The Tribune

By Matt Maura

Bahamas Information Services

PRIME Minister Dr Hubert Minnis met with officials of the Bahamas Girl Guides Association (BGGA) last Thursday during a visit at the BGGA's headquarters located Marcus Bethel Way and West Bay Street.

The BGGA is a non-profit, voluntary organisation for girls and young women.

Dr Minnis was accompanied by Joshua Sears, senior policy advisor in the Office of the Prime Minister. The Girl Guides movement has been in existence in The Bahamas for 102 years.

Prime Minister Minnis lauded the organisation for the "outstanding work" its members have done, and continue to do, in training and developing thousands of Bahamian girls and young women into productive, responsible and contributing members of society.

The leadership of the BGGA has managed to keep guiding "relevant" in The Bahamas over the many years despite the many social, cultural and other changes that compete for the attention of girls and young women since the movement first hit our shores 102 years ago.

"This programme remains relevant because it is predicated on the premise of the girls learning social and survival skills, through a number of activities including camping, hiking, sports, community service, songs, fun and games," guiding officials said.

"Not only are these activities fun, but embedded in them also are opportunities for the girls to learn through the patrol system for the girls to develop leadership skills and responsible citizenship at an early age."

Guiding in The Bahamas has produced many outstanding women who have risen to the top of the Bahamian society in areas such as religion, education, administration, politics, public service, the judiciary, the legal profession, banking and finance, sports, business and industry and culture.

The list reads like a 'who's who' in Bahamian history and includes Dame Ivy Dumont, the first female governor general of The Bahamas; retired Chief Justice Dame Justice Joan Sawyer; Anita Bernard; Marjorie Davis; Janet Bostwick; Dr Gail Saunders; Clarice Granger, Wendy Craig; retired justice Claire L Hepburn; Elma Garraway and Constance Miller among many others.

Guiding officials say the principles and values that are taught and adhered to, have made "an indelible impact in positively influencing lives and moulding the characters of thousands of girls and young women, not only in the Bahamas, but indeed worldwide."

The BGGA promotes a wide range of skills and interests through education, games, outdoor activities, survival skills training, healthcare, arts, crafts and culture.

Fundamental objectives of the association are to provide girls and young women opportunities for self-training and discipline in the development of good character through service to God, country and fellowman, and to foster and promote a full sense of citizenship through community service and international goodwill.

The Girl Guides movement was started in The Bahamas in 1915 and was incorporated as the Bahamas Girl Guides Association by an act of Parliament on May 4, 1975.