In a historic victory for Caribbean representation in hemispheric gender equity governance, Grenada’s Minister for Social and Community Development, Senator Gloria Ann Thomas, has been elected Vice President of the Steering Committee of the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM). The vote took place during the 40th Assembly of Delegates, held May 28–29, 2026 in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Organisation of American States (OAS).
This win marks a landmark milestone for Grenada, which has not held a leadership position on CIM’s governing body for more than four decades. Official historical records show the last time a Grenadian representative occupied a seat on the CIM Steering Committee was between 1979 and 1983, making Thomas’s election a symbolic and strategic reentry into regional gender policy leadership.
The quadrennial? No, triennial Assembly of Delegates stands as CIM’s ultimate decision-making authority, bringing together cabinet ministers and senior government officials leading women’s affairs portfolios from across all OAS member states every three years. Over the course of the 2026 assembly, delegates debated pressing cross-regional priorities impacting women across the Americas, approved new multi-year strategic frameworks, and held elections for the body’s 9-member Steering Committee. The committee structure includes one president, three vice presidents, and five at-large elected members.
Grenada was the sole Caribbean nation to put forward a candidate for one of the three open vice president seats, joining a competitive field of four contenders that also included Canada, Honduras, and Paraguay. When final vote totals were tabulated, Grenada secured a clear leading position with 27 votes, outpacing Canada’s 23, Paraguay’s 22, and Honduras’s 19. The top three vote-earners claimed the three vice president seats, advancing Thomas to the leadership role.
Beyond the symbolic weight of returning to CIM leadership after 40 years, Thomas’s election carries significant strategic benefits for Grenada and other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) across the Americas. The position places Grenada at the center of high-level hemispheric discussions on critical issues including women’s economic empowerment, gender-inclusive digital transformation, cross-cutting gender equality, equitable labor inclusion, and community-focused social development.
The appointment also grants Grenada a high-profile platform to elevate national and regional SIDS priorities in global and inter-American policy dialogues, contribute to the design of gender-responsive policy frameworks that address the unique needs of small island nations, and deepen collaborative ties with other OAS member states and international development partners across the hemisphere.
Officials noted that the achievement reflects Grenada’s expanding leadership role in advancing global women’s rights and gender equity, and reinforces the Caribbean nation’s government commitment to ensuring that the unique perspectives and urgent priorities of Small Island Developing States are not overlooked in regional and international decision-making processes. The news of the election was released by Grenada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Export Development.