03082023 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

Bahamas joins celebration of women

TODAY is International Women’s Day - and Bahamians are joining with women around the world in marking the occasion.

The Tribune is delighted to showcase some of the ways in which Bahamians are honouring women - while also pressing for

action to bring greater equity. The theme of this year’s event focuses on equality in the digital age.

On PAGE 19, you can read abot the official statement delivered by Minister of State for the Public Service Pia Glover-Rolle to the

67th annual Commission on the Status of Women on Monday at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

On PAGES 20-21, The Tribune has challenged readers and people on the street to name some of the women who inspire them mostwith answers ranging from world leaders to people’s nearest and dearest at home. And on PAGE 22, you can catch up with an event held last night at Crypto Isle on the eve of the big day itself. Look inside to read more.

EMPOWERMENT RALLY TO BE HELD TONIGHT

A WOMEN Empowerment Rally will be held today at Father Marshall Cooper Park in Mason’s Addition.

The event, presented by Bahamas 242, will include giveaways of free women’s

clothing, shoes and other items.

The organisers call on all “mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and nieces, Bahamian queens and princesses” to take part.

There will be guest speakers, performances, giveaways and light refreshments.

The event starts at 6pm. For more information, contact Apostle Henry Higgins on 803-4423.

Bahamian women make call for equity

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS Tribune Staff Reporter lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

WITH International Women’s Day being observed today, Bahamian women in politics are calling for equity in an effort to reach equality.

IWD is a global celebration of women’s achievements from a social, economic, cultural and political standpoint. This year’s theme is embracing equity.

Education, Technical and Vocational Training Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said “stubborn” cultural norms that seek to perpetuate inequality for women need to be retired.

She said discrimination of all forms must be eradicated to build a more “whole” society.

“I not only believe we can do more, but I am convinced we must do more,” she told The Tribune

yesterday.

“Anything less than a full embrace of equality between men and women is dysfunctional and socially destabilising and we cannot pretend that the status quo is satisfactory.

“The most intractable element is the way in which women are viewed in many quarters which may explain the high rates of domestic violence and abuse and rate of sexual violence.”

As a mother, grandmother and politician, Mrs Hanna-Martin is committed to fighting for the men and women in the country, saying that barriers which seek to restrict the expression of women’s full humanness must be removed.

Feminist and local activist Alicia Wallace said there is no “definitive” way to be a woman.

“Womanhood is expansive and open to

interpretation, and women are expressive,” said the Equality Bahamas director.

“We can wear our womanhood in many different ways. It is important to remember that womanhood is not reproductive organs or femininity.

“Womanhood is, as we know it, a social construct, and we are constantly renovating and redecorating, from what we wear and how we move to our career choices and relationships. It need not be a limiting factor. It is not stagnant, but evolving as we, as people, evolve.”

She said that there is a “long list” of actions that the government ought to take for the advancement of women and the end of gender-based violence.

“The Bahamas has, generally speaking, not embraced equity. Equity requires us to consider the specific circumstances that different groups of people

are in, and respond with systems, practices, programmes, and services that would enable them all to have the same outcomes.

“This means we are not treating everyone as though they are the same, because they are not. Even women, as a group, are not the same. Women with disabilities, LGBTQ+ women, women in the Family Islands, and elderly women all face different barriers and require different forms of support to access opportunities and have particular outcomes.” She continued: “There is little understanding of this. We need a government that is committed to protecting and upholding human rights to the point that it conducts educational activities to help residents to understand what is required. We need a National Human Rights Institute which would be tasked with research, education, and reporting on

human rights, and women’s human rights would be a primary area of focus and for advancement.”

Seabreeze MP Leslia

Miller-Brice acknowledged the fact that more must be done for women, suggesting the need for more conversation on the matter.

“Keep having conversations with both men and women,” she told this newspaper yesterday.

“We must ensure we all understand and appreciate firstly the difference in equality and equity.”

She continued: “Furthermore, we must ensure that as more and more women shatter glass ceilings, there are men right along with them passing them the hammer, right along with us chipping at the obstacles and giving support where possible.”

