By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 14, 2023 — Since his appointment as Bahamas Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Wendall K. Jones has broken new ground with “Conversations With The Diaspora,” a monthly discussion via ZOOM with a selected group of Bahamians living and working in the United States.
In these conversations, Bahamians and descendants of The Bahamas are engaged to speak of their heritage, their professions and their aspirations for their homeland. Participants are selected by the Embassy in D.C. and have included Bahamian scholars and ordinary citizens from many States who have excelled in their professions.
Episode 12, conducted via ZOOM on Wednesday, November 8, featured not only an excellent discourse with the various participants, but it also was a journalistic tour de force for Ambassador Jones, who is one of The Bahamas’ most accomplished broadcast journalists.
The impressive group of panelists included:
CHIEF WAYNE JONES, Miami Beach Police Department, Miami, Florida
Bahamian born, with Turks and Caicos roots
HCBU graduate
27 years within MB police department
Attained the position of Deputy Chief in 2019
Experience: Community Affairs; Nationally acclaimed Homeless Resource
Officer Program, which employs an approach of outreach, engagement, and enforcement; Developed strategic initiatives for improving the recruitment of female police officers from 12% to 18%; Established the human trafficking unit, which led Miami-Dade County in arrests for sex trafficking offenses.
DENLEY DELANEY, Sr. Manager, Exploration Technology Lab, National Geographic, Washington, DC
Leads the portfolio of ocean-based technologies used for innovative ocean exploration
Elevates National Geographic projects via unique story-telling content and scientific data from remote marine environments, and behavioral data from charismatic marine species
Committed to understand, preserve and protect the habitats and biodiversity of our ocean
BSc. and; MA, Marine Science & Environmental Communication, Stanford University, CA
SEAN SMITH, CEO, Party DJ, Dallas, Texas
Director/Fundraising, Igniting Our Nation (ION) Bahamas, non-profit organization focused on providing financial aid to college-bound Bahamian students
While completing a marketing degree, Sean DJ’d local parties to supplement his income
Graduate, C.C. Sweeting Sr. High, played the trumpet
LASHONDA CLARKE, Assistant. Professor, Aviation Maintenance Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida
MS, Aviation and Transportation. Embry-Riddle. Experience: UAS Maintenance Technician, Amazon Prime Air; Line Maintenance Technician, Thales Avionics IFE, Inc. (Illinois); Maintenance Technician, Bahamas Air Holdings Ltd.; Marine, Royal Bahamas Defence Force
Proud member, Association of Women in Aviation Maintenance & the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association
RACHELLE R. MUNSON, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Administrative Law Bureau, Office of the Attorney General, Orlando, Florida
Born in the US, from the line of Ben and Mable Elliott of Stanyard Creek, Andros
Maintains Bahamian roots through her siblings and numerous relatives
Has served as legal counsel to various regulatory bodies in the Depts. Of Business and Professional Regulation, Health, Transportation, & Financial Services
Appointed by the Florida Supreme Court to the Florida Board of Bar Examiner (FBBE), 2018
Chair (FBBE), November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2023
Mother of two (2)
HON. J. MACHELLE SWEETING, Acting Justice, New York State Supreme Court
Born and raised in Harlem; father was a Bahamian police officer
JD, Rutgers Law School, 1997
Certificate in Legal Education, Eugene Dupuch School of Law, 2007
Davidson College
Administrative Law Judge; Founding Att., Special Federal Litigation Unit, NY
Active Member of the Bahamian American Association, New York
Bahamas Embassy Executive Manager Sonia Rose and Second Secretary Ashley Munroe-Cargill are the principal organizes of the “Conversations With the Bahamian Diaspora” Webinar.
Here’s an excerpt from the invitation sent to participants: “It is an honor to invite you to participate, virtually, in the 12th webinar, “Conversations With the Bahamian Diaspora”, on Wednesday November 8, 2023 from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. These sessions are moderated by H.E. Wendall Jones, Ambassador, Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the United States, and usually engage six (6) panelists from the Diaspora in a discussion about their transition from the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to the United States.
“There are no prepared questions but each panelist will briefly describe their Bahamian connections and their current position in the US with the intent of showcasing their accomplishments while also inspiring Bahamians in a celebration of excellence. The dialogue will seek to engage in a conversation about the growth and sustainable development of The Bahamas, particularly during this year of the 50th Independence Anniversary. “
These monthly discussions, which are viewed by the public around the world on the internet and later broadcasted on television in The Bahamas, serve to inform and educate Bahamians everywhere on the contributions that participants are making throughout the United States and what lessons can be adopted for the growth and development of The Bahamas. In addition, the talks seek to inspire young Bahamians to be Globalists while serving the national interests of The Bahamas.
