The Ministry of Economic Affairs engaged 12 delegates participating in the Caribbean-Canada Leaders Dialogue (CCLD) 2025 — Bahamas Study Tour on the topic of transformation and digitization of the public sector across the country.
The delegates, who are professional leaders in their respective jobs, businesses and various backgrounds, sat with officials in the conference room at the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Wayde Watson, and Director of Financial Services Brandace B. Duncanson shared challenges, groundbreaking achievements, and the way forward.
Mr. Watson who is driving the government’s digital transformation efforts with Digitization, Innovation and ICT in the Bahamas Government spoke about strides made and continuing efforts in the technology space. This is an aggressive and transformative agenda to digitize government systems and services to meet the needs of a modern Bahamas.
He also spoke to coding, to managing procurement and systems development for large-scale public and private sector projects. Delegates were also interested in the move to take The Bahamas fully into the digital age.
The Caribbean-Canada Leaders Dialogue (CCLD) 2025, is an initiative dedicated to shaping the next generation of leaders through cross-cultural exchange and immersive learning.
This prestigious programme, hosted by The Duke of Edinburgh Commonwealth Study Conferences Canada, is being held from May 22 to June 1, 2025, under the leadership of HRH Princess Anne, President; Wes Hall, Chair; and Hemi Mitic, Lead Director.
Under the theme of Impact-Driven Leadership: Creating Positive Change in Our Communities, CCLD 2025 focuses on six crucial sub-themes: diversity and inclusion, sustainability and innovation, ethics, impact, collaboration, and advocacy.
The programme provides 100 emerging leaders from Canada and the Caribbean with a unique opportunity to engage with industry experts, explore socio-economic challenges, and develop innovative solutions — enhancing their capacity for critical thinking, collaboration, and sustainable impact across sectors.
After the Plenary Sessions in Canada, the delegates traveled to various Caribbean countries for their respective study tours.
The tour countries include The Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, and Jamaica.
The Bahamas Study Tour from May 26-28 focused on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity, with sub-theme — the Blue Economy, Financial Services, and Cultural Tourism.
The Delegates are: Dr. Cornelia Walters-Jones-Jamaica (Lead); and Mahendra Phagwah- Guyana; Laurene Williams- Canada; Yusuf Mohammed- Canada; Deleen Powell- Jamaica; Alyssa McGee- Canada; Dr. Elon Cadogan- Barbados; Lennard Emanuel- Dominica; Natalie Hiscock- Canada; Adeyinka Fusigboye- Canada; Damien Prescod- Barbados; and Andre Reid- Jamaica.
The delegates left The Bahamas on Wednesday for Barbados, where the Closing Plenary Sessions will be held from May 29 – 31.
