By Delvardo Emmanuel
Journal Staff Writer

Minister of Social Services and Urban Development Obie Wilchcombe said it is
time to “remove shackles from the women of the world,” as he addressed the kick
off ceremony of the 13th Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers Meeting held
at the Atlantis Resort.
He said during the course of these meetings a great deal of focus will be on tough
issues such as economic empowerment of women.
“We’ll certainly deal with the toughest issues, issues such as economic
empowerment of women, issues that we believe we can find answers for, women
in leadership, violence against women and girls, gender and climate change. And
of course, the question of inclusion. Over these meetings, we certainly will reflect
on the women who were taken from us,” Wilchcombe said.
“We’ll think about the women who are beaten and who live in sounds of silence.
Who think of a little girl who simply has a dream to be somebody, who wants an
education, who wants to fulfill her dreams.”
Minister Wilchcombe further reflecting on 1985 when the Commonwealth met in
The Bahamas and made that great stride and great step toward the release of
Nelson Mandela. Wilchcombe said it’s time to use that same unity and strength to
release the shackles from women in the world.
“We played a major role, you, the Commonwealth, we collectively, played a major
role in the change. Six years later, he walked away, a free man, free of the chains
and shackles. It is now our time to unashamed, remove the shackles from the
women of the world. We have the opportunity. The strength of the Commonwealth
collectively can make that change. And we believe that this is the opportunity.”