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Women Power! 4 most powerful women in VI

Junior Minister of Tourism and At Large Representative, Hon Sharie B. de Castro; Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development and At Large Representative, Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles; Attorney General, Honourable Dawn J. Smith; and Sixth District Representative, Honourable Alvera Maduro-Caines. Photo: GIS
The first local Attorney General Mrs R. Dancia Penn-Sala QC (2nd from left) and second local Attorney General Ms Dawn J. Smith (3rd from left) are flanked by Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), left, and Speaker, Hon Julian Willock, right. Photo: GIS
The first local Attorney General Mrs R. Dancia Penn-Sala QC (2nd from left) and second local Attorney General Ms Dawn J. Smith (3rd from left) are flanked by Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), left, and Speaker, Hon Julian Willock, right. Photo: GIS
DUFF’S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI- It was another history-making day in the Virgin Islands (VI) on Thursday, October 1, 2020, when for the first time in 21 years an indigenous Virgin Islander was sworn-in to the post of Attorney General.

The first local Attorney General, another woman who hailed from the Eastern End of Tortola, was Mrs R. Dancia Penn-Sala QC, who served from 1992-1999.

It took another 21 years to see the second local Attorney General in Ms Dawn J. Smith appointed, even with the Constitution stating in Section 95 (6) that “No person shall be appointed to the office of Attorney General unless he or she belongs to the Virgin Islands……”

However, beyond her appointment as Attorney General and Member of the House of Assembly (HoA), another piece of history was also made at the Fifteenth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly of the VI.

For the first time since the restoration of the Legislative Council in 1950, a record four local women are holding their own as Members and can be considered among the most powerful women in the Territory.

Women Power!

The Attorney General, Honourable Smith, joins the third term Legislator and former Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development, Honourable Alvera Maduro-Caines (R6), who was first elected in 2011 and has faced three consecutive victorious elections; and two freshwomen in the Junior Minister of Tourism and At Large Representative, Hon Sharie B. de Castro [2019-current], who gained the most votes in the 2019 general election At-Large contest and the first woman to be elected from a sister island, Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development and At Large Representative, Hon Shereen D. Flax-Charles.

Women’s Caucus?

The Speaker of the House of Assembly Hon Julian Willock, in his brief announcement at the Special Sitting, called for the establishment of a women’s caucus.

Women in the VI are certainly continuing to make valuable contributions towards building the ‘great little nation’ of the British Overseas Territory of the VI.

48 Responses to “Women Power! 4 most powerful women in VI”

  • hmm (03/10/2020, 21:05) Like (26) Dislike (2) Reply
    Powerful but not most powerful lol
    • Smile (04/10/2020, 00:11) Like (26) Dislike (1) Reply
      Ok, so where is the most powerful of them all, patsy?
      • wow (05/10/2020, 10:26) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
        There is a significant difference between Power in Terms of Governance and Power in Terms Selfish Reliance!
  • Really (03/10/2020, 21:06) Like (4) Dislike (32) Reply
    A real power team if Cindy Jones was in too.
  • God has all the Power (03/10/2020, 21:07) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Power? I hope the know the man that holds all the power. But hats off for their service to the BVI.
  • My girl (03/10/2020, 21:11) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
    Nice! Now premier next
  • kennedy (03/10/2020, 21:22) Like (26) Dislike (2) Reply
    Power but no authority.
    • @ Kennedy (03/10/2020, 21:42) Like (16) Dislike (5) Reply
      can't some of you just say You are happy for them and be positive SMH
  • zoe (03/10/2020, 21:31) Like (18) Dislike (13) Reply
    we are making progress under the VIP Bam Bam
  • Anonymous (03/10/2020, 21:33) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    I am proud next election we will have two more one in the 4th and either one in the 2nd or 8th!!!
  • T (03/10/2020, 21:40) Like (6) Dislike (21) Reply
    Two married to down Island man.
    • u (04/10/2020, 09:33) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
    • @T (04/10/2020, 10:21) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
      And your point is???. What is the problem by them being married to men from another Caribbean Country? I don’t see a problem with that. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU LADIES, HOPE TO SEE MORE WOMEN ADDED TO THE LIST. LIKE ANNE LENOX AND THE LATE ARETHA FRANKLIN SONG SAYS SISTAS ARE DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES. YOU GO LADIES.
    • A VOTER IN #6 (04/10/2020, 11:28) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      AND WHATS WRONG WITH THAT?DON'T FORGOT TWO OF THEM MOTHER FROM ST KITTS AND ANTIGUA. TAKE THAT AND SWALLOW. WE MUST STOP OUR IGNORANCE.
      • rewrsdffds (04/10/2020, 17:33) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
        @ a voter in 6
        a set of european folks now control the british virgin islands sea water
    • wow (05/10/2020, 10:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      To Each his/her Own. What is your Point? Chupes!
  • ... (03/10/2020, 21:43) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Of course they have power they are around the table and have a vote, plus the AG has real power
  • for real (03/10/2020, 22:55) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    What happen to the DPP?
  • LCS (04/10/2020, 04:43) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply

    Kudos to these Ladies and thanks for your contributions to the country.

