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TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2022
TONNI Ann Brodber with Denise Antonio, UNDP at the Office of the Prime Minister, Bahamas during the signing of the MSDCF
Bahamian women leading the way regionally and globally By FELICITY DARVILLE Bahamian women are leading the way amongst women in the region who are making major strides for gender equality, according to Tonni Ann Brodber, representative of the UN Women Multi-Country Office - Caribbean. They are not only representing the Bahamas, they are representing women globally as they advance the cause of gender equality throughout the world. They are pushing for women and girls to be given fair opportunities for advancement – not leaving men behind – but rallying with men to ensure there is a level playing field for all. Most recently, Sumayyah Cargill, Unit Head of Strategic Development and Initiatives for the Bahamas Development Bank (BDB) made a presentation at the 2XCollaborative Gender and Climate Finance Taskforce, which has a $15 billion commitment to mobilise capital towards women’s empowerment.
UN Women facilitated the BDB relationship with 2XCollaborative, which ensures that the BDB will use a gender lens when making decisions for investing going forward. The Bahamas became the first in the Caribbean country to participate in this financing approach. “Sumayyah is an innovator and leader in financing for gender equality, and she represented the Bahamas at the 2XCollaborative with grace and aplomb,” Brodber said. “We have effective women in finance and in many other fields in this region and Bahamian women are leading the way.” “We want to ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) owned by men, women, and youth are provided with access to funding, and that their financing and functions are met in gender-responsive ways.” Brodber also pointed to the presentation by attorney, activist and author Marion Bethel-Sears, who was among 11 experts elected to serve on the United Nations
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). “It was a powerful moment,” she said of Sears’ election, pointing to the importance of Caribbean women playing central roles in the “agenda making space” within the UN system. She highlighted the work of Gaynel Curry, a human rights, gender and women’s rights advocate who has a seasoned career working with the United Nations and also served as Director for the Department of Gender and Family Affairs in the Bahamas. Brodber’s work in this field began in 2009 when she became a UN specialist, focused on bringing an end to discrimination and violence against women and girls. Way back then, she was impressed with the work of Sandra DeanPatterson and the Crisis Centre, and used it as a model for other countries. She served as the gender specialist for the United Nations Development Programme in
Making STEM more feminine Call for national strategy to address gender gap By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
FEM STEM Bahamas is one of the local organisations leading the charge in preparing and retaining women in the areas of science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEMS), with the hopes of closing the gap, encouraging diversity, equity and inclusiveness in these important fields. In the Bahamas, and elsewhere, omen are significantly underrepresented in STEM-related fields. This is the reason why FEM STEM has been introducing these fields to young girls through its after-school programme. FEM STEM Bahamas was officially launched in December 2019
South Africa, as well as briefly with the UN Women South Africa MultiCountry Office and established what is now the UN Women Country Office in Haiti. Prior to her August 2020 appointment as representative of the UN Women Multi-Country Office for the Caribbean, she spent five years as its deputy representative. Prior to this work, Brodber was the team leader for the Advancing Gender Justice in the Pacific programme with the UN Women Fiji Multi-Country Office. During these years, she has had many opportunities to visit the Bahamas to partner and provide technical support on causes for the advancement of Bahamian women. Most recently, she was a part of the UN Bahamas mission this past February, which led to the historic signing of the Multi-country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF). She participated in courtesy calls and talks with various government ministries as the
during the inaugural STEM GEM Awards. “We have specifically targeted high school girls for two reasons: while girls are outperforming boys in school, there is a significant male to the female disparity in STEM leadership roles. When girls enter high school they tend to lose interest in STEM-related careers. Consequently, we established the organisation to address these challenges,” said Tyrhonda Knowles Glinton, founder of FEM STEM. The goal of the organisation is to increase the number of female STEM professionals in the Bahamas by empowering girls age 14 to 18 to become innovators in STEM fields, leaders in their communities, and to be independent problem-solvers. The after-school programme was officially launched in January. Ms Knowles-Glinton said their mission of is to educate, empower and equip high school girls to pursue opportunities in science, technology, engineering and maths. “This year, the participants will seek to design and develop an innovative technology solution to address waste management problems for the New Providence
TONNI Ann Brodber
MSDCF will help to pave the way forward for the Bahamas in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in the UN Agenda 2030. “Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with Gaynel Curry, Dr Jacinta Higgs, and now Calae Philippe (in their capacities as directors of Gender and Family Affairs) and it was always a pleasure to work with the Bahamas,” she said. “We are standing ready to support the Bahamas in its development - and we do not work alone - we work in collaboration with our partners across the UN system. They are all important in the work we do across the Bahamas.”
