DNCW dismisses Minister Kelver Darroux’s statement that it did not congratulate Baroness Scotland

​President of the Dominica National Council of Women (DNCW), Vanya David said statements made by Acting Education Minister, Kelver Darroux, that the organization has not commented on the election of Baroness Patricia Scotland as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, is far from the truth.
 
Darroux said he would have expected to hear something from the DNCW in regards to Scotland’s new position but has not heard anything. He questioned the agenda of the DNCW adding, “I am hoping that when they hear this news clip that they will respond to it because really and truly we have to support what is ours.” But David says the DNCW had in fact commented on Scotland’s election.She made reference to an exclusive interview with Marpin2K4 News on November 30th, during which the DNCW’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Josephine Dublin-Prince, congratulated Scotland on her new position.
 
During that interview, the DNCW Public Relations Officer said “The Dominica National Council of Women wishes to congratulate Lady Scotland on her appointment as the first woman Secretary-General of the Commonwealth,” Dublin-Prince said during that interview on Marpin2K4. “For us the Commonwealth of Nations is a very big institution of influence and to have someone born in a small island of Dominica to be elected in such a position that is a cause for celebration.”
 
According to Dublin-Prince, Scotland’s election shows that given equal opportunity, women can rise to the occasion, “because of their intellect, because of their assertiveness and because again of their influence, so by their own merit women can rise to the occasion. Dublin-Prince went on to say that the DNCW understood that Scotland is very passionate about the issues related to domestic violence.
 
Meanwhile, David also shared a letter written by Joan Grant Cummings, on behalf of the Caribbean Regional Network of Organizations and Individuals Working on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, which congratulated Scotland on her election. The DNCW is a signatory of the letter.