During a pre-Christmas humanitarian engagement, British High Commissioner Smita Rossetti formally advocated for The Bahamas to endorse the Global Charter on Children’s Care Reform. The diplomatic appeal occurred during a joint visit with Ann-Marie Davis, spouse of the Prime Minister, to the Bahamas Children’s Emergency Hostel in Nassau on Wednesday.
The officials participated in after-school activities and presented art supplies and stationery donated by UK-based retailer TG Jones. Both emphasized the shared commitment between their nations toward safeguarding vulnerable children. The Hostel, a non-profit facility, provides immediate protection, shelter, and comprehensive care—including accommodation, food, clothing, and medical services—for up to 35 children aged 0–12 at any given time.
Mrs. Davis highlighted the critical needs of the institution, noting that many infants reside there during their most formative years. She stressed that support must extend beyond basic provisions to include constant nurturing, developmental guidance, and an environment fostering emotional stability and growth.
High Commissioner Rossetti expressed profound gratitude for the caregivers’ dedicated work and outlined the Charter’s objectives. Launched earlier this year by UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy during his tenure as foreign secretary, the international framework calls on signatories to invest in family strengthening, enhance protections for vulnerable children, support caregivers, and promote safe, family-based alternative care solutions. Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua and Barbuda are already signatories.
Rossetti acknowledged the special environment created by the Hostel’s leadership and staff, which includes trained teachers and nurses, but also pointed to ongoing needs that would benefit from private donations. She noted that the facility is among several in Nassau, including Ranfurly Homes for Children, working to ensure no child faces crisis alone.