On International Women’s Day, I join the national community in honouring and celebrating women across Trinidad and Tobago.

I salute their numerous and varied achievements in all spheres of life.

I acknowledge their indelible contributions to our society’s stability, growth and progress, and I honour their commitment, humanity and love in all that they do for our families, communities and especially our children.

Thirty years ago, among other issues, the Beijing Declaration sought to bring to the forefront of national agendas matters related to women such as women and poverty; socio-economic inequalities; education and training; women and armed conflict; women in power and decision-making and women and health.

The United Nations International Women’s Day 2025 theme is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,”[i] underscoring the crucial need for societies and Governments across the globe to chart a future that empowers the next generation, and especially young women and girls, with true equality and opportunities to progress and prosper.

Due to progress made since the Beijing Declaration thirty years ago, we can proudly say that there is no gender domination in Trinidad and Tobago today. I again say to our women, men are not our enemy, neither legally, socially, or economically.

As I said last year, in Trinidad and Tobago, our women and girls are fortunate to have equal access to educational opportunities and healthcare, the right to own property and earn an income, and the freedom to participate in politics and decision-making at all levels.

I commit to creating and continuing policies that ensure our women and men access equal opportunities to progress and prosper in Trinidad and Tobago.

I encourage our women and men to continue to work together to ensure positive outcomes for our country, so that collectively we may ensure the growth, progress, and success of our great nation.