More can be done for women in the country but The Bahamas has come a long way since the women’s suffrage movement and successive governments must be congratulated for the development of women in the country, according to former Minister of Social Services, Loretta Butler-Turner.
Mrs. Turner, who spoke with the Bahama Journal last week, said the country has come “a mighty long way.”
“The Bahamas has been a signatory to the human rights conventions and all of those conventions that pretty much are proactive in eliminating the discrimination against women,” she said.
“I think the display that you saw downtown [of all the pictures of prominent women] was something that we already put in place before we demitted office. I’m pleased to know that the current administration kept up with it.”
This year is also being celebrated as the 50th anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage movement in The Bahamas.
This month has been dubbed as National Women’s Month and the government kicked celebrations off with a church service at Bethel Baptist Church on Meeting Street on November 4.
“Unfortunately I was unable to attend the church service that was held last week because I had surgery on my feet,” Mrs. Turner told the Journal.
“I think one of the things we must continue to do is to ensure that half of the population – our women – continues to develop themselves so we can enjoy the privileges that our country has to offer. We have come a long way but our job is not done yet. As we continue to move forward as a country, women must be empowered and encouraged to step up to the plate in various sectors within our society.”
Other events for National Women’s Month include the release of a documentary on the Suffrage Movement as compiled by Marion Bethel, at Government House, Mt. FitzWilliam on November 23; a women’s “Power Breakfast” that will be held on November 24 that will allow “women to reminisce on where we have come from while charting a course for the future”; an Essay and Poster Competition for public and private senior high schools, and a ceremony in conjunction with the General Post Office celebrating the issuance of the postage stamps.
Additional events include a Lecture Series hosted by the College of The Bahamas, culminating with the Observance of National Women’s Day, Monday, November 26.