landfill. We believe that when young people are actively involved in solving problems they become educated and empowered,” she said. Currently, there are 20 girls in the programme. A UNESCO report found that only 35 percent of STEM students in higher education are women. “Well, there are a number of factors why this gap exists,” said Ms Knowles-Glinton. “Research indicates that some of the factors include exposure to careers and representation in the STEM field, implicit and explicit bias influenced by pre-existing beliefs about professions, lack of belief in their own capabilities.” But strides have been made to address these issues. “Some of these include URCA’s Girls in ICT Day event, summer camp programmes organized by Beta Camp and HAP, the Technical Cadet Corps Programme, and FEM STEM Bahamas hosting a series of events and activities that educate, empower, and equip girls to close the gender divide,” she said. However there is much more she believes can be done. “I think there should be a national strategy implemented not only to address this gender gap but the skill gap in this country as it relates to STEM. This, however, requires a holistic approach and involvement from stakeholders in the public and private sectors,” said Ms Knowles-Glinton. “The question often asked, ‘Well, what about the boys?’ My response to that is while this organisation aims to prepare young women to be tomorrow’s STEM leaders, we are here to work side by side with our male counterparts, embodying our country’s motto of one people united in love and service,” she said. GIRLS ages 14 to 18 are encouraged to learn about STEM fields
PAGE 2, Tuesday, March 8, 2022
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Tuesday, March 8, 2022, PAGE 3
A love story worth sharing
Popular motivational speaker to wed Bahamian sports reporter
By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
LISA NICHOLS is one of the world’s mostrequested motivational speakers, as well as a media personality and corporate CEO whose global platform has reached nearly 80 million people. From a struggling single mom on public assistance to a millionaire entrepreneur, Lisa’s courage and determination has inspired fans worldwide to discover their own untapped talents and infinite potential. She spoke with Tribune Woman about her Bahamian love story – her relationship and engagement to Marcellus Hall, a sports reporter for REV Cable – ahead of her wedding day this Friday, March 11. “When my son was 10 years, I said to him with no awareness of the future that when mommy is done raising you, I am going to move to white sand beaches and clear blue waters. I didn’t have any knowing of when or how, but the Caribbean has always provided an energy that calms my soul. This part of the world does something for me spiritually. The islands have always been the haven I ran to during major shifts in my life. It was the place I came to heal when I had my hysterectomy and when my heart was broken. I came to the islands to exhale, release and recalibrate. Unlike different parts of the world, the sun, calm seas symbolised steadiness to me,” said the 55-year-old. Lisa met Marcellus in Kingston, Jamaica, while they were both on a business trip over eleven years ago. They talked for eleven hours straight, until she had to leave the country and return to her home in California. “Marcellus messaged me once a month saying hello and checking on my son and me for the next eight years. Yes, for eight years he pinged me with just a ‘Hello, how are you and Jelani doing?’. I never caught on that he actually liked me and wanted to see what was possible until 2018 when I saw one of his many messages, and then it all clicked. I immediately called him, and as they say, the rest is history. The story is so fascinating to many that it’s even been picked up on international television, leading publications and beyond. I share the entire love story in full colour on my Lisa Nichols podcast series called ‘Journey to Nuptials’, or you can simply go to CountDowntoHappilyEverHalls.com and see the love journey as well as meet our Bahamian wedding partners,” she said. “I didn’t know that I would fall in love with a man who lived in the islands, but I believe it just validated that this was where I was supposed to be.” Lisa said there is so much to love about the Bahamas; it holds a special place in her heart because it continues to bring her the same peace that she shared with her son nearly 18 years ago. “I have enjoyed the epic scenic views, family-oriented culture, the flavourful dishes, and the hope of long-lasting roots. I haven’t had the opportunity to explore as much as I would like to due to the pandemic, but I hope to very soon become even more immersed in the rich culture of my new home. I am giving myself permission to focus on my new family, being a good life partner and bonus mom to the two angels that came with this love. Then secondly, as a global transformational leader, the first virtual empowerment event after my marriage to Marcellus, ‘Extraordinary You’ happens April 29. I’m so excited to open up this platform for people who are looking for more out of their life to join us learn how to push past limiting thinking, set and hit big goals and build a team of gladiators around you. Many of the Bahamian
LISA Nichols and Marcellus Hall have found love in paradise
