Community
International Women's Day celebrated in The Bahamas
By Felicity Ingraham
Mar 8, 2014 - 1:41:36 PM

Women's International Day celebrated in Bahamas - Standing in front of "Bahamian black Madonna and child" Photo: Felicity Ingraham

Nassau, Bahamas - The statue of the "Bahamian black Madonna and child", as it was dubbed by the late Parliamentarian Hon. Oscar N. Johnson Sr., was commemorated today by a group of strong Bahamian women and the man who organized the event to commemorate this day, International Women's Day, March 7, 2014.

The often-overlooked statue sits at the Eastern end of Prince George Wharf, and is often seen by tourists entering the Bahamas by cruise ship, but not often by the majority of Bahamians.  However when it was commissioned by MP Johnson (MP 1968 - 1976 Cat Island) and sponsored by a Syntec petroleum company executive during the time of Independence, Bahamians would have traversed the area for business regularly.  The statue depicts a barefoot, beautiful Bahamian woman with two thick, long plaits, holding a naked baby.  She wears a skirt and blouse and a money pouch is slung over her shoulder.  Her best feature is a gentle smile and the firm embrace she has on the baby's arm.

Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture Dr. Daniel Johnson, brought together several strong Bahamian women to commemorate the statue including: Minister of Social Services & Community Development Melanie Griffin; his sisters, former Speaker of the House of Assembly Italia Johnson, former Senator and Consul General Gladys Johnson-Sands, and Minister Cora Johnson-Cooper; former Minister of State for Social Development Loretta Butler-Turner; Senator Hope Strachan; National Archivist & Historian Dr. Gail Saunders; Cultural legend Arlene Nash-Ferguson; Deputy Permanent Secretary Phedra Rahming, unsung Bahamian hero Ruth Dobouze, and his daughter, Danielle Pindling-Johnson among others.  

"This is a day when the world honors women, and I wanted to demonstrate to the Bahamas that we have national heroines, we have community heroines, we have unsung heroines.  We are honoring the past and preserving their story.  We must preserve this story of the black Madonna and child.  It was erected by my father to honor the Bahamian woman and today was a good day to recognize how far we have come.  I brought my daughter to expose her to the story of the black Madonna and child and how we crossed over on dry land but for the grace of God."

Minister Griffin expressed her pleasure to participate in the event, just before heading to her own ministry's symposium, held at St. Joseph's Parish Community Center.  There, women from a cross section of the Bahamas are discussing the topic for International Women's Day: "Equality for women is progress for all".

Photo: Felicity Ingraham

"Women really represent so much in terms of families and the development of a country," said Minister Griffin.  "We want to inspire our young women so I call for all women in positions of leadership to continue to be role models and also reach out to our young women.

The late MP Johnson would have been proud of his daughters, having commemorated a statue to honor Bahamian women.  He produced the first female speaker of the House of Assembly, a Senator, a Minister of the gospel, and a noted attorney, Kathleen Johnson-Hassan, who was honored by the day's events and the pause to remember her father's legacy and love for empowering the Bahamian people.  

"This is significant to me as (this statue) celebrates and concretizes the role that Bahamian women have performed in times of austerity and in times of national development," said former Speaker Johnson.  "On this International Women's day I would like for the Bahamian women to become more conscious remain steadfast and carry out their God-given mandate."

"I am particularly honored to be here as a Bahamian woman to recognize the commissioning this statue in the 1970s.  It came as a result of some struggle, but it is here.  It is a worthy tribute to the Afro-Bahamian woman.  Bahamian women have been the bedrock of our society - not only Afro-Bahamian women, but also women in general have made contributions to families and the development of our nation.  I would admonish women to have a look at this statue and commemorate it with their families."

Dr. Gail Saunders considers the statue a "very fine tribute to Bahamian women".  "It is a very beautifully carved statue, it shows a strong woman and also a child and that is symbolic itself.  We must honor our women and empower them and the child signifies that it will go on and to me that is very important."

Danielle Pindling-Johnson, a teenager whose family line crosses the Late Father of the Nation, Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, and the late MP Oscar Johnson.  She reflected: "I think International Women's Day is a very important day, especially for the youth of the Bahamas.  Many young people may not have been as exposed as our elders were to important times in our history.  It was an educational experience for me today, being around so many women who affected my country as much as they have, so it was very fulfilling for me."

The Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture will continue to commemorate International Women's day on Monday, March 10, 2014 with a press conference at the Ministry headquarters to commemorate the Bahamas National Women's Softball team, who won gold in 1977 at the CAST championships, and bronze at the world games in 1981.  

Unsung Bahamian heroine Ruth Dobouze was recognized by the Ministry today.  She assisted Minister Griffin in laying the wreath to commemorate the Bahamian woman.  Known affectionately as "Mama" or "Mama Ruth", this mother of 11 is a bedrock in the Fort Fincastle community and for decades, she has been serving hot, free meals to many people in the community once each week.  Over the years she has fed thousands and her reach extends outside of the Fort Fincastle community as well.  She encourages Bahamian women to "be more kind" to their children and to stop going out and leaving them at home, or letting them roam the streets or go out with their friends and you don't know the destination.  Spending more time with children, she says, will help steer them in the right direction. 

First female Speaker of the House of Assembly Italia Johnson stands at the foot of the statue her father, the late MP Oscar N. Johnson commissioned to honor the strong Bahamian woman Photo: Felicity Ingraham

Laying a wreath in commemoration. Photo: Felicity Ingraham

Women's International Day celebrated in Bahamas - Ruth Dobouze and family Photo: Felicity Ingraham

© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com -