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Gender and Family Affairs hosts Women United in Politics Forum

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#TheBahamas, November 16, 2021 – Present and former female Parliamentarians (House of Assembly and the Senate) from across the political spectrum, leaders of female Non-Governmental Organizations and advocacy groups – including representatives from the community of persons with disabilities – women in service, women in governance, and other partners and stakeholders, participated in the 2021 Women United in Politics Hybrid Forum held Friday (November 12).

Officials called the session: “Significant for our country at this time because we had a landmark event with 30 per cent of the candidates being women for the first time in our history and what that means is that there is representation from women.”

Bahamas Ambassador to CARICOM (Caribbean Community), Her Excellency, Leslie Miller-Brice, the Member of Parliament for Seabreeze, led the delegation of female parliamentarians who attended the In-House Session. They were joined via Zoom by other parliamentary colleagues.

Hosted by the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, the Forum also provided organizers with the opportunity to salute the current slate of female Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, Senators, women in governance, and those who would have contested seats in the recently concluded General Elections, for their successes/accomplishments. Tribute was also paid to all of the former female Cabinet Ministers, Parliamentarians, women in politics and women in governance, who “would have paved the way.”

Mrs. Roselyn Dorsett-Horton, Under Secretary, the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development, told participants that: “As women of all races and socio-economic backgrounds joined forces many years ago in the Women’s Suffrage Movement to fight for, and subsequently win, the Right to Vote, this season, right now, represents another historic opportunity in the history of our country to unite as women to address the issue of violence in all of its forms and its impact on us all.”

“It will not be easy, but nothing worthwhile fighting for is ever so. I have faith in the power of our collective resolve and unity to win this fight with the help of the Almighty God. The future of our girls, our children, depends on us in this moment.

“This forum provides an opportunity for us, as women, to unite, to forge a way forward, to improve the lives and well-being of our children, our sisters and our nation. As women, working together, we can lift every woman, every girl, every child and leave no one behind,” Under Secretary Dorsett-Horton concluded.

Dr. Calae Philippe, the Director of the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, said there are inherent benefits to women having a greater say at the political table.

“The United Nations suggests that if women are represented in the political arena, then we have more hope for the transformation of society as a whole,” Dr. Philippe said. “Men have a significant role, but when a woman sits at the table she is thinking about what should we do about the children; what should we do about babysitting; what should we do about childcare because those inherently are her responsibilities and so we want to move that into the political sphere where we address the particular funding to move the agenda forward for men, women, boys and girls.

“We also brought together these women together to talk about where we have come from, but also to talk about where we need to go and to put together our collective minds together to move the country ahead in its sustainable development goals in reducing, eliminating and eradicating violence.”

The forum was held under the theme: “A Unified Women’s Agenda” as part of the combined celebrations commemorating International Men’s Day (November 19), National Women’s Week (November 24-30) and the United Nations’ Sixteen Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, beginning November 25 with the observance of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and concluding December 10, International Human Rights Day.

Participants heard from a number of speakers including Mrs. Prodesta Moore, President of Women United; Ms. Robyn Lynes, Deputy Chairperson, Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWIL), Bahamas Chapter; Ms. Kim Sawyer, the Acting Director of the Department of Social Services; Miss Toree Musgrove, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Unit, Office of the Prime Minister; Mr. Henry Johnson, Male Programme Coordinator, Male Desk, Department of Gender and Family Affairs; Ms. Elaine Sands, Gender Expert, Department of Gender and Family Affairs and Dr. Philippe.

“Today was a very good start to our celebrations beginning with the observances of International Men’s Day, National Women’s Week and the United Nations’ Sixteen days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence,” Dr. Philippe added.

 

Photo Captions: 

Header: Mrs. Roselyn Dorsett-Horton, Under Secretary, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development addressing Friday’s Women United in Politics Hybrid Session that was hosted by the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development.

Insert: Mrs. Prodesta Moore, President of Women United, shown addressing Friday’s Hybrid Women United in Politics Forum that was held under the theme: “A Unified Agenda.”

(BIS Photo/Kristaan Ingraham)

 

 

 

 

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Work of NAECOB critical in ensuring high standards in education, says Minister Hanna-Martin