people who are committed to both personal and business development are currently on my virtual campuses and are already being empowered to live their best life and I welcome anyone to join,” she said. Under the theme “New Family Reunion”, Lisa said on her wedding day, she and Marcellus will be taking a bunch of people who have never met before to a paradise location. “Family is at the centre of Marcellus’ and my heart, and we want this celebration to reflect our gratitude for the relationships that have shaped us into who we are today. We also know that in these hightension, low-touch times, we all can use some fun. So, whether it’s at the karaoke night, fishing excursion, island-wide scavenger hunt, Sunday brunch, harbour cruise, pole dancing or the jewellery-making class, we have planned a series epic experiences that invites our guests to reach across cultural, country and nationality lines and build some amazing memories that can’t be tainted by all that’s happening in the world right now,” she said. “Obviously, I’m excited about my wedding day, but I think that I am literally equally excited about hosting so many people to play so much on the beautiful island of Nassau that I now get to call my home.” Speaking of the Bahamian vendors being used for the wedding day, Lisa said when she initially moved to the Bahamas, 42 days later the country was completely shut down. She watched as many entrepreneurs she had befriended prior to moving here struggled to keep their businesses alive. “I made the decision that for my wedding I would reach out and form partnerships with Bahamian businessmen/women. Now that was a huge decision because my international community had already made me promise that should I ever get married that they would be my wedding partners. I called each person and I said, ‘I want to help some really talented and hungry for success entrepreneurs who have been working hard to be seen for their contribution gain international exposure.’ My goal was to give Bahamian small businesses that do great work a chance to be seen by more people. In addition to the exposure, I also gave them, within our partnership, business development training to assist them in their next-level strategies. This partnership has been wildly successful
and I believe that it has turned some of their flickers into a re-imagined flame,” she said. Some of the local wedding partners are Chevette Williamson Jewllery, Bahamas Luxury Concierges, Fusion Superplex, fashion designer David Rolle, KIS Bespoke, Relish, Mother of Earth Distribution, makeup artist Glow and Glamour, T & T Media, DJ AI, Five Seasons Bridal, Black Sail Tours, The Paper Clutch, photographer Scharad Lightbourne, Roxy Catering, the Cheesecake Diva, among others. With her love story, Lisa hopes to inspire other women to put their happiness first. “As a mother, we often begin to put ourselves last after all other things and people. I’d love inspire us to get back up to the front of our own lines. Serve ourselves first by filling up our cups, then serving others from our overflow,” she said. Lisa also wants her fellow women to prioritise their health. “I want to inspire women in health and wellness because I was obese for 19 years before losing nearly 100 pounds. We wear a jacket of weight and because we can wear it well, we think that it’s OK. Our life’s purpose, passion and mission are relying on our bodies to come to fruition. I conducted a body healing ceremony with myself, whereas I thanked my entire body section by section for its contribution to my journey and then I apologised to each section of my body that had judged for so many years. This started my journey to healing my body, and ultimately transforming my body as well.” “Giving love a chance again, as a 55-year-old woman getting married for the very first time, I want to inspire others to dismiss the notion that time is running out. No one has your unique journey but you, and no one else’s timeline to love should make you feel like it’s too late I don’t feel like I’m late to anyone else’s love party at all, I feel like I’m right on time for my own party.” As founder and chief executive officer of Motivating the Masses, Lisa has developed workshops and programmes aimed at transforming the lives and businesses. She is also a best-selling author of six books, and her seventh book, “Abundance Now”, continues her journey, providing a clear and practical blueprint for personal success. It is the follow-up to Lisa’s New
York Times best-seller “No Matter What”. Lisa’s extraordinary story of transforming her own life from being on assistance to leading a multi-milliondollar enterprise is the inspiration behind her mission to teach others that success is possible. She has appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, The Dr Phil Show, The Steve Harvey Show and Extra. She is also celebrated for the impact she has on the lives of teens. Through Lisa’s non-profit foundation Motivating the Teen Spirit, she has touched the lives of over 270,000 teens. Among the prestigious awards and honours she has received are the Humanitarian Award from South Africa, the Ambassador Award, and the LEGO Foundation ‘s Heart of
Learning Award. The City of Henderson, Nevada, named November 20 as Motivating the Teen Spirit Day; the City of San Diego named April 25 Motivating the Masses Day, and the City of Houston, Texas, named May 9 as Lisa Nichols Day for her dedication to service, philanthropy and healing. While her corporate offices and business focus remain in the Greater San Diego area, Lisa now lives in Nassau. “I have five intentions this year, several of which you already have heard: to develop a rhythm with my new husband and family that allows me to serve the world with no reservations or guilt; to explore the beautiful islands of the Bahamas that I now live in, and I mean explore – rom day trips to weekend trips
to five-day staycations, I plan to soak it all in and drag my husband along with me. I want to maintain the consistency in health and fitness I’ve developed during the pandemic and leading up to my wedding. I will not be gaining those ‘new love’ pounds, no sir. “My mother packed her bags, came to Nassau and purchased a home, so I will be spending more time with my mother as she settles into living in the Bahamas as well. My final intention is to discover new Bahamian business partners to build relationship with that would be a great fit for future business opportunities that serve this community. Thank you, Bahamas, for welcoming me with such open arms and warm hearts,” said Lisa.
