The Tribune

NINETY-five per cent of all persons seeking assistance from the Department of Social Services’ food assistance programme are women, Minister of Social Services and Community Development Melanie Griffin revealed.

Mrs Griffin said the future of the country depends on its ability to improve the economic prospects of Bahamian women, who must be allowed to become entrepreneurs and shapers of their own destiny.

Addressing the opening session of the International Business Money Women Success Conference, held in the Atlantis Grand Ballroom, Mrs Griffin said her department has already spent $10-11 million on food assistance so far this year.

“Too many women live in poverty, struggling to feed their children and placing themselves in harm’s way to provide for them. Too many women remain in toxic relationships that are detrimental to their wellbeing and that of their children often ending in domestic violence or an untimely grave,” she said.

Mrs Griffin said changing the economic status of Bahamian women is going to require bold initiatives from various sectors of society including the government, the private sector and civil society.

“Policies, programmes and projects must be created and yes, we must not be afraid to initiate dialogue on difficult issues such as whether or not we should have quotas in certain areas to facilitate the desired aims,” Mrs Griffin said.

“More opportunities must be provided for women to better support their families if there are to be positive changes to the economic status of local women. They must receive training in management, financing and enterprise development to increase their independence and ensure that they take advantage of savings opportunities to support economic empowerment.

“Further, women must be able to obtain and retain jobs in keeping with their qualifications and earn the same salary as their male counterparts in the same job (and) must have the capacity to make their own decisions regarding the use of their resources,” Mrs Griffin said.

Held under the theme: “Empowering Women to Create, Manage and Protect Wealth”, one of the major objectives of the conference was to empower women with the knowledge and skills they need to excel in their careers.

“Throughout the years, we have hosted countless events and continue to receive testimonials of how women’s lives have been transformed as a result of these events,” said Melisa Hall, a women’s empowerment guru and wealth coach who hosted the event.

“We are thrilled to know that the women in corporate Bahamas were able to identify with the need to network with other women who have a desire to advance their careers or pursue their dreams as entrepreneurs.

“Due to these challenging times, we believe that it is vitally important for us to address the transition we are facing as a nation from a woman’s perspective,” Ms Hall said.

Part proceeds from the conference will be donated to the effort to construct a new home for the Bahamas Crisis Centre.