By FELICITY DARVILLE

Camille, Lady Barnett is a woman full of care and compassion. She joined the Bahamas AIDS Foundation back in 1992 - when the word “AIDS” was very scary to so many. While most people were running away from anyone and anything to do with AIDS, she was running towards it - carefully, of course.

The problem was - and still is - that the stigma against people with HIV/AIDS is far greater than the disease itself. Armed with proper information about the disease and how it is transmitted, Lady Barnett took the task of helping those affected by the deadly syndrome. She wanted them to feel human and to feel seen in a world that would have readily put them away. In fact - many were put away, thrown out of their homes and set to fend for themselves or live in the “AIDS Camp”, previously known as the “Leprosy Camp”.

Lady Barnett was a charter member of The Bahamas AIDS Foundation (BAF) from its inception in 1992, and she served as president from 2002-2024. For 22 years, she served the people of The Bahamas - those who suffered from HIV/AIDS as well as their family. She stood at the helm of a group of brave Bahamians who have, over the past two decades, managed to bulldoze through the hate, the misinformation, and the fear about HIV/AIDS. They are the volunteer champions that have worked alongside the healthcare professionals of The Bahamas like Dr Perry Gomez, and more recently, Dr Nikkiah Forbes and the countless nurses and aides who helped to significantly reduce the syndrome in The Bahamas.

“It’s the stigma that is the challenge,” Lady Barnett said.

“Our numbers are all down - the number of hospitalisations, number of new cases, the mother to child transmission - they are all down and we are doing great in those areas. But that stigma is so stubborn… it’s still there. That’s a part of the challenge. When we (the BAF) first started in The Bahamas, even some healthcare professionals didn’t want to go anywhere near patients who were diagnosed with AIDS. The Bahamas AIDS Foundation had to send volunteers into the hospital to feed these patients and care for them. So we have come a long way, but that stigma is still there.”

The stigma seriously impacted those who suffered; and Lady Barnett saw it first hand.

“When people hear the word ‘AIDS’, many of them stand back,” she said.

“I remember there was a young girl in junior high. She was HIV positive; her best friend was not. The best friend’s mother waited for that child one morning when she came off the bus and harassed her on the way to school. It was unbelievable that someone would be so mean and cruel. This child came to us and we knew something was wrong. The social worker spoke with her to comfort and reassure her. A school administrator heard the mother at the gate, grabbed her up and took her somewhere quiet to talk to her. That’s the biggest battle we have left to fight.”

As a veteran educator, instances like these touched Lady Barnett to the heart. She wanted these people, especially the children, to live free and happy lives. Her professional background, not only as an educator but also as a master in social work, equipped her with the knowledge and the empathy to positively impact their lives. She was an educator for over 43 years and she retired in the post of associate professor at the University of The Bahamas. She was also a member of the board of trustees of the University of The Bahamas. Although retired, she is still heavily invested in ensuring that younger Bahamians have access to quality education, and she currently serves on the board of the Lyford Cay Foundations.

During those 22 years of her presidency with the BAF, she had the opportunity to watch many children either infected or affected by HIV/ AIDS grow up under the wings of BAF volunteers. The foundation commissioned a Bahamian children’s storybook, which members aim to publish and present to the Ministry of Education Primary and Junior High Schools for a special reading project (Combating HIV and AIDS through a Culture of Reading) involving all grade six and seven students in the country. Another awareness activity was KYS (Know Your Status), a project of the Social Dimensions of HIV and AIDS class at the College of The Bahamas now University of The Bahamas in conjunction with the AIDS Resource Committee, the talented young photographer Scharad Lightbourne and Utah Taylor-Rolle of ‘Controversy TV’.

Lady Barnett speaks fondly of the BAF’s After School programme: “We were made aware back in 2009 that some children (infected with HIV/ AIDS) were on the ward (the Children’s Ward at Princess Margaret Hospital) and Dr Percival McNeil informed us that some of them had died. We came up with the idea of an after school program, and their siblings could also come. We fed them; they had access to computers, tutors, and psychological care. It was so heartwarming the progress these kids made.”

“I was lecturing at COB and the rain came pouring down at 3 o’clock. I said, oh boy, no one is going to be there, but I will go just in case. These kids still came in the rain! They were not mandated; they chose to come. They got a snack and a hot meal before going home. They came because they were a family. When they came to us, they knew it was a safe space and they could feel free to be who they are. I had to take one of the little girls to the asthma bay at the hospital because she should not have been out in the rain. But that was the way they felt about being there with ‘the family’. They would encourage each other to come and if one was missing, they would look for them. It was the honor of my life to do it for the children.”

For the past six years, she also enjoyed raising funds to keep the After School Programme and other BAF initiatives going. For the last six years she co-chaired the Red Ribbon Ball, which is the major fundraiser of the AIDS Foundation. The Red Ribbon Ball will be hosted this year under the theme: “Diamonds and Pearls” this November 2, 2024.

Even with the decades of dedication and time that Lady Barnett put into the foundation, she still found time to participate in other endeavours close to her heart. She is a member of the Zonta Club of Nassau, a business and professional service organisation. She has been mentoring the Golden Z Club at the University of The Bahamas since 1992.

Lady Barnett is the 2010 winner of the Lady Sassoon Golden Heart Award for community service especially in the area of HIV and AIDS. In 2013, she was named a ‘Paul Harris Fellow’ for Community Service by the Rotary Club of East Nassau.

Lady Barnett is married to Sir Michael Barnett, the former Chief Justice and former President of The Court of Appeal of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. They have two daughters: Senator Michela Barnett Ellis and Viola Major, both of whom are attorneys; a son in-law, Rory Major; and two grandchildren, Kamelia Ellis and Lily Major.

The Bahamas AIDS Foundation introduced its new president, Arame Strachan, and celebrated its outgoing president, Camille, Lady Barnett, on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, ushering in a new generation of leadership ahead of this year’s Red Ribbon Ball. The foundation aims to raise at least $150,000 towards its efforts to fight against HIV/ AIDS.

This year’s 28th Annual Red Ribbon Ball celebrates the brilliance of those who are thriving despite their battles. The foundation honours advanced treatments, celebrates survival, and memorialises those who have passed away, all while striving for a future free from HIV/AIDS.

The Red Ribbon Ball takes place on November 2 at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Grand Ballroom. The cocktail reception begins at 7pm, followed by the Red Ribbon Ball at 8pm. Patrons can expect to enjoy a night of luxury, with surprise elements, exquisite raffle prizes, entertainment, and the finest wines. Entertainment will be provided by Essence Band and the Falcons, among others. All the details can be found at www.bahamasaidsfoundation.org.