PAGE 4, Tuesday, March 8, 2022 TODAY, women all around the world are being celebrated for their advancements, achievements and strides they have made. International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. This year the call to action is summed up with the hashtag “BreaktheBias” - a call to rid the world of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. The collective vision is for a world that is diverse, equitable and inclusive. A world where differences are valued and celebrated. All around the globe, women are breaking the mould and glass ceilings, choosing non-traditional career paths, becoming their own bosses through entrepreneurship, and ascending to leadership roles in various companies. Locally, CG Atlantic is one of few companies that boasts of 100 percent female leadership. In celebration of International Women’s Day, Tribune Woman interviewed five of the women in the top positions. They spoke about their roles, what significance this day has, the importance of women being highlighted, the women that have inspired them, as well what song they play when they want to activate their inner girl power.
boss? Who’s the
Bahamian women in
leadership By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
Mother of two, married for over 40 years, and with CG Atlantic since its inception over 25 years ago.
Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to you? A: “I’m so happy that women are being celebrated. Women do a lot of heavy lifting in their careers and there is a lot to balance when you have a family too. As a pioneer in the professional world, I’m elated to see that women are being celebrated on a global scale each year.”
A: “Be willing to start at the bottom, take those sideways moves to develop and grow. Seek constructive feedback and take action to become the best version of you. Be conscious of what you post on social media – I always search online to see if candidates have profiles and first impressions count. Always spell-check that resume and update your cover letter; poorly constructed resumes won’t get you to interview stage. Finally, own your journey to becoming a leader; no one should care about your career as much as you do.”
girl
must be willing to develop others while supporting and inspiring them towards a common goal. It’s not about you…Although there exists a disparity in the ratio of male men to female leaders in some areas, there has been some improvement. Women must continue to encourage and support one another. Make the difficult decisions, speak up, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, ask for help and delegate. A leader must be honest, able to effectively communicate, transparent, objective, empowering, adaptable, and consistently evaluating. Leadership is a life-long journey.”
Q: What advice would you give to other women who are currently leaders or hope to one day a leader? power become A: “Leadership takes hard
A: “You might spot me driving to work singing along to Mary J Blige’s ‘Just Fine’. It gives feelgood vibes and always brings back memories of a girls’ trip to Miami.”
work, dedication, it’s about being, embracing strengths, seeking selfimprovement, asking for help, becoming a mentor, supporting their peers, having a right mindset, being thoughtful of others and practicing good work/life balance.”
Q: Your song?
girl
power
A: “ ‘I’m Every Woman’ by Chaka Khan.”
Wife and mother of three; with CG Atlantic for over 14 years.
Lynda Gibson,
girl
Q: What advice would you give to other women who are currently leaders or hope to one day become a leader?
Q: Your song? power
A: “ ‘Run the World (Girls)’ by Beyonce.”
Paulette Turner, General Manager of CG Atlantic General
Executive Vice President and General Manager of CG Atlantic Medical & Life
Q: Your song?
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Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to you? A: “Having grown up seeing my mom and other women in more supporting roles rather than roles of leadership, I always knew that I wanted to be different. Why settle? Why not be the pilot, doctor, CEO? I’m proud to see the strides women have made in more leadership roles. All jobs are important, but the message to young girls should be that the choice is yours. You choose what you want to do and go after it. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and cannot accomplish. I have a four-year-old daughter and she will know and believe that the sky is truly the limit for her.”
May-kui Butler, Agency Manager for CG Atlantic Agents & Brokers Mother of two young children, originally from the UK but living in the Bahamas for several years now
Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to you? A: “This year’s theme feels especially relevant having a young daughter. She’s four and won’t experience gender parity in her lifetime, as it’s anticipated to be 135 years away! IWD is a great platform to raise awareness of inequality and at the same time highlight accomplishments and success stories, as people all over the world take action to #breakthebias.”
Shantel Saunders, Operations Manager CG-Atlantic Pensions She has over 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry, and has served both civic and profession organisations, some of which include Junior Achievement, Zonta Club of New Providence and the PACE Foundation
Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Annastasia Francis, Vice President of Health Married with two children, she responsible for overall management and coordination of CG Atlantic Medical and Life
A: “IWD is meaningful to me as it sets aside a specific day to celebrate the accomplishments of women to highlight and share information not widely known. It serves as an opportunity for women of all ages, allowing them to gain inspiration and motivation that further supports the achievement of complete gender equality both locally and globally.”
Q: What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
those have broken glass ceilings in the continuous battle to remove all discrimination and oppression barriers in the rights of women.”
crucial role in the workplace but have gone unrecognised. Women continue to be vastly under-represented in decision-making in business and in the community at large.”
A: “Not only is this a day to celebrate and highlight the accomplishments of women globally, but it’s a day to inspire girls, demonstrating to them that there are no limits on what it is that they hope to become.”
