Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter
Left: Immediate Past President Carole Sewell. Right: President of Woman Inc. Joyce Hewett - PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
THE LEADERSHIP of Woman Inc. has changed, with immediate past president Carol Sewell handing over responsibility to Joyce Hewett. After serving for only a year, Sewell's increased occupational demands takes her away from the leadership of this 22-year-old organisation, of which she has been a part for the past 10 years.
ACHIEVEMENTS
During her tenure as president, Sewell said one of her two greatest achievements was the Canada/CARICOM Gender Equality Fund. This project operated in communities conducting family seminars and providing a support group for survivors of incest and rape, hotline training and research
The second was the establishment of the organisation's trust fund. This was facilitated by the adoption last October by the Gleaner Company's Flair magazine. As part of their 21 anniversary, the Flair, also celebrating 21 years, adopted the organisation. The organisation runs a shelter for battered women; various support groups and a hotline for victims of rape, incest and domestic violence. Sewell notes that this fund will be of tremendous benefit to Woman Inc.
She notes that she leaves behind a Woman Inc. focused on issues of helping women who are victims of abuse. Ms. Sewell will still be present on committees and one of her dreams is to see a shelter in each parish. The attorney-at-law said she has always been sensitive to women's issues. She notes that though she has never been a victim of abuse, she had friends who were and this was her way of contributing. She also told Flair she is one of the lucky ones, and to those who receive much, much should be given back to society.
JOYCE HEWETT
Hewett, who has been a member of the association for 15 years, is serving for the second time as president. Her first tenure was in 1990 and her mandate this time around is to continue what they had going on. Top on her list of priorities is their major fund-raising event - an annual trade fair and expo which has become their signature event. Unfortunately it was not held last year due to financial constraints. This year she hopes they will be able to bring it back.
Campaigning for new members has always been and will continue to be a focal point. Her dream for the organisation is for something close to perfection. "The organisation has seen highs and lows. My vision is that there will be no need for us if we can ever see that perfection. In so doing, we will be free to do advocacy and no longer be looking at victims."
However, realistically she hopes they will be able to establish another shelter in another year. She added that on the issue of abuse, some barriers have been broken but there is still work to be done.
Both past and present presidents say public education is the only way forward. They agree that they have made strides in this area as more men and women are coming forward to report abuses. There has to be an all-out assault targeting schools, parents and communities. If even one among this group is not targeted, the message will get lost as both men and women are so integrally involved.