Free National Movement Senator Maxine Seymour said the government should aim to do more to embrace

equality amongst men and women, noting that the laws that govern the country are not “equitable”.

“Equity is fairness, plain and simple,” she said.

“Bahamians deserve equal rights and protection, whether they are men or women. To begin with, laws are created to protect and empower citizens and residents and the laws that govern the Commonwealth of The Bahamas are not equitable.”

She demanded an audit of legislation and policies to thoroughly identify the gaps, and “level” the playing field for women to close the gap.

“Women need equal access to certain things like employment, education and healthcare. Whatever hinders their advancement must be addressed and eliminated – all barriers and whatever forms of bias or discrimination that may exist.”

GLOVER-ROLLE DELIVERS CARICOM MESSAGE TO EVENT AT UN

THE sixty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) is currently underway at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, and a delegation representing The Bahamas is there. The Department of Gender and Family Affairs (DGFA), Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development (MOSSUD) sends representatives to the annual session, led by UN Women. Representatives of Member States, UN entities, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from all regions of the world attend and contribute to the session.

The Bahamas delegation at CSW67 is made up of more than 50 people including Minister of State for the Public Service pIa GloverRolle and an official; Permanent Secretary Joel Lewis, MOSSUD along with other officers from the ministry; Melvelyn Symonette, first assistant secretary, DGFA and two other officers from that Department; representatives from the Disability Affairs Division; and a number of NGOs and representatives from Civil Society are in attendance, making up the vast majority of this large contingent.

On this International Women’s Day, MOSSUD says this year’s theme: “DigitALL: Innovation

and Technology for Gender

Equality” is aligned with the priority theme for CSW67. World leaders are gathering with the thrust to achieve “innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”.

This year’s IWD theme is important because it promotes digital transformation for gender equality,” said Minister of Social Services and Urban Development Obie Wilchcombe, who is expected to join the Bahamas delegation at CSW67 on International Women’s Day.

“Women and girls need to access information through communication technology, not only for personal use, but to enable

women to compete successfully as entrepreneurs in the local economy and girls in their pursuit of education.”

The launch of the Park Connect Free Wi-fi access throughout The Bahamas, he said, is a constructive step towards achieving the objectives for this year’s IWD initiative.

“Today, women and girls can access the internet from the comfort of their neighborhoods for eCommerce and education from their smartphones. The Ministry applauds and encourages corporate Bahamas to continue to assist with providing electronic devices to facilitate this digital transformation.”

IWD 2023 will explore the impact of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities. The event will also spotlight the importance of protecting the rights of women and girls in digital spaces and addressing online and ICT-facilitated gender-based violence Bringing women and other marginalised groups into technology results in more creative solutions and has greater potential for innovations that meet women’s needs and promote gender equality

“As the country approaches its golden anniversary, the Ministry recognises the

achievements of Bahamian women from every sector and industry for their invaluable contributions to nation building,” Minister Wilchcombe said.

“This International Women’s Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of Bahamian women over the past 50 years. It also is a time to strategise for the road ahead to next milestones as a developing country. My ministry is committed to advancing women and girls in every area of their lives, including through technology.”

Minister of State for the Public Service, the Honourable Pia GloverRolle, delivered an official statement on behalf of CARICOM at the event. She addressed attendees on regional plans for digital transformation and the ways that women and girls will play pivotal roles in this transformation. She said: “This digital transformation is providing new avenues for the economic empowerment of women and can contribute to the achievement of gender equality. With access to the Internet and skills to use digital technologies, they can pursue education and find better-paid jobs, start new businesses, promote and sell products in new

markets, and access and exchange information, as well as network and increase participation in public life.”

She also highlighted the need for greater inclusivity in emerging digital fields, especially in regard to greater representation of women through increased opportunities and support.

“While ICT and STEM occupations are among the highest earners, there has been historic underrepresentation of women and girls. This is often a result of gender stereotyping in career choices. The CARICOM Girls in ICT Partnership Programme is focused on changing gender-specific expectations about professions, including by fostering female role models in STEM and ICTs.

