislike (10) Reply
The whole phrasing of the holiday was not really meant to include the female gender. 1 Heroes - masculine gender. It seems like forparents were an after thought because forparents refer to the male and female gender. So why have the two words to represent the males and the later can be the same gender.
We have a holiday already for Levity and another holiday for the restoration of the Legislative Council of which them same men represent.
This holiday is a waste of time.
Virgin Islands (17/10/2022, 15:00) Like (20) Dislike (11) Reply
Hon I support you a vi woman should be included we are Gender bias community
Woman (17/10/2022, 15:08) Like (16) Dislike (7) Reply
it make sense to add women to the list and it has nothing to do with politics. Women through some of us during our various school days and we have blossomed to be successful. So the women plays a good role in the development of these virgin islands
Gladys (17/10/2022, 15:36) Like (12) Dislike (15) Reply
You will always run into someone who doesn't think much of their own self or how much their mother and other women have done for this island. So Who Cares you need to get a life
Socrates (17/10/2022, 15:50) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
What are the criteria and process for getting recognized as a national hero and heroine? Who bottom line the list? Was this a genuine oversight? If there are qualified and deserving women, should not the PS (PSs are hired for public affairs experience), should have flagged the omission and correct before publishing? Have women been recognized as heroines in previous year? Are there a limit on the number of heroes/heroines recognized each year? If there were all women on the list, would there be the safe fuss? Should women be recognized for their contributions on the basis as men? Yes. If the list contained all women, would there the same fuss? Is this raising a storm in a tea cup? Is this political correctness? Has the mainland Tortola always gotten a disproportionate share of the recognition? Is it a surprise that sister islands have always gotten the shaft? Should a woman or man be selected just for gender balance? Have Eileen Parson, Pearl Varlack, Lou Harrigan, Jenny Wheatley, Ethlyn Smith, Millicent Mercer, etc, gotten their star? Why is today more of big deal? Was the ball drop ?
- Mrs Tubman (18/10/2022, 07:08) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
  Thanks for mentioning the well deserved recognition women. Her first order if righting the wrong as best she could,should have been the names of deserving females, I scanned the article and responses to find such a list and gleefully found yours...Much Appreciated!!!
  - METOO (18/10/2022, 16:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Only criticism left and right top to bottom.
    I was listening to hear her naming the sheroes that she was adding to the rightful honor..
    before the day pass as a way to fix the situation currently as a solution.
    But all I hear is shoulda...schuuups..
???? (17/10/2022, 17:03) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
ST Ursula Twerking
c (17/10/2022, 18:43) Like (11) Dislike (11) Reply
Respect is earned not demanded
c (17/10/2022, 18:49) Like (3) Dislike (19) Reply
Is Flax upset because her photo and name were omitted?
Expat (17/10/2022, 19:32) Like (2) Dislike (14) Reply
Can a expat become a He....?
At this point, (17/10/2022, 21:53) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
we don't really care who is on the photo. Life was simple with St. Ursula. She is a woman.
Yes but... (17/10/2022, 22:14) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
I agree that it could and should have included women but why the BLEEP did you have to bring in the whole "sister island" song? We know you mean Virgin Gorda and no, it is not its own country. It is part of the VI so deal with it and stop creating this separatist rhetoric!
90210 (17/10/2022, 22:29) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
No matter who u put on the list somebody will complain. Just be thankful for the holiday n go relax. It got plenty other things the government doing that worth complaining for yet everybody tight lipped about it.
Woman (18/10/2022, 02:11) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
She is correct! Womem are always placed on the back bench when they are the driving force behind the sucessful men. They better recognize!
Plus, there are some women who have contributed greatly to the BVI.
NURSE IRIS ONEAL, Alexandrina Maduro, Althea Scatliffe, etc etc etc.

