NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) — Seven Bahamians have been selected to participate in the next staging of the Caribbean-Canada Emerging Leaders’ Dialogues (CCELD), making it the largest contingent at the event.

The programme, which is held annually in the Caribbean region, is offered by the Duke of Edinburgh’s Emerging Leaders’ Dialogues Canada and organised under the patronage the Princess Royal, Princess Anne.

CCELD which will be held March 24-30 in Jamaica is built on the proven model of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conferences and is partnering with The University of West Indies (UWI) and The Institute for the Study of International Development at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.

The six-day CCELD programme will bring together a wide range of high calibre, mid-career individuals selected from business, government and civil society across the Caribbean and Canada for a leadership exchange.

Candidates will participate in experiential learning and have networking opportunities under the working themes of the blue and green economies, technology and innovation, and tourism and culture.

CCELD is an important part of local and regional leadership development and since the 1980s Bahamians have participated, thanks to the support of Corporate Bahamas, public funding and the community at large.

“The CCELD experience was invaluable to my professional development,” said Felix Stubbs, chairman of the Board of Directors at Doctors Hospital and a director at CIBC FirstCaribbean Bahamas and CIBC Trust Company (Bahamas) Limited.

“Programmes like this are more important than ever and we are calling on Corporate Bahamas to support the development of our future leaders by helping candidates to attend.”