The Tribune

THE International Women’s Empowerment Summit (IWES), scheduled for October 21 and 22 at Atlantis, Paradise Island, has been postponed until the first half of 2017.

Director General at the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Joy Jibrilu, said that the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew on the islands of Grand Bahama, North Andros and some areas of New Providence, had changed the country’s focus to reconstruction.

“The impact of the hurricane on the country, especially our most affected islands, has resulted in catastrophic damage, with severe devastation and losses even among our own staff. As a result, we are in disaster recovery mode, and all efforts are centred on rebuilding. Therefore, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism has taken the difficult decision to postpone the event,” Ms Jibrilu said yesterday.

Current registrants will be given the option to receive a refund or to have their registration rolled over to the new date, which will be announced shortly.

The IWES is a forum for women professionals and entrepreneurs from around the world and the Caribbean to meet, inspire, and learn from each other.

THE National Football League (NFL), through its foundation, has pledged a minimum of $300,000 to aid in international and domestic relief efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Matthew, including the Bahamas.

The NFL Foundation’s contributions will support relief organisations such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and UNICEF. A total of $100,000 will go to the Salvation Army and UNICEF to support relief efforts and assist victims in impacted areas of the Caribbean, including Haiti and the Bahamas. An additional $100,000 will go to the American Red Cross to aid in relief and recovery efforts in impacted areas of the United States.

Also, the foundation will help restore youth and high school football programmes in impacted areas of the south east US. Together with USA Football, the NFL will replace damaged or lost equipment and uniforms, as well as address other needs, spending at least $100,000.

Six NFL teams have pledged to support Hurricane Matthew relief efforts, as well: Arizona, Atlanta, Carolina, Jacksonville, Miami and Washington.