Governor General Pratt, Prime Minister Davis Attend BARIFA Opening Ceremony

January, 30th, 2025. Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a Naming Ceremony for the *Bahamas Alrae Ramsey Institute of Foreign Affairs *(BARIFA) on Thursday night at the Ministry’s Main Office in New Providence.

 

Alrae Ramsey was a highly-regarded, esteemed and very influential Foreign Service Officer (FSO) in the Ministry when he tragically lost his life in 2019. The Institute, which provides education and training for diplomats, FSOs and Foreign Affairs employees, was established in 2022 and in 2025, named in his honour.

A new plaque bearing Ramsay’s name was unveiled during the ceremony.

In attendance were current and former members of the BARIFA cohorts, the family of Alrae Ramsey and a host of dignitaries.  Those in attendance were addressed by the Governor General, the Most Hon. Dame Cynthia A. Pratt, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Philip E. Davis, and Foreign Minister the Hon. Frederick A. Mitchell, MP.

(L-R) Ambassador Leslia MIller-Brice, Parlimentary Secretary Mr. Jamahl Strachan, Spouse of the Prime Minister Mrs. Anne Marie Davis, Prime Minister the Hon. Philip A. Davis, Governor General The Most Hon. Dame Cynthia Pratt, Foreign Minister the Hon. Frederick A. Mitchell, Sister of Alrae Ramsay Ms. Aliah Ramsay, Ambassador Dr. Gilbert Morris, National Security Minister the Hon. Wayne Munroe, Permanent Secretary Mr. Melvin Seymour and BARIFA Chancellor Dr. Lorraine Bastian at BARIFA’s opening.

The Prime Minister honoured Ramsey’s legacy in his remarks saying, [Alrae Ramsey’s] life was a masterwork of service, intellect, and devotion to his country. His tragic passing was a wound to our nation, but his legacy remains a towering example of what it means to serve with excellence. Alrae did not simply represent The Bahamas; he embodied its finest ideals”

Prime Minster Davis giving remarks

In his speech, Minister Mitchell praised the work of the Institute saying “The Institute, built on the vision of former Chancellor, Her Excellency, the late Senator Alma A. Adams, stands on a solid foundation to become a distinguished and esteemed Foreign Service Institute.”   Minister Mitchell also said, “The role of BARIFA is to maximize the understanding of those values across the dizzying array of international obligations and demands for the sale of a better world and The Bahamas’ place within it”.

Minister Mitchell gave remarks.

H.E. Ambassador Dr. Lorraine Bastian, Chancellor of the Institute also spoke, saying, “The Foreign Service is a critical component of The Bahamas Education system, functioning as a Centre for Excellence in Foreign Service Education snd Training, amplifying the voice of the Bahamian people in the international arena”.  Chancellor H.E. Bastian said that robust efforts are being expended to ensure institutional capacity building and public and international engagements.

The Institute is embarking upon five strategic priorities:

  1. Curriculum development;
  2. Forging of new partnerships for training and development;
  3. Launch of the BARIFA Alumni Global Network;
  4. The Distinguished Senior and Retired Diplomats Learning Platform; and
  5. The Foreign Service Fellows Programme.

Cohort Members and Ministry Staff at the renaming ceremony

H.E. Professor Gilbert N. Morris, Vice Chancellor of the Institute, is in charge of delivering intellectual standards and content for specialized courses and establishing an official BARIFA National Foreign Service Examination.