By OSWALD T. BROWN
By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 7, 2023 – When I was Press, Cultural Affairs and Information Manager at the Embassy of The Bahamas for four-plus years before my diplomatic status was rescinded by the Free National Movement (FNM) government after it won the May 10, 2017, general election, one of the highlights of the Bahamas independence anniversary celebrations in the D.C., area was a picnic held yearly on the spacious grounds of the United States Coast Guard Base in Alexandria, Virginia.
The fact that it was held on the grounds of a U.S. military establishment had nothing to with a cooperative agreement between the United States and The Bahamas, but rather because Nicanor E. Davidson and Bernard Colebrook, both native Bahamians and two of the principal organizers of the picnic, were former members of the United States Military. Davidson, who at the time was President of the Bahamian-American Association of the Washington Metropolitan Area, was a former U.S. Army Aviator, and Colebrook was a retired United States Marine.
With preparations well underway for the 50th anniversary celebrations of The Bahamas’ attainment of independence from Great Britain on July 10, 1973, the Bahamian diaspora in the Washington metropolitan area is blessed to have the Bahamian American Association of the Washington, DC & Mid-Atlantic Region, Inc., referred to as BAAWMAR, formally established in 2016, keeping us up-to-date with Bahamian news and activities.
Since it was formally established, BAAWMAR has conducted its business like a corporation, with a well-established Board of Directors.
Its website states: “BAAWMAR goal is to serve and connect Bahamians, Bahamian Americans and Friends of The Bahamas living, studying and working in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia and beyound. We aim to promote educational, cultural, scientific, spiritual and artistic contributions of Bahamians in the Washington, D.C. & Mid-Atlantic Region and in The Bahamas and collaborations with American institutions at various levels.
“We aim to bring together Bahamians and persons interested in Bahamian culture in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area, to create friendships, national unity, and mutual assistance to charitable, educational, and cultural institutions in need of assistance in the Washington, D.C. & Mid-Atlantic Region and in The Bahamas.”
I was prompted to write this article when I checked my emails after getting out of bed this morning and received a “card” wishing me “Happy Easter from BAAWMAR!” Following is BAAWMAR’S leadership team:
KATARLAH TAYLOR
Chair of BAAWMAR
Katarlah, a native of Freeport, Grand Bahama, has resided in the DC metro area since 2006 where she has been involved with and supported the local diaspora in a range of activities promoting The Bahamas, and as a speaker at The Bahamas Embassy’s ‘Young Bahamians Conversation Series’. She maintains strong ties with The Bahamas and since 2014 has served as co-curator of TEDxGrand Bahama and TedxYouth@GrandBahama (since 2016). (Incidentally, I am extremely proud to note that before she left Grand Bahama to attend university in the United States, Katarlah was one of my reporters at the Freeport News.)
MATTHEW ROSE
Vice Chair, Finance, BAAWMAR
Matthew received his Juris Doctorate from the Howard University School of Law and is a member of the MD Bar. After spending his childhood in The Bahamas, he moved to Florida and has resided in the Washington D.C. metro area for more than 15 years.
HANNA BAKER
Vice Chair, Membership
Service has been a way of life for Hanna since she got her start selling dolls in Nassau’s Straw Market at the age of six. Ever since then she has been working in service to and for her community. Her more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry has informed her deep commitment to generous reception in a particular place.
Hanna sees civic involvement as a way to love her neighbors and is grateful for daily opportunities to connect people to resources and each other in Washington, D.C., where she’s lived since 2013. She is involved in her church and community, recently serving the District of Columbia as an elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Ward 8.
MIKHAIL BULLARD
Vice Chair, Communications, BAAWMAR
Born and raised in Nassau, Mikhail has lived in the DMV area since 2014. He spent more than seven years working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Bahamas, including more than four years as a Foreign Service Officer at The Bahamas Embassy to the United States and Permanent Mission to the OAS in Washington, D.C. He currently works in the multilateral arena on partnerships for development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
MONIQUE ROLLE
Treasurer, BAAWMAR
Monique is a culinary and procurement professional who is passionate about creating change through meals. She is responsible for monitoring contracts and ensuring her Department is fiscally responsible. Additionally, her responsibilities also include implementation of strategies that help ensure their work is fiscally sound. She is an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. where she has served in various roles including the Chapter’s 2nd Vice President and also Chair of the Foundation (501c3). She has resided in the DC metro area for 13 years.
KHANDRA SEARS
Secretary, BAAWMAR
Khandra was born and raised in Nassau. After graduating from the University of the West Indies Cave Hill, she moved to the DC area and then Baltimore for graduate school. She has lived in Baltimore for more than 13 years where she now works as a research associate at the University of Maryland. She is excited to serve the Bahamian Diaspora by helping BAAWMAR officially establish itself as a resource for those in the region.