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By KATHRYN CAMPBELLBahamas Information Services
NASSAU, The Bahamas, March 29, 2023 – Over 100 schools in New Providence, public and private, and some 30 plus schools in Freeport have been inspected by The National Accreditation and Equivalency Council (NAECOB) to ensure high quality standards for the delivery of education.
“We will cover every island, every cay in this country to make certain that the facilities that we send our children to are adequate, conducive for learning, safe and sound for education,” said Thelma Grimes, chairperson, NAECOB.
“We are going to head to Cat Island and all the others before June.This is our announced visit. They [schools] have a chance to get things fixed that are not finished and [afterwards] we will have the unannounced.”
The Council informed the media of its progress during a briefing Monday, March 20, 2023 at its headquarters, Tonique Williams-Darling Highway.
Howard Newbold, Inspector and Council Member explained that the council’s seven inspectors are tasked with visiting every site or virtual space operating the following: primary/secondary schools, private/secondary, post-secondary, recognized, training, allied health and business institutions among others.
 Mr. Newbold said inspections include an examination of:
 -Safety and security standards-Human security which begins at the entrance to the property’-Physical security: safety mechanisms including smoke detectors, fire alarms and extinguishers (service date verification, and evacuation plan)-Primary grounds, playground equipment, swing sets and slides-Curriculum-Information management system (student records, staff schedules, registration certificate with NAECOB, business license, photos of the national leaders etc.)
The Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Institute thanked NAECOB for their efforts. She described their work as “critical” and a part of an overall national thrust to ensure that the quality of education in the country is at a high standard.“We’re the Ministry of Education and they’re our schools. We are accountable to NAECOB. They ensure that what is happening on the campuses throughout the nation meets the physical standards and the qualitative standards of education. You would have heard classroom size and teacher/student ratio. We may have challenges, and we do at the Ministry of Education but when these issues are brought to our attention we are obliged and compelled to seek resolution to ensure that the standards are met.
“This is a quality assurance measure for the Ministry itself and our schools to ensure that public and private and public schools meet these standards. We value that. Because the objective of the Ministry is to ensure that we meet the standards so that our young people who enter these institutions are afforded the best opportunity possible.
 “Education is a cultural value; a norm. We submit ourselves to the work of NAECOB to ensuring what happens is done at least to make the acceptable standards of the delivery of education in our schools,” she said.
Cassia Minnis, registration officer, said “registration” certifies that a local educational institution/provider has met the criteria to offer an educational service in The Bahamas as outlined in the Education Act. She said it is mandatory that all educational institutions/provider offering/proposing to offer an educational service in the Bahamas must be registered according to the NAECOB Act and the Education Act.
 She said NAECOB is aware of “small” schools operating within residential homes and warned that this is in contravention of the law.
She encouraged the public to view listings of all registered institutions on the website at naecob.org
NAECOB is responsible for registering and accrediting primary schools, secondary schools, post-secondary schools, and any institution that offers training in The Bahamas.
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PHOTO CAPTIONS

BIS Photos/Mark Ford

Header: Seated at the table, from left: – Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary; Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin; Dominique McCartney Russell, Acting Director; Cassia Minnis, Registration Officer; Thelma Grimes, Council Chairperson; Howard Newbold, Inspector, Council Member; Shena Williams, Council and Inspector; Dorothy Anderson, Inspector; T. Nicola McKay, Deputy Chairperson;  (seated behind) Willard Barr, Council and Inspector.

1st insert: Thelma Grimes, Council Chairperson

2nd insert: Howard Newbold, Inspector and Council Member

3rd insert: The Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training

4th insert: Cassia Minnis, Registration Officer

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Bahamas Golden Jubilee Events Announced, Celebrations Across 33 Islands & Cays

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#TheBahamas, March 27, 2023 – As the 50th anniversary of our nation’s independence approaches, Bahamians everywhere are teeming with excitement and expectancy around the year-long celebrations set by The National Independence Secretariat.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister joined H.E Leslia Miller Brice, Chair of The National Independence Secretariat to unveil the Calendar of Events for the 50th Independence celebrations.

The calendar comprises a host of events, initiatives and recommendations for celebrations throughout all 33 islands of The Bahamas.

At this jubilant occasion the PM stated, “Celebrating independence is about acknowledging the greatness around us, the greatness within us, and the greatness ahead of us.

We are Bahamians. That identity is special.”

View the newly released calendar of events here:

https://celebrate-bahamas.com/calendar-of-events/…

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Bahamas News

Soca Warriors crush  Bahamas at home

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By Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

 

 

#TheBahamas, March 27, 2023 – Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors dominated the Bahamas at home, at the Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, for the 2022/2023 Concacaf Nations League on Friday, with a 3-0 victory.

The Soca Warriors struck their first blow within the first 5 minutes of the game, with Kareem Moses making the first shot in the top left corner of the net giving T&T one to the Bahamas’ zero (1-0).

Soon after, in about 26 minutes, they made another shot giving them 2-0 away from home; the scorer Joevin Jones. By the 34th minute mark, the winning goal was made by Ryan Telfer, T&T now at three.

Neither team scored any additional goals as the match progressed despite attempts made by various players.

Trinidad’s win gives them 12 points through five matches.  Next match for the Soca Warriors is against  Nicaragua; that clash is set for Monday March 27 (at home in Tobago at the Dwight Yorke Stadium), in a tussle of winner-take-all on the final match day.  The victor takes home a promotion to League A and a spot in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup.

Angus Eve, T&T’s head coach expressed that the job is only half done, keeping aware that more challenges are coming their way, one of which is the nearing match against Nicaragua who is one point ahead of the Warriors.

Meanwhile, The Bahamas will journey to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with hopes of emerging victorious there.

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