High Commissioner of Canada for a Day, Rose-Mary Reynolds (fourth from right), and Deputy High Commissioner Christopher Brathwaite (fourth from left) following their tour of the House of Assembly. Accompanying them is the official High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados, Marie Legault (in shawl) and Youth Parliamentarians, headed by Madam President Marielle Shorey (third from left).
High Commissioner of Canada for a Day and Deputy High Commissioner Christopher Brathwaite, as they prepared to be chauffeured from Parliament in the High Commissioner’s car.
HC of Canada for a Day, Rose-Mary Reynolds and Deputy High Commissioner Christopher Brathwaite, as they descended the steps of Parliament.
Young High Commissioners tour Barbados Parliament
On International Women’s Day, March 8, High Commissioner for a Day, Rose-Mary Reynolds and her Deputy, Christopher Brathwaite, had the honour of touring selected areas of the Barbados Parliament.
The opportunity came as Reynolds, a 19-year-old student from Antigua and Barbuda, who is currently studying for a Law degree at the UWI, Cave Hill Campus, was announced the winner of the Canadian High Commission’s – “Become High Commissioner for a Day” competition. Brathwaite, a 16-year-old Barbadian student, who at present attends Harrison College, was chosen as the runner up and he served as Deputy High Commissioner.
Via the initiative, an invitation was extended to young people ages 16 to 19 from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, to send in a 60-90 second video answering the question: “How can YOU champion Women’s Equality in the Caribbean?”. The initiative formed part of the celebratory events to mark the 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation.
Having been named as the winners in the competition, High Commissioner Reynolds and her Deputy had the opportunity to visit with the official High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados, Marie Legault for a day and participate in a number of activities which would bring into greater focus the push for gender equality and women’s rights.
Following a Town Hall Meeting at the Canadian High Commission, the articulate and extremely bright and youthful High Commissioners were chauffeured to Parliament, where they met with Leader of The Senate, Senator Maxine McClean who also serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. McClean, lauded the youth for their efforts.
The High Commissioners also met with and engaged a number of Youth Parliamentarians on location at the Parliament Buildings and High Commissioner Reynolds who was impressed by what they had to say, noted the need to have a similar set up back in Antigua, to give full vent to the issues affecting youth there.
The High Commissioners were able to visit the Senate Chamber as well as the House of Assembly, before their departure.