CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS – April 7, 2026 – The Department of Gender Affairs under the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) has marked International Women’s Day 2026 by celebrating seven outstanding women whose work has shaped progress across multiple sectors of Nevisian society, shining a spotlight on the enduring influence of women’s leadership and community service across the island.
Held at the scenic Malcolm Guishard Recreational Park, this year’s award ceremony carried the official theme “Rights, Justice, Action for All Women and Girls,” as a core event in the Department’s full calendar of activities to observe the global occasion. The 2026 global International Women’s Day framework centers on the theme “Give To Gain,” which encourages individuals, community groups, and institutions to contribute tangible resources, mentorship guidance, advocacy support, and time to uplift women and girls, strengthening collective commitments to closing gender equity gaps.
Seven women received recognition for excellence in their respective professional and community spaces. Jackie Hunkins-Taylor claimed the Women in Law Award, while Sharmyn Powell took home the honor for the Finance sector. Valerie Hendrickson was recognized for her work in Agri-Processing, Noellisa Swaby for her contributions to the Circular Economy, and Dianne Hobson for her impact on Arts and Culture. The prestigious Minister’s Award went to Leander Cornelius, and Thema Ward was honored with the special Tricia Greaux Ocean Governance Award. Unlike the appointed Minister’s Award, all other honors were selected through public nomination, meaning awardees were chosen by their own neighbors and community members who have witnessed their work firsthand.
Honourable Jahnel Nisbett, Nevis’ Minister of Gender Affairs, opened the ceremony with heartfelt congratulations to the recipients, emphasizing that public celebration of women’s work is a critical step toward advancing equity.
“We are here to celebrate seven amazing women who have left an indelible mark on their fields,” Nisbett remarked. “With the exception of the Minister’s Award, the entire selection process was led by the general public. The people of Nevis see your work, they see the change you’ve created, and they have chosen you to be publicly celebrated. Through the Department of Gender Affairs, we are proud to serve as the platform to honor your dedication, say thank you, and present you with your honors while you are here with us, so you can truly understand how deeply valued you are by this community.”
Feature speaker Ayana McCalman, a practicing attorney, used her address to push back against long-held harmful gender stereotypes, calling for lasting cultural change and consistent action to embed gender equity into daily life, rather than limiting progress to symbolic one-off events.
“It is time that we write a new reality for women across our region and the world,” McCalman said. “Women are warriors, and they deserve space to lead every single day. As we celebrate these remarkable women today, let us also reflect on how we show up for the women in our own lives, not just in the month of March, not just at award ceremonies, but in the small, everyday moments. Do we show up to support them? Do we listen when they speak? Do we invest in their goals? Do we create space for them to heal, and to lead? Because empowering women is not a single annual event – it is a culture, it is an ongoing commitment, it is a choice we have to make again and again, in our homes, our workplaces, and our communities.”
The event marked one of the NIA Department of Gender Affairs’ most visible public celebrations of women’s achievement in recent years, bringing together community members, government officials, and family to recognize the contributions of women that often go uncelebrated in public life.