‘You wouldn’t want a storm named Shereen’ – Hon Flax-Charles
Long before she was elected to serve in government, Honourable Shereen D. Flax-Charles (AL) was a loud voice advocating for betterment especially for the people of the Ninth District. She was no stranger to airing her concerns and making recommendations at almost every opportunity that presented itself, both publicly and behind closed doors.
Flax-Charles, along with Junior Minister for Trade and Economic Development, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL) was elected under the Virgins Islands Party (VIP) ticket while Honourable Alvera Maduro-Caines campaigned with the National Democratic Party (NDP).
The three are the only female legislators in the HoA.
‘Let your work speak for you’
Recently on social media, community activist Rosemary R. Rosan-Jones aka 'Cindy' and local artist Glendon D. Lamothe aka ‘NJAR’ called the three out for being ‘quiet’.
Lamothe wrote on Facebook, “We don’t hear enough from the women that were elected to represent us in the British Virgin Islands.”
Rosan-Jones wrote in part, “Trade – A Jr Minister was appointed here but where is she? ….Tourism – Again a Junior Minister has been appointed here but I don’t see a change in trajectory.”
Reviewing her first six months in office on JTV’s Big Story with Cathy O. Richards, Hon Flax-Charles said she is aware of the fact that many are expecting a lot from the female legislators, “But there is a time when you talk and a time when you remain silent.”
This she said is a pattern for women in government throughout the world. “Sometimes you have to do things quietly behind the scene and let your work speak for you.”
But, according to Hon Flax-Charles, she can make noise, but only when it matters.
“Well, I don’t think we want any storms and you wouldn’t want a storm named Shereen,” Said Hon Flax-Charles, while noting that one does not have to always be quick to make a noise.
“Sometimes you don’t have to always raise your voice to get things done.”
Hon Flax-Charles added that women are nurturing by nature and this shapes their approach to dealing with people and tasks. “I have three children and I can’t scream and shout at some of them, it doesn’t work. Sometimes you have to use a different tactic to get things done.”
“When the time is right for me to speak, I will speak and I think that the entire British Virgin Islands knows that I can speak and I can deliver when it comes to anything that I put my hands on.”
Hon Flax-Charles also alluded to the fact that as a Junior Minister of Government she and her female colleagues do not sit in cabinet unless invited. She; however, noted that legislation is currently being reviewed in the hope of having more ministries, which would require more ministers in cabinet.
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11 Responses to “‘You wouldn’t want a storm named Shereen’ – Hon Flax-Charles”
In the area for the Junior Minister of Trade, the National Business Bureau has to begin, but the funding for it would have to be identified in the next budget which should be presented early December 2019.
Give the Premier time.
He has a plan and your job, activists, are to keep him on his toes, and do it in a respectful way.
The day will come when you all are no longer revolutionists but administrators (elected officials), and that you have those skills of administrative leadership to get action in resolving problems.
The transition for most activists is failure because they only remain good at agitating.
All the best, but be respectful; read, read, read and keep up on your global history of the ruling powers, their personalities and ideologies.
Do not focus on local politics only.
Right now there are some global politics that are connected to the decisions we make here in the BVI... Brexit, the control of the registry of global companies and extremely rich and affluent of peoples, and the BVI economy is an oasis to other economies that certain factions want to control (hint, hint. The reason for the direct storms).
Hurricane Dorian now has woken most of us up to now accept that Irma and Maria were not just signs of the times, but were the new warfare tools of the day. Dorian sat over specific islands in the Bahamas for 40 hours where there were Chinese built infrastructures....investigate what those were....deep water port, transshipment port, and a U-boat port too?
Stay awoke activists....Read, read, read and be able to connect the dots!
. the WhatsApp is already out … they ( Govt) plans to get rid of sister .. she got the news.. her words on a taped convo .. anytime they fired her … SHE'S JUMPING SHIP TO THE OPPOSITION SIDE .. Thing to talk