Sandals Barbados celebrated International Women’s Day with a symposium on their Dover Resort featuring a conversation style forum with a range of guest speakers from varying aspects of the community.

The all-female panel consisted of Soca Queen Alison Hinds, CBC Television presenter Lisa Brome, Founder of the SAVE Foundation Liesel Daisley and Education Therapist Thecla Walrond.

Hinds, fresh on return from Trinidad Carnival, urged the women in the room to always strive for the best, whilst remembering their role as women and holding their heads high.

“As a woman I have had to make a stand and decide what is for me and what I will and won’t do. Every time I perform I am conscious that my daughter and other women are watching, so, especially my lyrics will never be degrading to women,” she commented.

She also admitted that her hit single “Roll It Gall” has become somewhat of an inspiration to women in the region and is perhaps her favourite song to perform.

Daisley, a former Sales Manager of the resort spoke about the assistance her organisation offers to abused women of any form and gave a stark reality to the problems women in Barbados face.

“We still have men and women out there who believe they own us [women]. They see women as property and this is wrong; women have the right to be independent, work and express themselves without fear of verbal and physical abuse,” said Daisley.

Waldron in her insight urged women to be good mothers and remember that they are the ones raising the men and women of this society. “The respect and love shown to women has to begin with us as mothers and how we raise our children. We cannot leave it up to the teachers, pastors and other persons; we have to be ones to instill these values in our children,” asserted Waldron.

Lisa Brome, commented that she was especially happy to celebrate International Women’s Day and paid tribute to some of ladies who have paved the way for her and others in the broadcast industry such as her Director of News Michele Arthur and Sharon Marshall.

The event was conceptualised by the Human Resources and Public Relations departments of the hotel as a way to treat the female employees to a day of reflection, information and pampering.

Human Resources Manager of the resort, Karen Brown, called the event a success. “We had an amazing session and based on the feedback from over 60 attendees – it was welcomed information, with a sense of connection on some of the issues facing women in Barbados.

“We wanted a girlfriend experience, so team members could interact with our guests and just talk. We chose to use sofas and open areas to make them feel a bit more relaxed and it worked,” said Brown.