The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE president of the International Federation of Women Lawyers said that over 200 delegates have registered to attend the upcoming 36th Triennial International Convention in Freeport next week.

The convention takes place November 13-17 at the Grand Lucayan Resort. This year's theme is "The Economic Empowerment of Women and Children in an Evolving World".

Jethlyn Burrows said the Grand Bahama Port Authority and BTC have come on board as major sponsors.

Carla McIntosh, general counsel of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, said the company is pleased to be a sponsor for the event which is being held for the first time in the Bahamas.

"We congratulate Mrs Burrows in her role as the first Bahamian president of FIDA 2014-2017. We are delighted to be sponsoring this event as we believe in FIDA's worldwide objective," said McIntosh.

BTC will be the exclusive telecommunications company sponsoring FIDA's convention, and will have a booth in the main foyer of the hotel. The company will distribute welcome bags with bottles, pens, and notepads, and other gifts.

Eldri Ferguson, BTC vice-president of customer experience in Nassau and Family Islands, said the company is excited to be platinum sponsors for the women's convention, which is about women in leadership.

She said that BTC will speak on the topic, "Women in Information Communication and Technology".

"If you look at the representation of the utility organisations and major companies we see women in power, and so many times it goes understated and we want to talk about the role of women in technology, and the role of women in leadership," she said.

Mrs Burrows said that at the sessions will review many issues and challenges facing women and children in education, science, and technology.

"We will also focus on the impact of women in politics and leadership; and the economic empowerment of women from the village to boardroom," she stated.

The last convention was held in Bangalore, India, in November 2014, when she was elected the international president and so the Bahamas has the honour of hosting the 36th triennial convention.

She said registration is ongoing and so far over 200 delegates from Cameroon, Colombia, India, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, the UK, the USA and Uganda, have registered to attend the convention in Freeport.

Because the Bahamas is aligned with the North American region, the FIDA president noted that no international president will be elected from the region for another 15 years.

FIDA was founded in 1944 in Mexico City, Mexico, and was originally known officially by its Spanish name, Federacion Internacional de Abogadas. Its mission is to promote the welfare of women and children and the principle and aims of the United Nations in their level and social aspect. FIDA obtained UN consultative status in 1954.