The Royal Bahamas Defence Force participated in the Second Annual Nassau Cruise Port International Women’s Day Forum, held at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel, Nassau, on Friday 6 March 2026. The RBDF delegation, comprised of Lieutenant Commander Thora Gardiner, Lieutenant Commander Natasha Woods-Walton, Lieutenant Natasha Major and Force Chief Petty Officer Patrice Fountain.
Under the theme “Give to Gain” the Forum underscored the growing influence of women in shaping the future of The Bahamas. It brought together women in leadership from across the maritime, tourism, academia, national security and environmental sectors, as well as representatives of government, and nonprofit organizations to discuss leadership, sustainability and the maritime ecosystem.
Dorothy Duckie, Regional Director of Human Resources at Nassau Cruise Port, in her welcome remarks, highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for women in leadership.
The Forum featured dynamic panel discussions that examined the future of the Port economy and the shared responsibility of industry partners in building a resilient and sustainable maritime sector. Lieutenant Commander Thora Gardiner, Human Resource Officer, participated in the Panel discussion “Beyond the Port: Building a Resilient and Sustainable Maritime Future”. She shared her perspectives, highlighting the role of women in shaping a safer and more inclusive maritime environment.
The keynote address was delivered by the Hon. Jobeth Coleby-Davis M.P., Minister of Energy & Transport. She emphasized that “The Bahamas is a global maritime powerhouse, and at the heart of this industry are women who are proving every single day that leadership knows no gender”.
The Forum included an engaging and impactful luncheon that provided the RBDF delegation with valuable networking opportunities to foster meaningful connections among a cadre of women in leadership.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s Gender Optimization Policy, was implemented in June 2022, marking a historic shift toward greater diversity in leadership and gender inclusivity across the Force.
The RBDF, under the leadership of Commodore Floyd Moxey, is optimizing excellence by bridging generations and embracing modernization. As such, we remain committed to integrating gender perspectives into defence and security operations, aligning with international efforts to advance diversity, inclusion and equality across all tiers, ranks and rates of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force.
