Press Release
A shared message emerged at the recent press conference launching National Family Week 2025: if we want to build a stronger nation, we must begin with the family.
Hosted by the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, the press event featured remarks from Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, the Hon. Myles K. LaRoda, M.P., and Bahamas Christian Council President Bishop Delton Fernander, who spoke candidly about the social and spiritual importance of family life. This year’s observance, which runs from July 19th to 26th, is anchored by the theme “Uplifting and Strengthening Family Ties.”
“This is but one step in our approach,” Minister LaRoda said. “Different families suffer from different issues, and so we cannot have a one-size-fits-all approach. That’s why it is so important to strengthen each individual family, because that strengthens the community, and that strengthens the nation.”
Speaking to the heart of the message, he added, “Whether it’s coming from the pastor, from civic society, or from each of you in your own space, it starts with the home. In the old days, it was said, ‘Charity begins at home and ends abroad.’ And it still holds true. Be kind to others. Play by the rules. Just try to be decent. Treat people how you would want to be treated.”
Bishop Fernander reinforced the urgency of the conversation, citing troubling trends in family life and youth behavior. “When you hear about where people got their first drink, it’s not on the corner, not from their boy or girl. They got it in their home,” he said. “So we have to refocus our families. We have to re-educate our families and make it a safe space.”
Speaking to cultural shifts and rising disinterest in marriage, he added, “We have data that a lot of young people do not want to get married. Some of that is based on what they’ve seen growing up. If your parents were never married, that’s your model. You reproduce what you know. That’s why we have to teach again. We thought we had done the work, but now we have to do it again.”
The week’s activities will include special church services, a National Marriage Recommitment Service, and Workplace Family Appreciation Day, all designed to promote values of love, connection, and personal responsibility.
“This is not about reinventing the wheel,” Minister LaRoda said. “It’s about returning to the core of who we are and what we believe. If we want a better society, we must protect the home.”
The call to strengthen the family comes with national support as Prime Minister Philip Davis officially proclaimed July 19th–26th as National Family Week, calling attention to the need for policies, programming, and cultural practices that reinforce family life in The Bahamas. National Family Week is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting through the Department of Gender and Family Affairs, in partnership with faith-based organizations, civil society, and supporting agencies.
In the spirit of family and community, the week will close with the highly anticipated 2nd Annual Family Fun Day, taking place on Saturday, July 26th at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium. The event promises a full day of games, races, and entertainment, along with beloved Bahamian classics like conch fritters, dinners, guava duff, and more. Entry is free to the public, and all are encouraged to come out, celebrate, and take part in this joyful affirmation of family life.
For more information, contact the Department of Gender and Family Affairs at (242) 376-8412 or (242) 397-8600, or email genderandfamilyaffairs@bahamas.gov.bs.
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