  • guy hill (04/10/2020, 06:39) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    Always continue to do your very best women of OUR soil. Under any circumstance, simply do your best. Be Bless.Be Brave.Love Alone.
  • good (04/10/2020, 07:17) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    For there is no white solution to black problem
    • power (04/10/2020, 11:26) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      if the three women cross the floor the government will fall; Now that is real real power
  • @T (04/10/2020, 07:30) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Man, stop being stereotypedphobic. The women deserves their accolades.
  • pat (04/10/2020, 07:31) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ms Lake got power too as a women
  • Pony (04/10/2020, 07:47) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    You ve a lot more Powerful women here. 1 Rosetta crandall samuel 2 Bernadine lious walters Noni vanderpool. Delma maduro. Just to name a few.
  • long look me come from (04/10/2020, 08:19) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    very nice article one thing I love is that they are all from here and can trace one or more of their parents and grandparents to being born in the BVI
  • E. Leonard (04/10/2020, 08:49) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Undoubtedly, Hon Dawn Smith(AG), Hon Alvera Maduro-Caines(R6), Hon Sharie de Castro (R AtL)and Hon Shareen Flax-Charles(R AtL) are worthy of the recognition and high praise they are receiving for the distance traveled up the national power chart. Nonetheless, they are all in politics/government. Though politics is important and often classified as the second oldest profession (to me it is the oldest, for being human is being political), nation building must be more than politics/government. There must influential women in sports, entertainment, health, education, business, law enforcement, religion, engineering, IT, media, industry........etc. For example, the third highest ranking officer in the RVIPF is a women——Superintendent J. Vanterpool.
  • Kitchen Table Group Panel (04/10/2020, 09:21) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Congratulations to you four awesome ladies. We also would love to see a female Premier, and more females as District Representatives. Mrs. Alvera has paved the way for more females to step into the District Representatives roles.
    • @Kitchen Table Group Panel (06/10/2020, 11:03) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      While I absolutely love Hon. Alvera, please note that she has not paved the way. Eileen L Parsons and the late Ethlyn Smith were in the then Legislative Council before, so you should say she is standing on their shoulders. Don't forget those that were there before........just my thoughts.
  • gg (04/10/2020, 09:30) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Now we need a woman premier. Ladies continue overthrowing the male jokers. Next premier should be a woman.
  • Queen (04/10/2020, 10:30) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Congratulations to you Dawn. Such a humble lady
    • @Queen (04/10/2020, 11:48) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
      The Royal Family of Smiths are not only humble, they are intelligent classy ,educated and dedicated to their country. They have contributed immeasurably to the betterment of the VI ,the USVI and wherever else they have called home as far back as the 1800s.
      May God continue to Bless them and others like them.
  • facts (04/10/2020, 11:24) Like (3) Dislike (8) Reply
    thank god also we have an indigenous first lady and not one from st. Vincent
  • Peaches (04/10/2020, 12:15) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Look our VI women!! I feel proud when I see this pic. Congratulations to my girl Dawn. I worked with her and she is so humble.
  • Yes Ladies (04/10/2020, 12:21) Like (78) Dislike (0) Reply
    If we all stand together, we will accomplish a whole lot. Women have to overcompensate so much to be recognized. It is time for us Women to rise up, work together to fix our broken Country. IT IS TIME FOR A WOMAN TO BE PREMIER OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, TIME FOR A CHANGE.
  • indigenous (04/10/2020, 12:21) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    Taino, Carib, Arawak. Then European whitey came. then European whites brought Africans ... history . Get it right
  • Woman (04/10/2020, 12:28) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Congratulations to the 4 Women. You 4 have paved the way for more Women to make their move. We are and must elect a Woman as Premier of the BVI. Women think with heart and compassion and get things done.
  • Local (04/10/2020, 17:53) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    @ T , did you know that those two women Mother's also came from down the Island.?
  • from buckingham palace (04/10/2020, 18:09) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thats what go up to their head,POWER and personal approach in their actions,without following the law and the Constitution..I pray for their health,wisdom,knowledge and understanding from God.These gifts from God,is the real POWER.
  • well saw (04/10/2020, 21:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    How they get this say
  • SERVICES (05/10/2020, 05:08) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    I READ THE ARTICLE WHICH STATES CRAN DAL LLOUIE AND GEORGES ARE POWERGULL WOMEN I A GREE WITH THE STATEMENT BUT POWERFULL HOW. CRANDAL AND GEORGES MIGHT PASS BUT LOUIS HAVE TO BE WATCHED WITH EVERY EYE BECAUSE OF PAST EXPERIENCES/ YES POWERFUL ALRIGHT BECAREFULL WHOM YOU EXTEND SUCH TITLES YOU NED TO BE CLEAN AND LET YOUR WORK BE SEEN TO THE LORD KNOW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US ONLY HE KNOWS YOU IS POWERFULL BECAUSE HE GIVE POWER BE CLEAN AND LET YOUR WORK BE SEEN.
  • Servant of God in Christ (05/10/2020, 10:16) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please, stop warring over gender positioning. Remember this: " created man, (woman included) in His own image and likeness... Also remember this. All human were created equal. Women were given the sbility to lead as men do. Accept their appointments, and pray honestly to God that they will execute their duties pleasing to God and helpful to us all. United in Godly love we stand Divided by selfish hate we will fall. God is both able and willing to a d keep us stsnding, if we trust snd follow Him. congratulation to the new Atorney General. Do your best undelfishly.
  • Lord Max (05/10/2020, 11:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    lol...We all know that Big Lake has the power bout ya.

    But ok :)


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