CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – In a landmark initiative targeting gender-inclusive financial progress, the Department of Gender Affairs under the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) hosted its inaugural annual Women’s Asset Building Seminar on May 11, 2026. Held at the Malcolm Guishard Recreational Park under the theme “Own Your Future: Women, Wealth and Home Ownership”, the event gathered nearly 50 women from across the island for a hands-on session focused on closing the gender wealth gap and supporting long-term financial security.
Unlike generic informational events, the seminar was designed to deliver actionable, real-world tools that address a common systemic gap: women’s frequent prioritization of family care over their own financial stability and wealth building. Honourable Senator Jahnel Nisbett, Minister of Gender Affairs, noted that the strong turnout and active participant engagement marked the event as a resounding success for the local community.
“This wasn’t just another talk shop,” Nisbett emphasized in remarks following the seminar. “Too often, women put all their energy into caring for their children, partners and aging parents, leaving no time or space to plan for their own financial wellbeing. This workshop was built specifically for them, to show that it’s never too late to reach those personal and financial goals – whether that’s owning a home, building a retirement nest egg, or protecting the assets they work hard for.”
A diverse cross-sector panel of industry experts led targeted sessions across core financial topics relevant to asset growth. Orvis Tyson, Senior Adviser at Sagicor, walked participants through strategies for leveraging insurance protection and growing long-term investments. Tesia Burton, Branch Manager at Republic Bank, broke down foundational knowledge around savings habits, accessing loans, and building and maintaining strong credit – a critical requirement for qualifying for home mortgages. Karen Claxton-Amory, an inspector with the Nevis Social Security board, shared actionable tips for maximizing retirement income to support long-term stability. Althea Campbell, a practicing local attorney, delivered clear guidance on legal protections for property ownership and strategies to safeguard personal assets against unforeseen circumstances.
Nisbett highlighted that the interactive format of the event encouraged open dialogue: participants freely shared their own personal financial challenges and asked targeted questions that aligned with their individual goals. The overwhelming majority of attendees requested additional follow-up sessions to continue building on the knowledge gained, and all panel facilitators provided their personal contact information to offer customized one-on-one guidance for participants after the event concluded.
Chaired by Deslyn Johnson of the NIA Department of Gender Affairs, the seminar also included an on-site networking opportunity where participants could connect directly with representatives from key local institutions. These included a local legal aid clinic, the NIA Department of Physical Planning, the Nevis Housing and Land Development Corporation (NHLDC), independent structural engineering and architectural consultants, and the Ministry of Finance, giving attendees direct access to resources for pursuing home ownership after the event.
Nisbett closed by extending formal thanks to the expert facilitators, engaged participants, and internal NIA staff who collaborated to conceptualize and execute the first-of-its-kind event, which is set to become an annual offering to support women’s financial empowerment across Nevis.