The Honourable Valerie Woods, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Mrs. Clarita Pech, Deputy Clerk, attended the CPA CWP CAA Regional Strengthening Virtual Conference under the theme: “Strong Women, Strong Region – Economic Empowerment of Women”. The conference is being hosted by the parliament of St. Lucia which started today, 7th December and tomorrow, 8th December 2021, in a hybrid format.

As the Regional Chairperson for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s Caribbean region of women parliamentarians and the Vice Chairperson for the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Steering Committee, Speaker Woods delivered the opening remarks at today’s conference. In her remarks she stated, “There are still barriers to women’s ability to participate equally in the economic decision making at all levels – from our household living room to the board room, from local elections to national elections, from the classroom to the cabinet room. Women economic empowerment is one of the objectives of the CPA Strategic Plan for 2020 to 2022 where the aim is to enhance the access to the digital tools and technology for women to meaningfully be involved in the digital transformation era that is unfolding, to reduce gender pay gaps and increase access to financing and the inclusiveness of gender economic policies and of course to encourage gender sensitive budgets and gender sensitive parliaments.”

The conference continues tomorrow.

As well, both Speaker Woods and the Deputy Clerk met today, 7th December 2021, with the Honourable Stanley Felix, President of the Senate, as well as the Parliamentary Staff of the House of Assembly. (See picture below)

 

Deputy Clerk – Clarita, Speaker Woods and Hon. Stanley Felix, 

Deputy Clerk-Clarita, Speaker Woods, and Staff of Parliament

The Honourable Woods also paid a courtesy visit yesterday, 6th December with the Honourable Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of St. Lucia. As well, she had the opportunity to meet with the Honourable Claudius Francis, Speaker of the House of Assembly of St. Lucia and the Honourable Jeremiah Norbert, Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly. (See picture below)

Hon. Philip J. Pierre, Speaker Woods and Deputy Clerk- Clarita

Speaker Woods, Hon. Claudius Francis, Hon. Jeremiah Norbert and Deputy Clerk – Clarita