“Efforts are ongoing to integrate ICT studies and skills training into our formal education systems, including through capacity development for teachers. There is also need for reskilling and up-skilling for women who are already in the job market so that they can have equal opportunities for promotions and higher earnings.”

In closing her statement, Minister Glover-Rolle emphasised the region’s commitment to “closing the gender digital divide” stating that CARICOM nations

would “contribute to the economic and social empowerment of women and girls through improvements to women’s and girls’ digital skills, access to the internet and devices, and ensuring a safe and enabling online environment for them”.

The Minister of State for the Public Service is one of several government executives and officials present at the Commission on the Status of Women to represent The Bahamas and play a pivotal role in highlighting CARICOM’s priorities and policy solutions to address gender-based issues. The delegation’s agenda also includes a roundtable discussion on bridging the gender divide, which will be led by Minister Glover-Rolle.

Minister Glover-Rolle applauded the robust participation of the Bahamian delegation, stating that she believes participation in international events such as this one ensures that the Caribbean makes its contributions felt at a global level.

“It is important that the voice of the Caribbean is heard at the United Nations,” she said. “Especially for major issues such as gender equality, it is critical that we play a role in international goal setting, policy development, and adding our inputs into the discussion on essential human rights.”

MELVYLYN SYMONETTE, first assistant secretary in the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, is among the delegation at the UN Headquarters for CSW67.

Who are the women

THE VIEW FROM DOWNTOWN

By FAY SIMMONS jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

THE TRIBUNE hit the streets yesterday to ask Bahamians about the women that inspire them in honou of Women’s Day 2023.

Respondents were excited to highlight women that they considered role models due to their accomplishments and characteristics.

Ms Cox considers a charitable mother that continued her philanthropic deeds while supporting her special needs son through his battle with cancer to be a role model for herself and others.

She said: “I think that Tanya Moncur is a great role-model. She has a special needs son that is battling cancer, and despite all of her trials and the stuff that she goes through she is still charitable and helping other people.

“She helped put together a special needs prom for her son and others; she has done thanksgiving giveaways. She’s just a mom, she’s just a regular mom, but her strength and her kindness makes her a wonderful woman.”

Sean, a security guard, is inspired by female leaders such as the current Prime Minister of Barbados Mia

Mottley, and the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher.

He said: “A woman that I’d consider a role model is the Barbados Prime Minister [Mia Mottley]. I like her because she’s smart, outspoken, funny and doesn’t back down from anyone. She was a lawyer, you know, and it shows, I wouldn’t like to go against her in court.

To me, she’s like a modern day Thatcher, but in a good way, both strong intelligent women, you can tell they keep the men around them in line.”

model. She was a virtuous woman, she was kind, supportive to all her children and she was a woman that others could emulate. I thank God that she was in my life.”

‘My mother, Maude Neely, has always been my role model. She was a virtuous woman, she was kind, supportive to all her children and she was a woman that others could emulate. I thank God that she was in my life.’

While some respondents showed admiration for popular and political figures, others garnered inspiration from sources closer to home.

Ms Neely, expressed that her mother has always been her role model.

She said: “My mother, Maude Neely, has always been my role

Christovia, a barista, considers herself to be a role model and main tained that the way to improve the lives of women and girls is through support and encouragement. She said: “I think that I’m a great role model. I strive to be kind and understanding, encourage and motivate others, and always be the best woman I can be.”

She added: “Women should always look out for each other and try to empower ourselves and each other whenever we have the chance. That’s how we are going to get ahead, we have to support and encourage other women.”

Among suggestions for women who inspired Bahamians was Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, who one man said reminded him of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

‘A MISS BAHAMAS, A TRUE QUEEN AND MY HERO - MY MOTHER’

By FELICITY DARVILLE

I NOMINATE my mother, Agatha Elizabeth Watson, as a Women’s Day Heroine.

This year marks 50 years since she was crowned Miss Bahamas. She was crowned in 1973, the year of our Independence.

My mother has two daughters - Felicity and Alisa, seven grandchildren, and one great granddaughter. She is an exceptional woman.