Come one man! Not even 1?????
VG (18/10/2022, 06:15) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply

I’m so sorry I voted for you.A @*&^ poster you making noise about? So much &*@! on VG for you to make noise about!!!!!
- @VG (18/10/2022, 08:29) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
  That is why you have a District Rep! Hon Flax Charles is ALLLL OF OUR REPRESENTATIVE!!! Go and take that up with your District Rep and while you at it, get an update on the investigations upon him. With your “sorry” self.
  - VG (18/10/2022, 11:19) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    You sound upset? I voted for her!
    I can say what the hell I want!
    - @VG (19/10/2022, 17:45) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      No you cannot say what the hell you want! Like I said, go take it up with the District Rep! Hon flax Charles have done a way better job anyone of them in regards to addressing the people! But your ‘sorry’ self won’t see that! You too sad in sorrow! LEAVE OUR REP HON FLAX CHARLES ALONE, WE VOTING FOR HER!!!
Tired (18/10/2022, 06:35) Like (8) Dislike (3) Reply
Some of us in this country really need to grow up. It’s the principle here. We talk about BVI being inclusive and we can’t even get a damn flyer right. We talk about honoring our heroes and Foreparents but we actually dishonor and disrespect them by not getting this day right. We may not like and agree with The Hon on many things including her political affiliation but in this instance she is right. And yes she should and must bring ‘de sister island thing’ into it because we need to remember that the BVi is not only Tortola.
Zion Hill (18/10/2022, 06:49) Like (3) Dislike (9) Reply
She hated Andrew she can run rings around the now slow premier but we waiting on her next election in district one
ANDY (18/10/2022, 08:25) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
This holiday's travesty is just the tip of the iceberg. The incompetence due to appointees being given preferential treatment and ultimately assignments beyond their scope and depth is where the problems go unchecked. Perhaps us as individuals need a reset to 'Territory/Country First; then Self'.
whatever (18/10/2022, 08:35) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
She is so right. Not only is it a slap in the face to all women, but the holiday just does not make sense. We have a department of culture and what did they come up with to commemorate this day? No programme. Absolutely nothing. A baseless day to lime. Then the flyer added insult to injury, plus word that a select committee formed will decide who our heroes are. Gimme a break. Public input is direly needed.

As usual, these people go about changing the face of the BVI Willy Nilly with their small cliques, reinventing the wheel with their recycled has-beens. No scope for growth. What was wrong with St. Ursula's Day? They changed it and still can’t seem to get it right. Heroes and Forefathers Day, then the next year Heroes and Foreparents Day. What next?

Carry on. Let them continue with their mess.
Reader (18/10/2022, 10:09) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
I quite agree that women are to be included...and by the way it now rightly reflects both males and females who HAVE PASSED ON, and have left a notable legacy.
@ truth (18/10/2022, 18:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
We care , and her message is correct / except the 3 we have there , what have they brought to the table Question ❓ we do need ( REAL WOMEN AND MEN ) with integrity •¿• sat down and agreed to everything the puppet master sung and danced to his music
@ truth (18/10/2022, 18:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
we care , and the lady's message is correct / but the point is , we have ( 3 ) of them there ,what have they brought to the table ❓ THEY ALL , sat down and agreed to whatever and everything the the puppet master sung , and danced to his music with no integrity / so we do need ( REAL WOMEN AND MEN WITH INTEGRITY ) these ( boys & girls ) has a lot to be desired , NO OFFENCE
RealPol (18/10/2022, 18:55) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
This is some womansplaining. Recognition as a national hero or heroine should be one of territory’s highest order. And recognition should be based on extraordinary action and effort over time that had a marked positive impact on Virgin Islanders’ lives. It should be based on merit, not political correctness, politics, gender, connection, familial and friendship connection, social status, etc.

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Hon Flax-Charles rejects official Heroes & Foreparents Day flyer excluding women

39 Responses to “Hon Flax-Charles rejects official Heroes & Foreparents Day flyer excluding women”

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