Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis told all of the recipients of Foreign Service medals and honours that their service is profoundly appreciated.
“Your work, always measured and ever mannerly, rises above any individual footprint. It hovers, my friends, in the heart of the nation,” the Prime Minister said during the 2023 Diplomatic Week Foreign Service Awards Ceremony held at the Baha Mar Resort on Tuesday, October 24, 2023.
“These awards are more than a material prize; they are a profound gesture of gratitude toward those Foreign Service Officers who have performed exceptionally in their duties.”
He explained that diplomats working in the foreign service not only represent the Bahamian people, but also pursue the country’s national interests, forge new friendships, and explore untapped opportunities abroad.
“Though we may be an archipelago of just under 400,000 persons, our role on the world stage is changing.
“There is a surprising reality emerging out of the overlapping crises of our time – be it a worsening climate crisis, unanticipated economic blows, or colonial aftershocks. The surprising reality is that more and more, the spotlight is shifting towards us. Ours is a golden opportunity, my friends, to turn crisis into transformative change. This is the time to reorient the conversation, to champion new ideas, and to chart a new course.”
Prime Minister Davis explained that small island developing states the world over, are experiencing the distressing symptoms of modernity’s fatal flaws.
“Globally, climate change is causing countries like ours the most harm, despite us having done the least to bring it about. This is not just a catchphrase. This is an idea – and ideas are capable not only of changing their minds, but our tomorrow.”
He noted that he advanced this idea earlier this month at the Canada-CARICOM Summit in Ottawa, and he will continue to expand upon it at COP28, where CARICOM countries will push for progress on the much-needed Loss and Damage fund.
“In the future, it is likely that we will need new ideas to counter novel crises. It will then be up to our diplomatic corps to convey and act on these ideas, while simultaneously building new relationships and strengthening existing ones.”
During the ceremony, seven service medals were awarded principally to foreign service officers of exceptional performance.
The first recipients of the foreign service medals (13 in total) were given plaques in lieu of medals in 2014 and 2016 because the medals were not struck at that time.
At this awards ceremony, the same 13 recipients were presented with their Foreign Service Medals along with Rhoda Jackson, former Director General of Foreign Affairs with the Janet Bostwick Medal for Women in the Foreign Service.
The recipients are:
2014
• Marilyn Zonicle – Distinguished Foreign Service Medal
• Andrew McKinney – Lynden Pindling Medal for Leadership
• Sharon Brennen-Haylock – Paul L. Adderley Medal for Excellence
• Carlton Wright – Clement Maynard Medal for Innovation
• Dr. Patricia Rogers – Janet Bostwick Medal for Women in the Foreign Service
• Sergeant Michael Merunard – Foreign Service Bravery Medal
2016
• Mary T. Sweetnam - Janet Bostwick Medal for Women in the Foreign Service
• Philip Miller - Clement Maynard Medal for Innovation
• Harcourt Turnquest - Paul L. Adderley Medal for Excellence
• Her Excellency A. Missouri Sherman-Peter - Paul L. Adderley Medal for Excellence
• Rev. Dr. James Moultrie - Paul L. Adderley Medal for Excellence
• Selwyn Smith - Distinguished Foreign Service Medal
• Facundo Bacardi - Distinguished Foreign Service Medal