Q: Why do you think it Q: Why do you think it is important for women is important for women to be celebrated on this Q: Why do you think it Q: Why do you think it to be celebrated on this day? is important for women is important for women A: “To take a moment, pause day? A: “At a local level I’m very to be celebrated on this to be celebrated on this and reflect on and acknowledge Q: Which female leader, the women who came before us proud to be part of a 100 percent day? day? A: “It’s important to celebrate A: “It allows for the recognilocally or globally, has and whose shoulders we stand on female leadership team at CG women on this day because tion and honour of those unsung Atlantic. We don’t shout about as well as encourage the future inspired you and why? heroes, trailblazers along who women have always played a A: “Many Bahamian women have inspired me. But I would have to say my mom; she was self-made, she was an entrepreneur her entire life – a real estate broker who left a legacy for her kids. She was a babysitter to her grandkids; she had gifted hands as she was also a seamstress. She balanced both real estate portfolios along with operating her own clothing store. She was the wind beneath my wings; she was in the gym up to 80 plus years old. Rest in peace Florene Crawley.”
Q: What lessons have you learned as a woman in leadership?
A: “You must be strong, positive, determined. You must be a mentor; possess a sense of urgency in getting the job done. You must be able to multi-task. Most importantly, you must have work/life balance.”
Q: What advice would you give to other women who are currently leaders or hope to one day become a leader? A: “Live a balanced life. Leadership is really good, but I encourage women to create a balance. Get into a career that you really love so that you don’t feel like you’re doing a task every day. I come to work every day enjoying what I do because my career is one that I truly love.”
Q: Your song?
girl
power
A: Adele – ‘Hello’. Teddy Pendergrass, Luther Vandross and Whitney are few of my favourite artists.
female generation that they can be whatever they choose.
Q: Which female leader, locally or globally, has inspired you and why?
A: “Barbados’ current prime minister, Mia Mottley. Politics has been historically a male-dominated arena, and to see a female who looks like me from an island like I am gain the respect on an international level while having the local support at home has been amazing to witness. She is demonstrating that women can be good leaders despite critics saying otherwise.”
Q: What lessons have you learned as a woman in leadership?
A: “It’s OK to not be superwoman and have it all. Ask for help and support when needed. Many times, we think it’s a sign of weakness or failing to ask for assistance when in fact it’s a sign of strength and wisdom to recognise when you need help and seek it. Balancing work and home life is a constant juggle, and a good support network can make all the difference.”
Q: What advice would you give to other women who are currently leaders or hope to one day become a leader? A: “Once you are determined, focused and work hard to achieve your goals, I promise the sky is the limit and you will succeed. Always remember to work together and encourage one another as women in the workplace.”
this enough and we need to. We should play our part in inspiring young female Bahamians, showing them what is possible. IWD is a great opportunity to highlight that over 85 percent of our workforce is female.”
Q: Which woman leader, locally or globQ: Which woman Q: Which woman ally, has inspired you and leader, locally or globleader, locally or glob- why? A: “Thasunda Brown-Ducett, ally, has inspired you and ally, has inspired you and CEO of Consumer Bamking, JP why? why? A: “My best friend, who left school with no qualifications is the founder and managing directing of an award-winning brand communications agency. If that isn’t inspiring enough, she’s also successfully co-parenting two daughters and she built her business in a way that gives her the work/life balance she needs in her role as mum. A real superwoman.”
Q: What lessons have you learned as a woman in leadership?
A: “You got your position because you deserve it. Not because you were in the right place at the right time, had a lucky break or because you knew someone. As women we can suffer from imposter syndrome, when really, we should just be proud of ourselves and our achievements. You don’t need to sacrifice your career aspirations when starting your family. You can do it both. I won’t pretend it’s easy, but it can be done. Take time to take care of you. Often as working mums in leadership positions our physical and mental well-being isn’t on the agenda. Self-care is something I personally need to start being intentional about.”
Morgan Chase, USA. I find her inspiring as she rose from humble beginnings. Like her, I too have had persons and organisations that served as disrupters that put me on path to identifying and eventually finding my passion. Persons such asHelen Turnquest, Janice Knowles, Seretha Cleare and Neville Bowen. Organisations such as Junior Achievement, Key Club and Zonta, to name a few. Like Thasunda, my job title is what I do and my purpose and passion is who I am… Thasunda is in a career that is male-dominated, challenged with diversity and inclusion. Through it all, she continues to burst through the glass ceilings in an effort to open doors for women of colour. She proves that she can hurdle over barriers by remaining her true self.”
A: “(Barbados Prime Minister) Mia Mottley. She is fearless, unapologetic, and more importantly, takes action.”
Q: What lessons have you learned as a woman in leadership?
A: “I think the most important lesson that I have learned as a woman in leadership is that I don’t have to be a part of the boys’ club to be successful. Tap into the qualities that you bring as a women, e.g. empathise, develop an emotional connection with those that you lead. This helps you to inspire and transform beliefs leading to higher levels of engagement, productivity and performance.”
