WASHINGTON, D.C. — Accompanied by a prominent delegation of Bahamian academic and public sector officials, The Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, 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, 2016.
The Bahamian delegation also 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.
Held at the Organization of American States (OAS) Administration Building at 1889 F Street, N.W., the meeting was convened to sensitize US public and private sector stakeholders to the existing and planned landscape for STI in The Bahamas and pitch the country as prime destination for partnership and investment.
After welcome remarks by Minister Fitzgerald and His Excellency Dr. Eugene Newry, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, Minister Fitzgerald delivered a presentation on “Visioning” for The Bahamas in relation to science, technology and innovation. Dr. Smith and Dr. Robertson also both presented on the new developments and future plans for the work of their respective educational institutions.
The Bahamian delegation then engaged in a productive dialogue with U.S. stakeholders on potential partnerships to assist with building a STI Transformation Ecosystem and opportunities for investment in The Bahamas.
OAS Executive Secretary for Integral Development, Dr. Neil Parsan, was also invited to briefly apprise stakeholders present on the work the OAS was doing in STI and the potential for broader engagement with the region in upcoming fora such as the Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education.
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
Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, delivering his presentation on “Visioning” for The Bahamas in relation to science, technology and innovation at the High-Level Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation at the OAS Administration Building at 1889 F Street, N.W. Seated from left are Dr. Karen St. Cyr, Senior Policy Adviser, STI/STEM; Dr. Robert Robertson, President of BTVI; and Dr. Rodney Smith, President of COB.
CAPTION TWO
His Excellency Dr. Eugene Newry, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, delivering welcoming remarks at the High-Level Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation as Education, Science and Technology Minister Jerome Fitzgerald and COB President Dr. Rodney Smith listen intently.
CAPTION THREE
Dr. Neil Parsan (second from left), OAS Executive Secretary for Integral Development, was invited to briefly apprise participants in the High-Level Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation on the work the OAS is doing in STI and the potential for broader engagement with the region in the upcoming Inter-American Meeting of Ministers of Education. Second from right is Education, Science and Technology Minister Jerome Fitzgerald; at right is COB President Dr. Rodney Smith; and Dr. Karen St. Cyr, Senior Policy Adviser, STI/STEM, is at left.
CAPTION
Following the High-Level Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald (right) Minister of Education, Science and Technology, is pictured with Mrs. Jodie Butler (second from right) of Butler Consulting, who moderated the meeting; Dr. Karen St. Cyr, Senior Policy Adviser, STI/STEM; and a participant in the meeting.
