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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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Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis’ Remarks at the COP28 Green Climate Blue Co Launch

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#TheBahamas, December 7, 2023 – We are here today because we are short on time and even shorter on the resources needed to empower every nation in the world to respond to an increasingly dire climate crisis.

We are approaching the tipping point from which there will be no return. At our current rate, the world will cross the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold sometime within the next two decades.

The window of opportunity is closing.

But it is not closed yet.

And as long as there is even a small opening, just a sliver of time left for us to take action, there is still hope that we can save the world from the worst-case climate change scenarios.

I’ve travelled the globe representing Small Island Developing States like mine which have contributed the least to global carbon emissions but are already experiencing the worst effects of climate change.

Global inaction will soon threaten our continued existence as nations, but we will do everything within our power to avoid this outcome.

The Bahamas is here this week at COP 28 to invite the people of the world to partner with us and all vulnerable states to face this existential threat together.

As a region, the Caribbean has seen the results of our advocacy take shape in the form of the Loss and Damage fund to help us recover from the destruction already wrought on our nations. And we will continue to push for greater access to financing opportunities as we seek to protect our shorelines, build climate-resilient infrastructure, and invest in a renewable and sustainable future.

Through collaborative action, we will also create new industries and generate demand for novel solutions. Solving the world’s most pressing problems has always been good for business. We are entering an era of socially responsible investments, regenerative financing, and ESG finance. And the Caribbean is prepared to lead the way. In fact, if we want to continue to thrive as a region, we have no choice but to lead the way.

My country has been hit by four major hurricanes over the past few years. Over a third of our national debt is directly linked to the impact of storms, causing billions in damages that threaten the economic and fiscal health of our nation and people. With the situation projected to worsen at its current rate, we have gone all-in on making the necessary investments to solve our climate woes. Our future as a nation depends on it.

So, today, I applaud the Green Climate Fund for its efforts to support the developing world in creating climate-resilient pathways to a sustainable future. This is life-saving work.

With the approval of the application for preparation funds to finance the development of the Blue Co Caribbean Umbrella Coordination Programme, we fully expect to see new, effective solutions emerge for the people of the Caribbean.

The Blue Co  Caribbean project will provide the foundation for strategic investments at a scale not possible without embracing the spirit of cooperation and co-investment through this Caribbean-targeted, climate-focused investment opportunity.

Through this platform, Caribbean nations will be empowered to strengthen their blue economy frameworks and develop data-backed projects that can then be replicated and scaled across the region. My nation, as one of the world leaders in the research and development of blue carbon credits as a viable source of revenue generation, looks forward to the ways that Blue Co will strengthen The Bahamas’ mission to develop home-grown solutions that can fund a climate-resilient future for our people.

It turns out that saving the world isn’t just good for people, it’s also good for business.

Just yesterday, we were privileged to host a discussion on the Bahamas Sustainable Investment Programme, which will generate up to $500 million for climate-related investments. This is a testament to our commitment and resolve to generate our own innovative solutions to the climate crisis. And we are by no means standing alone.

Within the Caribbean, we have the passion, motivation, and expertise to drive the success of this initiative. There is no doubt in my mind that Blue Co can and will serve as a model for other regions to follow.

I invite all interested parties to reach out, get involved, and together we will save countless lives and livelihoods on our way to building a more resilient, renewable, and prosperous future for all nations.

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Bahamas Joins U.S. Embassy Test of Emergency Response  

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#TheBahamas, December 5, 2023 – On Tuesday, November 21, U.S. Embassy Nassau conducted a successful emergency preparedness exercise with Bahamian security partners.

The exercise illustrated excellent coordination between the Embassy, Royal Bahamas Police Force, and Royal Bahamas Defence Force.  During the exercise, the security partners practiced responding to a hostile attack on the Embassy.  In addition to testing communications between partners, the exercise included mock arrests, the evacuation of Embassy staff, and emergency medical services to “injured” civilians.

These emergency preparedness exercises help evaluate the Embassy’s ability to protect its staff and installations during an emergency.  We want to thank our Bahamian partners for participating in the exercise and supporting emergency preparedness.  As our American founding father Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.”

 

 

Photo Captions

Header: U.S. and Bahamian law enforcement officers participated in a joint emergency response drill on Tuesday, November 21.

1st insert: The Royal Bahamas Police Force’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team joins the RBDF as it searches for suspects along Queen Street in an emergency preparedness exercise held on Tuesday, November 21.

2nd insert: The Royal Bahamas Defence Force conducts a sweep of Queen Street as a part of the U.S. Embassy emergency response drill.

3rd insert: A U.S. marine detains a gunman in a mock exercise held on Tuesday, November 21.

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Ashley Albury Marks A World YWCA First  

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#TheBahamas, December 5, 2023 – For the first time in the global movement’s 168-year-old history, a Bahamian will serve on the World YWCA Board headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Ashley Albury, 25, was elected as a board member during the 30th World YWCA Council Meeting held this week.

Executive Director of the Young Women’s Christian Association of The Bahamas (YWCA Bahamas), Rosalie Fawkes, described the occasion as a “red-letter day” for the organization.

“I sincerely thank all of the YWCA women who have played a role in mentoring and supporting Ashley’s candidacy and we wish her well as she embraces this new opportunity for growth and development. May this occasion mark a renewed effort to continue building the membership and participation of our youthful population,” said Ms. Fawkes.

On the World YWCA Board as the second Caribbean representative is Adrianna Sosa from Haiti. Adrianna also made history four years ago when at the age of 19, she became the youngest member ever to be elected to the World Board.  Today she is running as a candidate for World YWCA Vice President.

It was in 2015 that Ashley wrote via Facebook to YWCA Bahamas inquiring about its program offerings.  That simple act eventually led to an active involvement in the life of the YWCA.

Ms. Fawkes added, “Ashley has successfully navigated the world of technology for the association; constructed our website – www.ywcabahamas.org; established a YWCA Collegiate Chapter at the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI); used her graphic design skills in newsletter preparation; served on the YWCA’s Board of Management;  built an archives and storage drop box in the clouds; became a faithful member of the YWCA’s Bible Study and Fellowship Group and recently joined the finance team at the YWCA – and all of this while continuing to further her education.”

Ashley said, “Being elected to the YWCA World Board as a Caribbean representative from The Bahamas fills me with immense pride and a deep sense of duty. This role is more than a position; it is a pledge to elevate and empower women and girls not just in the region but across the world. The unique perspectives and vibrant cultures of elected members will contribute significantly to the achievement of the YWCA’s mission and vision.”

She continued, “I appreciate YWCA Bahamas for nominating me and voting delegates for seeing me as a well-suited nominee. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact and to represent the vibrant spirit and resilience of the Young Women’s Christian Association of The Bahamas.”

 

Photo Captions

Header: Ashley Albury, 25, is the first Bahamian elected to serve on the World YWCA Board.

Insert: Pictured are past and current board members of the Young Women’s Christian Association of The Bahamas (YWCA Bahamas). YWCA Bahamas Executive Director Rosalie Fawkes is seated in the center and Ashley Albury is standing at the far right.

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