Q: What advice would you give to other women Q: What lessons have who are currently leadyou learned as a woman ers or hope to one day in leadership? become a leader? A: “Leadership is a mindset and privilege. No one is born with the all the characteristics or skill set required to lead. Leadership cannot be forced, it requires willingness to serve, tenacity, courage, resilience and self-confidence be successful. Being good at what you do is simply not enough, you
A: “Be yourself, work hard, stay focused and be committed to your goal.”
Q: Your song?
girl
power
A: “ ‘I’m a survivor’ by Destiny’s Child.”
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Tuesday, March 8, 2022, PAGE 5
Five books to inspire female leaders of the future they want to be, regardless of their nationality or background.
By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
3. Michelle’s Garden - How The First Lady Planted Seeds of Change by Sharee Millers
What better way to celebrate International Woman’s Day than to inspire a new generation of female leaders? Whether you want to introduce the young girls in your life to your own personal “sheroes” or introduce them to women they may choose to emulate, here several books that showcase female power at its finest geared toward younger readers.
Fans of Michelle Obama, America’s first African American First Lady have no doubt read her autobiography Becoming which tells the story of how a little Black girl from Chicago’s South Side grew up to become a Harvard law graduate and marry the country’s first African American president. While her personal journey to the White House may be a bit advanced for most young girls, Michelle’s Garden is the perfect introduction to the Obama era. It focusses on the First Lady’s pet project - the White House Garden – and her efforts to help American children learn healthy eating habits.
1. The Little Leaders series by Vashti Harrison Bold Women in Black History, Little Dreamers: Visionary Woman Around the World and Dream Big, Little One These books are an excellent way to inspire a new generation of female leaders. The debut book features the biographies of 40 Black trailblazing women in a wide array of professions; they are scientists, artists, politicians, pilots, mathematicians, poets, filmmakers and actresses, The sequel looks at women from different cultures and time periods, such as architect Zaha Hadid, modernist painter Mary Blair, physicist Chien-Shiung Wu and artists like Frida Kahlo.
2. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo This book that has broken several Kickstarter funding records
introduces young readers to 100 women who are great female role models. The book has received a lot of praise for steering clear of the Disney ‘damsel in distress’ narrative and focusing on positive messages for young women that they can grow up to be whatever
4. She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World by Chelsea Clinton It has been almost 26 years since former First Lady Hillary Clinton told the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing that women’s rights were human rights.
Chelsea Clinton has certainly benefitted from her mom’s influence and is continuing to spread the message of female power to her children. She Persisted tells the stories of Harriet Tubman, Helen Keller, Clara Lemlich, Nellie Bly, Virginia Apgar, Maria Tallchief, Claudette Colvin, Ruby Bridges, Margaret Chase Smith, Sally Ride, Florence Griffith Joyner, Oprah Winfrey, and Sonia Sotomayo . Interestingly, she did not feature her famous mom in the book, saying she didn’t want her to overpower the book.
5. Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya This book has been described as stunning both in its message and its presentation, and is a NAACP Image Award Nominee. The story is about Wangari Muta Maathai who founded the Green Belt Movement in Kenya in 1977. The project saw Kenyan women plant trees throughout the country. Not only did it help with deforestation, it also provided a small stipend to help the women take care of their families. The programme expanded throughout the world and Mama Miti became the first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize.
Making history
THREE of the four new Queen’s Counsels following the special sitting of the Supreme Court on February 24, 2022, marking their move from the Utter (Outer) Bar to the Inner Bar. (l-r) Gail Lockhart Charles, QC; Allyson Maynard-Gibson, QC; Krystal Rolle, QC; Metta MacMillan-Hughes, QC; Lady Sharon Wilson, QC. (Photo/Scharad Lightbourne)
The appointment of four women – Constance McDonald, Lady Sharon Wilson, Metta MacMillan-Hughes and Gail Lockhart Charles as Queen’s Counsels on December 17, 2021 was an unprecedented event. In the entire existence of the Bahamas Bar, only two women had been appointed, namely former Attorney-General Allyson Maynard-Gibson in 2015 and Krystal Rolle in 2020. These latest appointments, announced by the Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, herald a new day and, it is hoped, the beginning of a new era in the uplifting and recognition of Bahamian women who have made and are continuing to make outstanding contributions in their fields and to the development of the Bahamas as a whole.
