The Tribune

By TAVIA AUMOITHE

HOPE Strachan, the Minister of Financial Services, is among the select group of women to be recognised by Celebrating Women International (CWI) in its global ‘Women of Distinction’ awards for 2015.

Mrs Strachan, the MP for Seabreeze and a mother of three, was appointed in January this year and also assumed responsibility for Local Government in March. She is among 18 Global Honourees from the Bahamas, Canada and the United States recognised for their accomplishments, inspiration, leadership and zeal to serve the community.

Thirty two Bahamians were announced last night as National Honourees at a reception at Government House, where the South African race and gender justice activist, Nontombi Naomi Tutu, addressed the select group.

Mrs Strachan is the granddaughter of Mary Naomi Ingraham, who championed the Suffragette Movement in the Bahamas and fought tirelessly to obtain voting rights for Bahamian women, eventually granted for the 1962 general elections.

A graduate of St John’s College, Mrs Strachan obtained her Bachelor of Law degree from Holborn Law Tutors (University of London) in 1989, and was called to the Bars of England and the Bahamas. She is an accomplished Attorney-at-Law in the field of civil and commercial litigation.

The presentation of awards is on October 3 at the Atlantis Theatre, Paradise Island. October has been declared “Woman of Distinction Month” in the Bahamas by the Prime Minister.

The nominees for the Bahamas are: Dr Rhonda Chipman-Johnson, Geneva Elizabeth Major-Rutherford, Anita Doherty, Andrea Miller-Curling, Evelyn Glinton, Iris Williams, Patricia T Mortimer, Dr Agreta Eneas-Carey, Dr Emily Osadebay, Jacqueline Mycklewhyte, Loretta Robinson-Thomas, Dr Gloria Ferguson, Rev Irene Russell, Juanita Colebrooke, Allerdyce Marina Louise Strachan, Ellen Serville, Rengin Johnson, Constance McDonald, Kelphene Cunningham, Sofia Papgeorge, Willa Mae Bridgewater, Kelsie Dorsett, Naomi, Lady Wallace Whitfield, Ann Marie Davis, Idena Burrows, Dawn Davies, Patricia Bazard, Audrey Dean-Wright, Claudette Allens, Mitzie Chipman, Sonia Cox-Hamilton and Diana Swann.