Fifty years after wearing the crown, she still carries herself like a true queen. Always poised and elegant, she does not put on pretences.

She is the same woman of dignity and class inside and outside of the home. She has a caring spirit, and many are drawn to her. She is the only sister to seven brothers.

Her parents, William and Olga Watson, did a tremendous job of instilling discipline, dignity and respect for others into their children.

My mother continued to serve on the Miss Bahamas Committee for many years, helping to mould other young women and instill a sense of national pride and civic duty into them.

In addition, she served as a judge with the National Junkanoo Committee for many years, proud of our culture. She has represented this country around the world.

She is extremely faithful to her church, Holy Cross, where she has played a significant role in its growth over the years. Most of all, we call her mum, and she is the love of our lives.

‘A woman that I’d consider a role model is the Barbados Prime Minister [Mia Mottley]. I like her because she’s smart, outspoken, funny and doesn’t back down from anyone.’

who are your heroes?

THE TRIBUNE CHALLENGED READERS TO NAME THEIR #WOMENSDAYHEROES

AND HERE ARE SOME OF THOSE YOU HIGHLIGHTED IN CELEBRATION

I CONSIDER myself extremely fortunate to have a devoted, loving mother (Shirley Bain) who is courageous, a visionary, strong, perseverant and “in service” to her family and others. She is a mom to three and “NaNa” to one. She is disciplined, responsible, autonomous and highly accountable. In the face of challenges, she has urged me to always remain grounded, be compassionate, transparent and humble. My mom gave me the confidence to know myself.

She is patient and centered with amazing composure regardless of the circumstances. I have watched her age gracefully, naturally accepting herself as she believes that loving and accepting one’s self is our greatest gift to ourselves.

Thank you to the woman I cited above for opening doors and creating paths where there were none.

Mommy, you have comforted me over the years via your continued prayers, words of wisdom, your never-ending love, commitment and authenticity. Happy International Women’s Day! #womensdayheroes

Dr Selima Hauber, nominated by Yolanda Pawar

DR SELIMA HAUBER

currently serves as our crop production manager at One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) and the Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI).

She is a force to be reckoned with in terms of her academic accomplishments, twenty (plus) years as a farmer and her deep-seated commitment to advancing The Bahamas’ Agriculture Industry toward the goals of food sovereignty and food security.

She uses her knowledge and platform on a daily basis, actively teaching and promoting sustainable farming techniques to build capacity among local farmers and backyard growers while employing farming techniques that protect our fragile ecosystems and pristine environment.

She is a passionate advocate for community health through proper nutrition and invests her time and energy in educating staff and the community about the many health benefits of consuming live, supercharged, nutritious green foods, to nourish the body and the benefits of adopting a primarily plant-based diet to mitigate the negative impacts of non-communicable diseases.

Every day she works in the trenches teaching, training, planting, and harvesting for a healthy and sustainable future.

She is growing hope by providing communities with greater access to healthful foods and inspiring the next

generation of Bahamian women to take a leading role in local farming.

She has served on The Bahamas’ National Advisory Committee for Agriculture 2018-2020

In February 2022, Selima was invited to represent The Bahamas as a contributor/presenter at Expo 2022 in Dubai, United Emirates. She was a speaker in the Food, Agriculture & Livelihoods Business Forum under the theme: “Spotlighting the Role of Smallholder Farming Across Agricultural Value Chains.”

She was featured in the Canadian publication: “Small Farms Feed the World” by Market Gardener Institute. (It showcases the stories and wisdom of 10 growers practicing human-scale biointensive agriculture.)

She was named in COBs

(top 40) Most Outstanding Alumni in 2014 (AA-93)

Dr Selima Hauber received bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in Horticulture universities in the Southeast of The United States of America. Her graduate research studies involved plant secondary metabolite physiology and plant micropropagation.

Amidst studying, she worked in the ornamental plant industry and botanic gardens in Florida, and in molecular breeding of agronomic crops at the University of Georgia.

In The Bahamas, Dr. Hauber was employed at a privately-owned, hydroponic greenhouse producing vegetables for domestic sales. While

there, she established the country’s first plant micropropagation laboratory which engaged in propagating native plants for habitat restoration and tropical fruit propagules for commercial production.

