MINISTER FITZGERALD INTERACTS WITH STUDENTS AT “MEET AND GREET” RECEPTION AT BAHAMAS EMBASSY IN D.C.
MINISTER FITZGERALD INTERACTS WITH STUDENTS AT “MEET AND GREET” RECEPTION AT BAHAMAS EMBASSY IN D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wrapping up a highly successful working trip to Washington, D.C., that included education-related meetings at the Organization of American States (OAS), the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, interacted with a students attending colleges and universities in the Washington area and a number of Bahamians in the diaspora during a “Meet and Greet” reception held at the Bahamas Embassy, 2220 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., on Thursday evening, October 27, 2016.
His Excellency Dr. Eugene Newry, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, and Mrs. Paulette Zonicle, Bahamas Consul General to Washington, D.C., both delivered welcoming remarks prior to Minister Fitzgerald’s brief address, during which he encouraged the students to continue to study and after graduation return to The Bahamas to make their respective contributions towards building the country.
Earlier in the week, Minister Fitzgerald convened a High-Level Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation with U.S. public and private sector stakeholders in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, October 25, in the conference room of the OAS Administration Building at 1889 F Street, N.W. to sensitize US public and private sector stakeholders to the existing and planned landscape for STI in The Bahamas and to pitch the country as prime destination for partnership and investment.
The Bahamian delegation that accompanied Minister Fitzgerald to D.C. included Dr. Rodney Smith, President of the College of The Bahamas (COB); Dr. Robert Robertson, President of the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI); Ms. Davinia Blair, Vice President of Advancement at the College of The Bahamas; and Dr. Karen St. Cyr, Senior Policy Adviser, STI/STEM.
The Bahamas currently chairs the Inter-American Committee on Education and will host the 9th Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education in Nassau in February 2017 where it is expected that there will be agreement on an Inter-American Education Agenda for 2017-2022. The Minister also presided over a preparatory meeting at the OAS for the upcoming Ministerial from 26th – 28th October, 2016.
Minister Fitzgerald serves concurrently as the Chair of the 19th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM).
CAPTION ONE
The Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, addressing students attending colleges and universities in the Washington area and a number of Bahamians in the diaspora during a “Meet and Greet” reception held at the Bahamas Embassy Thursday evening, October 27, 2016. Pictured from left are: His Excellency Dr. Eugene Newry, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States; Mrs. Paulette Zonicle, Bahamas Consul General to Washington, D.C.; Minister Fitzgerald; Ms. Faith Maycock, Third Secretary/Vice Consul, Bahamas Consulate; and Ms. Krissy Hanna, Second Secretary, Bahamas Embassy.
CAPTION TWO
Pictured from left at the “Meet and Greet” reception held at the Bahamas Embassy on Thursday, October 27, are: Ms. Janine Gibson, Vice Consul, Bahamas Consulate; Miss Iolani Lightbourne, Miss Jennille McDonald, Minister Fitzgerald, and Miss Inga Carey.
CAPTION THREE
From left to right at the “Meet and Greet” reception held at the Bahamas Embassy on Thursday, October 27, are: Miss Aaliah Zonicle, Miss Jennelle McDonald, Miss Inga Carey, and Consul General Paulette Zonicle.