PAGE 6, Tuesday, March 8, 2022
THE TRIBUNE
Pioneering community leader honoured after her death The late Robertha Johnson made history when she became the first female President of the Bahamas Alliance for the Blind and Visually Impaired (BABVI) last year. After taking up the post in April of 2021, she made a difference in the organisation, injecting her passion into various projects, always with a view of seeing more inclusion for people with disabilities and opportunities for their employment and advancement. Her public calls for the rights of the blind and visually impaired were highlighted in The Tribune this past October during Blindness Awareness Month. Sadly, Robertha lost her battle with cancer on Christmas Eve. On Sunday, March 6, 2022, Robertha’s involvement in
BABVI and her historic ascension to the role of president were commemorated when an award was presented in her honour. BABVI was celebrating its silver anniversary - 25 years as a support and advocacy group, NGO and civil society partner in the Bahamas. The event was held under the theme: “Reigniting Our Vision: Creating a better future.” During the silver jubilee gala, awards and certificates of appreciation were presented. Robertha’s award was received by her cousin, Cleo Sweeting, who was in tears as she accepted the award, remembering her as a loving, caring, jubilant person who loved her family. ROBERTHA Johnson lost her battle with cancer on Christmas Eve
All BABVI past-presidents were honored, including: Desmond Brown who has now been returned to the presidency; Anton Munroe; Spurgeon Neilly; Tyrone Johnson, Kendrick Rolle, and posthumously for Dana Thompson. He was one of the pioneers in blindness awareness and advocacy. Certificates of appreciation were awarded to: long-serving transportation professionals Jerome Sands and Kirkland Thompson; founding member Hanna McPhee; Lucy Lightbourne who received the long service award; Patricia Lightbourne for financial consultancy; Sarah Ferguson for serving 22 years as treasurer; and Felicity Darville for long service in public relations.
High blood pressure linked to sexual dysfunction in women and men It is well-known that uncontrolled elevated blood pressure can lead to erectile dysfunction in men. It is relatively common for the first symptom of new onset or known poorly controlled hypertension to be poor quality erections. Few people are aware of the fact that high blood pressure in women can lead to sexual dysfunction as well. Another surprising fact is that more women experience sexual dysfunction than men. It is estimated that 43 percent of women and 31 percent of men experience some form sexual dysfunction. For women, sexual dysfunction is defined as recurrent or persistent reduction in sexual desire, decrease in sexual arousal, painful intercourse or inability or difficulty in achieving an orgasm. There are numerous possible causes of female sexual dysfunction. Elevated blood pressure in women can lead to a reduction in the body’s release of the chemical nitric oxide which negatively impacts a woman’s relaxation of smooth muscle, which can inhibit sexual arousal. In a well-respected, peerreviewed scientific study presented at the 21st Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Society of Hypertension, it was concluded that women with high blood pressure were twice as likely to experience sexual dysfunction when compared to women with normal blood pressure. The study included 417 sexually active women aged 31 to 60 years old. In the United States there are 65 million people with hypertension and about half are women.
The Bahamas has one of the highest per capita incidences of hypertension in the Caribbean and in the world. A blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or above is considered high.
High blood pressure causing male ED A scientific study published in the Journal of Urology determined that 68 percent of men with high blood pressure had some element of erectile dysfunction ED; 45 percent of these men had severe ED. Elevated blood pressure can prevent blood vessels that supply the penis from fully expanding, as well as limiting the relaxation of the smooth muscle of the penis so that insufficient blood flows to the penis to make it erect. Men with high blood pressure are also more likely to have low testosterone levels. Testosterone is a hormone that is important for normal erectile function in men.
Certain medications can cause ED Erectile dysfunction ED can be caused by high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, artherosclerosis with plaques in blood vessels, low testosterone levels amongst many other causes. Managing ED necessitates treating the root causes and not just the symptoms. The little blue pill, Viagra, or other similar regulated sexual enhancing medications such as Cialis and Levitra, can in most cases initially improve erectile function in men who have elevated blood pressures or
uncontrolled diabetes. However, these conditions will continue to damage blood vessels and nerves supplying the penis and enhancing erectile medications will stop being effective and irreversible erectile dysfunction may occur. It is a recognised fact that many medications can lead to erectile dysfunction. Certain high blood pressure medications can potentially worsen or initiate ED in some men and women. Men and women should, however, never stop prescribed high blood pressure medication themselves but instead consult their physician and alert them to the negative ED side effects, so that another class of high blood pressure medications can be given. In this way men can have well controlled blood pressure and still maintain good erections. There are several classes of high blood pressure medications such as ACE inhibitors, angiotensin 2 receptor blockers, alpha blockers beta blockers, combined alpha and beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, vasodilators and others. Every man is different and a certain class of hypertension medication many cause erectile dysfunction in one man but not another. It is more common for thiazide diuretics, loop diuretics and beta blocker high blood pressure medication to cause erectile dysfunction ED, as these medications can potentially reduce blood flow to the penis and make erections more difficult to achieve. Hypertension medication such as ACE inhibitors, alpha blockers and angiotensin receptor blockers rarely cause ED.
THE UROLOGY DOCTOR IS IN...
Dr Greggory Pinto
Other medications that commonly cause ED include antidepressants, antihistamines, muscle relaxants nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs, tranquilizers, anti-seizure medications, hormones, anti-arrhythmics (for irregular heart beat), prostate cancer drugs, Parkinson’s disease drugs, chemotherapy agents and others. Never stop taking these essential medications yourself if you have erectile dysfunction side effects but seek the consult of a physician who will safely address the issue.
