NASSAU, The Bahamas -- In celebration of International Women’s Day, on March 8, 2023, the Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister, led by Mrs. Ann Marie Davis along with Minister of State for Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Lisa Rahming visited various women-led community outreach organizations.

According to Mrs. Ann Marie Davis, International Women’s Day is significant because it’s a day to recognize women for the contributions they’ve made as women are the “bedrock of our nation.”

Overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Bahamas Crisis Centre in the protection of women and girls in The Bahamas is one of the reasons why, according to Mrs. Davis, the center’s founder Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson and staff were chosen to be presented with a plaque for assistance in social work.

“This is so phenomenal. Your contributions are great and I respect this institution very much,” she said.

The Bahamas Crisis Center has established programs for domestic violence advocacy and rape survivors’ advocacy as well as provides support and accommodation to victims of domestic violence and sexual violence.

In its forty years of commitment to the advocacy for the safety of women and girls, the work of the Bahamas Crisis Centre is crucial to what International Women’s Day is all about, according to Minister Rahming.
“You are the nucleus of the hurting women. Not us. You. Because we give them to you. They are counseled. They are nurtured back to wholeness,” she said.

In addition to the Bahamas Crisis Center, other organizations honoured for the work they do in supporting women for International Women’s Day include: the Persis Rodgers Home for the Aged, Eljhay's Hilltop Cottage Ministries, and Pat’s Senior Citizens Home.  

Mrs. Davis and Minister of State Rahming, with representatives of the Bahamas National Trust and Aliv, planted breadfruit and mahogany trees in Lou Adderley Park for the first installation of the “50 for 50” tree-planting initiative.  The Aliv-sponsored program is a partnership between The Office of the Spouse and the Bahamas National Trust with the aim of planting 50 trees across The Bahamas in commemoration of the celebration of the 50th Independence Anniversary.

According to Mrs. Davis, the initiative is a great way for people to connect with nature and the future benefits of planting the trees will help the environment as well as provide food accessibility to everyone.  “Let us enrich our knowledge, health and our environment,” she said.

Visits, pictured, were to Persis Rodgers Home for the Aged, where women were presented flowers 

A plaque for the centre presented to Mrs. Frances Ledee, administrator;  Bahamas Crisis Center, 

A plaque to ministries organizer, Mrs. Laura Johnson Taylor. 

Elijhay's Hilltop Cottage Ministries, with flowers

Office of the Spouse of the Prime Minister in partnership with the Bahamas National Trust planted breadfruit and mahogany trees at Lou Adderley Park, Claridge Road; the Leon Levy Native Plant Preserve partnered in the tree planting.

Flowers all around 

Elderly at Persis Rodgers Home for the Aged

BIS Photos/Anthon Thompson