FIDA Bahamas
Aligned with the overall campaign theme for IWD 2023 “#Embrace Equity”, the theme for the United Nations (UN) Observance of International Women’s Day 2023 is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”. This theme is aligned with the priority theme for the current 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67), “Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls”.
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) in consultative status with the UN. In March of 2011, the UN launched UN WOMEN, an organization within the UN which focuses on the progress of the world’s women, in the pursuit of justice. FIDA was organized in Mexico City in 1944, to promote the principles and aims of the UN in their legal and social aspects. With members in over 73 countries around the globe, FIDA works to establish friendly international relations on a basis of mutual respect and equality and to promote the welfare of women and children.
FIDA Grand Bahama Chapter takes this opportunity to spotlight one of its founding members, a pillar in our Grand Bahama community, a woman who epitomizes the goals and objectives of FIDA and UN WOMEN, Mrs. Veronica D Grant.
Veronica Delores Grant neé Turnquest was born on the island of New Providence on the 31st August, 1940. Upon completing The Bahamas Government High School, she immediately joined the Chambers of The Honourable Eugene Dupuch (later to become Dupuch & Turnquest) as a secretary at the age of 18. She would remain with the firm from that time until 2000, some 42 years later; leaving, having articled as a law student, and as an esteemed member of The Bahamas Bar, to form Veronica D. Grant & Co., Counsel and Attorney-at-Law.
During that time span, Veronica lived a fulfilling and enjoyable life. She married the late Wendell Carver Grant, with whom she shared 55 years of marriage until his passing in 2017. Together they moved their young family to the burgeoning city of Freeport in 1969 where she joined the Freeport office of Dupuch & Turnquest as a legal secretary. She rose to the challenge of achieving work/life balance by raising three children, Dr. Ilsa Grant, Wendell Grant II, and Wende Hanna. In 1986 after articling as a law student under Terence Gape, she was called to The Bahamas Bar. She continued her employment at Dupuch & Turnquest as an Associate Attorney providing services in Conveyancing, Probate and Company Law. In 2000, she took the bold step and established the law firm of Veronica D. Grant & Co, providing to this date, legal services in the areas of her specialty to the Grand Bahamian people and its investors.
Today, this octogenarian continues to enjoy the challenges of the law, while she devotes more of her time to the activities close to her heart. A devoted member of the Pro-Cathedral of Christ the King where she continues to serve as a member of the Altar Guild, this doting grandmother to six is an avid cook. Mrs. Grant remains proud to have dedicated her professional life to the practice of law.
FIDA GB Chapter was established in 1993 with Mrs. Grant as one of its founding members. After 30 years of the organization’s existence, Mrs. Grant remains a committed and consistent member. She continues to serve on its Board of Directors guiding and encouraging its new leaders.
On this International Women’s Day 2023, FIDA Grand Bahama Chapter proudly celebrates and salutes a woman who continues to make a positive impact on the lives of women and children; an unsung heroine; a master motivator; a woman who is held in high esteem by her colleagues; an advocate for embracing equity; eminent Counsel and Attorney-at-Law Mrs. Veronica D. Grant.