High blood pressure can kill your erections and you High blood pressure is a silent killer leading to an estimated 7.6 million deaths worldwide, which represents 13.5 percent of
all deaths, more than any other risk factor for death. High blood pressure is also a silent killer of erections, destroying the blood supply to the male sex organ as well as to other organs such as the kidneys, heart, brain and eyes. Seeking medical attention for erectile dysfunction can not only have you regain your erections but also may lead to the new diagnosis and treatment of potentially devastating conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, early heart disease and atherosclerosis. A reported 54 percent of strokes and 47 percent of coronary disease are related to high blood pressure. High blood pressure will negatively impact small blood vessels of the penis long before larger blood vessels that supply the kidneys, heart and brain. Erectile dysfunction can be an early warning sign of underlying conditions such as high blood pressure, that if treated early and effectively, could potentially prevent a heart attack or stroke or kidney failure in the future. Seek confidential, compassionate and comprehensive care for erectile dysfunction. • Dr Greggory Pinto is a board-certified Bahamian urologist and laparoscopic surgeon. He can be contacted at OakTree Medical Center #2 Fifth Terrace and Mount Royal Avenue, Nassau, Bahamas; Telephone – (242) 322-1145-7; email: welcome@urologycarebahamas.com or visit the website:www.urologycarebahamas.com
Shoulder pain and its cause The shoulder is the most moveable joint in the human body. It is composed of a group of four muscles and their tendons. This group is called the rotator cuff, a group of muscles which connect the shoulder to the arm and it is the rotator cuff which gives the shoulder such a wide range of movement. If the rotator cuff is damaged in any way caused by injury or the aging process it might include swelling, or bone changes around this area and cause pain. Pain can occur when raising the arm above your head or moving the arm back and forth. Sometimes shoulder pain may be due to a problem in another area of the body, such as the neck or lungs. This is called referred pain and usually causes pain at rest but no worsening of pain when moving the shoulder. There are many causes for shoulder pain but the most common is caused by bursitis, when the tendons to the rotator cuff become trapped under the bony area of the shoulder. These tendons become inflamed and damaged resulting in the condition known as tendinitis or bursitis. Bursae are small fluidfilled sacs that reduce friction between the moving parts in your shoulder joint. Bursitis of the shoulder occurs when there is swelling and redness between the top of the arm bone and the tip of the shoulder due to lack of sufficient space. However, there are several other causes for shoulder pain. Bursitis for instance, which is inflammation of a fluid-filled sac (bursa) that normally protects the joint and helps it move smoothly.
Hannah FosterMiddleton BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, MCSP, SRP
Frozen shoulder occurs when the muscles, tendons, and ligaments inside the shoulder become stiff making movement difficult and painful. Sometimes injury is caused by overuse or injury of nearby tendons, such as the bicep muscles of the arms; tears of the rotator cuff tendons; poor shoulder posture; arthritis in the shoulder joint; bone spurs in the shoulder area; a broken shoulder bone; dislocation of the shoulder or shoulder separation. Rotator cuff injuries causing impingement are very often incurred by manual labourers, weight lifters, body builders
or baseball pitchers. A frozen shoulder, known as adhesive capsulitis, happens when the connective tissue becomes thickened and tight and causes stiffness and pain. This can occur when the shoulder has been immobilised for a period of time either through surgery or because of injury and this can be serious if left untreated. Tendinitis is a very common condition that can be treated by a physiotherapist for pain relief. It causes inflammation and usually affects people who take part in physical activities, or at work at a job that requires them to use many repetitive motions on
a daily basis. For example, if you are an athlete who plays tennis, or a professional painter, you could be at a greater risk for developing tendinitis. This is because you make the same repetitive motions every day to play your sport or do your job. Tendon tears often occur through our natural aging process, overuse or random injury. Regardless of whether a patient has experienced a partial or full tendon tear, the pain can be searing. More than 90 percent of tendon injuries are long term in nature, and 33-90 percent of these chronic rupture symptoms go away without surgery.
Almost all, if not all, of these conditions can be helped or cured dramatically with physiotherapy. Your therapist will be able to make a diagnosis, manage your pain using a number of different non-invasive treatment options and prescribe a series of exercises specifically for your condition. You may also be asked to do some home care including icing, exercise and rest possibly using a sling. It might also be suggested that you rest the shoulder for a period of time and slowly return to normal activities. • For questions and comments, call Hannah Foster-Middleton at 356 4806, e-mail genesisphysiotherapy@gmail.com, or visit www.physiotherapybahamas. com.
THE TRIBUNE
Tuesday, March 8, 2022, PAGE 7
PAGE 8, Tuesday, March 8, 2022
THE TRIBUNE