Caregivers -those quiet pillars who give of themselves daily with little recognition – were brought into the spotlight on Saturday, April 11, 2026, as the Pilot Club of Nassau’s Pick-Me-Up Division hosted a special Caregivers Recognition Luncheon under the theme “Honouring Hearts That Serve.”
Held at Holy Cross Anglican Church Hall, the event celebrated men and women whose lives are defined by compassion, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to others.
President of the Pilot Club of Nassau, Debbie Mott Strachan, along with event coordinator Seretha Clarke, led the initiative, which forms part of Pilot International’s longstanding mission of service and friendship, established in 1921. Through its Pick-Me-Up Programme, the organization continues to shine a light on caregivers by offering acts of kindness that affirm their value and contribution.
Delivering the keynote address, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, Phedra Rahming Turnquest, described caregivers as the “anchors” of society – those who steady others in life’s most difficult storms.
“Caregivers are not always announced, not always applauded, but always present,” she said.
In deeply personal remarks, Turnquest reflected on her own experiences supporting loved ones through illness and loss, connecting with the lived realities of caregivers across the room. She reminded attendees that caregiving often comes at great emotional and physical cost.
“Caregivers stand in the gap for humanity… but burnout is real. You cannot pour from an empty cup,” she said, calling for greater support, rest, and recognition for those who give so much of themselves.
The Permanent Secretary emphasized that the day’s observance was more than ceremonial—it was a necessary moment of acknowledgment.
“Today says we see you, we appreciate you, and we honour you,” she added.
The luncheon, hosted by Mistress of Ceremonies Tiffany Glass Morley, the PCON Pilot International Ambassador, also welcomed members of the Sunshine Pilot Club of Nassau in a show of unity and shared purpose.
Honourees represented a cross-section of caregiving in The Bahamas – from family members tending to loved ones through illness, to professionals dedicated to community care.
Among those recognized was Reverend Portia Cartwright, who cares for elderly church member Reverend Margaret Gordon, and attorney Deidre Clarke Maycock, who has been the primary caregiver for her mother, Laurene Clarke, a former Deputy Director of Social Services living with Alzheimer’s disease for more than a decade.
Also honoured were Carolyn Deleveaux, who cares for her bedridden daughter with chronic kidney disease; Dorothy Coleby, who supports both her daughter battling colon cancer and her son recovering from heart surgery; and Althea Hepburn, who has devoted more than 60 years to caring for her physically challenged son.
Frances Ledee, regarded as the first trained social worker in The Bahamas and longtime administrator of the Persis Rodgers Home for the Aged, was also recognized for her decades of service, alongside Clyson Beckford, CEO of Paradise In-Home Care, whose organization has provided care to seniors nationwide for the past seven years.
Desiree Albury Clarke, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities within the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, was honoured for her 14 years of caregiving to her husband, while the list of awardees reflected the breadth of care being provided across homes, institutions, and communities.
As the programme concluded, the message was clear: caregiving, though often unseen, remains one of the most vital expressions of humanity.
In the words of Turnquest, each act of care – every sacrifice made in love – matters.
And on this day, those who give so selflessly were reminded that their work does not go unnoticed.
The post Caregivers Honoured as “Anchors of Humanity” appeared first on ZNS BAHAMAS.