For more than a decade, Dr Hauber operated her own mixedvegetable organic farm which pioneered the use of regenerative production methods in The Bahamas.

OEF is a non-profit organisation whose mission is empower the island’s communities, aiding in

IN CELEBRATION of International Women’s Day, I am nominating my mother, Mrs Ida Rolle-Hall (deceased)

A giant of a woman... marvellous, strong, kind, faithful, loving, generous, disciplined and humble and talented.She was a straw vendor, who loved her craft, her country, her co-workers and her family with no strings attached. She was blessed with “mother’s wit”, and a sense of humor and grace.

She was from Breezy Hill, Andros, and had the quiet sass and big city know how to navigate raising a family of five boys and two girls. An impeccable dresser, she grew up her girls (two of us) to value quality over quantity, Christmas and Easter and birthdays were special occasions to go shopping. She was a faithful and devoted member of the Church of God, East Street and there was no option for missing church.

Her husband was her torch bearer... they had a loving, respectful and dependent relationship... ying and yang. She never learned to drive but she went whereever she wanted to.

Her cooking was magical and she often fed the entire neighbourhood - and she knew everyone!

She loved travelling and a stroke later in life was no deterrent in her living a wonderful and energetic life.

We loved that woman and are thankful everyday that she was our hero.

We know that she smiles daily that her last daughter is a physician, a grandaughter is a physician, one is a PhD, Assistant Professor at University of The Bahamas. Her legacy is rich, all from an unlettered woman from Breezy Hill Andros... our HERO!

For more details, visit www.strawincbahamas.org or call 242-544-5240.

transforming them into thriving self-sufficient ecosystems. Here, Selima operates the teaching farm and develops programs at the intersection of food production and health to inspire healthy dietary behavioral change to mitigate the epidemic of noncommunicable diseases.

It is a great honor as the owner and founder of The Storm Intercept Weather Network to present our Network’s nomination for Women’s Day Heroes, in that of our very own executive director of hurricane intercept operations, Ms Monique Palmisano.

Ms Palmisano is a prime example of a hero among heroes. As a woman, she has truly exemplified what a hero is.

Through her service in our Hurricane Division and Storm Spotting cores, she has tirelessly worked to identify hazardous weather threats in and around New Providence, and even gone as far on countless occasions to put herself in the line of fire all in the name of public safety and security in the meteorlogical world.

This work has earned her the title of Waterspout Queen and the Lightning

Princess among local and international storm chasers.

Ms Palmisano has shown through her committment exactly what women in the field of storm and hurricane intercepting can do when they are given the respect and admiration they wholeheartedly deserve.

She currently holds the most important position in our divisional operations extending from

The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and portions of the Midwest States of America.

It is an honour to say that Ms Palmisano is in fact the GREATEST OF ALL TIME in our weather community at SiWeather and dare we say in the region. We continue to push our very own Senorita 629 and her 80% Female Interceptor Core.

Monique Palmisano, nominated by Craig T Lowe

Shirley Bain, nominated by Tamika Brice

Mrs Ida Rolle-Hall, nominated by Virginia Hall-Campbell

Therena A Cunningham, nominated by the STRAW Inc Centre for Young Women

We wish to recognise our executive director, Ms Therena A Cunningham, of the STRAW Inc Centre for Young Women, a safe place dedicated for nearly 20 years to inspiring, educating, engaging and challenging girls to become self sufficent and responsible young adults.

Pre-celebration welcomes International Women’s Day

ATTENDEES last night at a pre-celebration of women held by Crypto Isle and the UB Alumni Association in observation of International Women’s Day.

The event included a video presentation by Gillian Muessig, the CEO of Outlines Venture Group and managing director of the Mastersfund, a global gender-lens venture capital fund, and who has served as an advisor to the Bill and Melinda Gates Fondation, the US State Department and many others.

She is pictured on screen, left, being introduced by Davinia Bain.

Photos: Austin Fernander

UB Alumni Association chairperson Jazmine Romer-Rolle speaking last night.