The toughness and tenacity of women during slavery was extraordinary. Two outstanding female slaves were Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth who played important roles. Harriet Tubman, a heroic and bold-spirited slave was praised as a well-known underground rail road conductor. During a ten year span she made nineteen trips into the South and escorted over three hundred slaves to freedom. Sojourner Truth was an African-American evangelist and reformer who applied her religious conviction to the abolitionist movement and women movement.

We paused to remember courageous Rosa Parks the first lady of civil rights and the mother of the freedom movement. Mrs. Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger, and this act of defiance became the important symbol of the modern civil right movement. Rosa Parks became the international symbol of resistance to racial segregation. We call to remembrance Shirley Chisholm who in 1968 became the first Black woman to serve in the United States Congress. In 1972, she ran for the highest office in the land-president of the United States. She was voted one of the ten most admired women of the world. In 1979 Margaret Thatcher became the first woman in Britain to become prime minister. Her political career has been of the most remarkable of modern times. Mrs. Thatcher served as Prime Minister for eleven years, a record unmatched in the 20th century. For the last quarter century Margaret Thatcher has been one of the world’s most influential and respected political leaders. Nancy Pelosi is the minority leader of the United State House of Representative.

She was the Speaker of the House of Representative from 2007 to 2011. She was the first woman to hold this office and the highest ranking female politician in American History. Hilary Clinton is the 67th Secretary of State of the United States serving in the President Barack Obama administration. Mrs. Clinton was a United States senator for New York for two years. In 1993 – 2001 she was first lady of the United States. She ran unsuccessfully for president in 2008.

Like women of the world, women of the Virgin Islands have made an impact and have made great contributions in the political arena here at home. The very first woman to run for political office in the Virgin Islands was Millicent Mercer in 1971. Eileen Parsons and Ethlyn Smith in 1995 became the first two ladies to be elected to the legislative council. In the 2003 elections, Eileen Parsons was again elected and Deloris Christopher was successful in her bit to be elected. The elections of 2007 saw Dancia Penn-Sallah and Irene Penn-O’Neal joining the ranks of courageous women who have left their marks on BVI politics. Over the years in politics we have had a female deputy Chief Minister in the person of Eileen Parsons, and Attorney Dancia Penn-Sallah served as Deputy Premier. We even have a Deputy Governor, Inez Archibald.

What is the next step? I think it is time to consider a Female Premier. If we can hold the second position on the ticket, we can hold the number one spot. The women of the Virgin Islands are strong, tough, and courageous; they are accustomed to leadership roles at home, church, and school and in government. Our women are plain-spoken and have always spoken their minds when it comes to the effective running of our country. They have contributed in every way to the building of these Virgin Islands.

Like other women of the world, women of the Virgin Islands are going to be contending for the top position. To become the leading political leader in this territory is just another challenge. The challenge may be great, but not insurmountable. Our ladies will be seeking to be Premier of this great country. A female Premier will run the country a new style of leadership that is uniquely woman. One may ask the question, why a woman Premier, but like John F. Kennedy, I ask why not.

A woman can do the job better. Like all other good leaders she will be insightful, knowledgeable, sensible, and full of wisdom. Our female leader will have the stamina, courage, and perseverance to do the toughest job. With a woman in the seat of authority it will be a turning point in the political history of this country.

Finally as we move into the 21st century may we remember the sterling contribution that women have made in politics? The next step is to hold the highest elected office in the land when this happens, it will be the dawn of a new day in these islands. Let the word go forth to friends and foe alike that a woman is at the helm. A woman is the captain of this ship!

May it ring from the Valley, Virgin Gorda, the Settlement in Anegada, White Bay in Jost van Dyke and Long Look Hill in Tortola. Yes, a woman is the captain of this ship.