The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

SCORES of Bahamian women were honoured yesterday for being “outstanding women of the Bahamas” during Celebrating Woman International’s inaugural event for its Women of Distinction & Women of Excellence awards.

At a ceremony at Government House yesterday evening, under the patronage of Governor General Dame Marguerite Pindling, the board of governors of CWI presented the women with flowers and a night of special recognition to give them the “props they deserve.”

“We always say that women are the backbone of every nation, and we thought it would be an opportune time to salute them to let them know that they have been appreciated in some small way,” said CWI Executive Director Anthony Allens.

“It’s just a small token of our appreciation for the work that they’ve been doing in the past. Obviously there are many more women that could’ve been honoured during the course of this month, and going forward you’ll see and find many more women being honoured in the course of the life of this organisation.”

Those to be honoured include many iconic Bahamian women, such as former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Cynthia “Mother” Pratt, as well as The Tribune’s publisher Eileen Dupuch Carron.

Another honouree, Mrs Beverly Wallace Whitfield, MVO, secretary to Sir Milo Butler, the first Bahamian governor general, said she was elated that she was finally being noticed for her contributions to society.

“I feel great and I had no hesitation in accepting it because I’m an octogenarian – that is I’m over 80 years of age – and I feel that I have done something in 80 years for this country and the people who live here,” she said.

“What touched me is that somebody noticed and is saying ‘thank you’ and I think for me that’s important, not so much to be honoured,” added Marva Farquharson, another of those being honoured.

“I’m appreciative of the fact that somebody noticed what we did and said ‘thank you’ for what we did for this country,” she said.

Events surrounding ‘Celebrating Women 2014’ are scheduled to continue until November 3.

The next event is a Symposium on October 20 at the College of the Bahamas’ Performing Arts Centre. The theme of the symposium is: “Are we there yet?” It will be followed on Friday, October 31, with a thanksgiving service at Christ Church Cathedral, George Street, at 6:30pm.

The final event — the presentation of awards— will be held at 7:30pm at the Melia, Nassau Beach Hotel when the music and entertainment will be provided by Shirley Caesar and the Caesar Singers.