Board of Directors

Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation announces new Board of Directors

The Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation (CFPA) is delighted to introduce its new Board of Directors who were elected at the Biennial General Meeting on March 26, 2024.

We are thrilled about the prospects that lie ahead for CFPA and are eager to work with our newly appointed Board of Directors. We can confidently assert that we have an unparalleled team to steer CFPA through this pivotal phase, wherein we envision and fortify our regional positioning as a foremost Civil Society Organisation dedicated to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

PRESIDENT – ROXANNE CHRISTOPHER, BERMUDA

Roxanne Christopher is a Life Insurance Professional who serves as the Board President of Teen Haven Bermuda. Roxanne’s election to the CFPA Board brings a fresh perspective into the organization, characterized by a resolute, empowering voice. With her extensive experience spanning multiple sectors, Roxanne’s insights promise to propel us towards profound and enduring impact throughout the region.

Roxanne has 20+ years’ experience in creating and building brands, media / speech writing, international and local media experience, crisis communications and social media expert to support your organization. She is a self-motivated, personable professional that always operates at the highest standards, and a demonstrated expert in public relations and marketing, with the ability to synthesize and translate findings into copy with strategic direction and comprehensive operational plans and funding strategies. She brings a wealth of expertise encompassing marketing, project management, business development, strategic direction, fundraising, and communications.

VICE PRESIDENT – DR BERNARD MC DAVID, GUYANA

Dr Bernard Mc David is a Medical Practitioner and serves as the Doctor in Charge of a District Hospital in Kamarang, Region 7, Guyana. At 27 years old, he embodies resilience, dedication and hope as a medical professional. Growing up amidst discrimination and limited access to health care, dire need for medical intervention was needed in his community. This led him to pursue medical education with unwavering determination, overcoming financial obstacles and societal expectations. Bernard is an active member of the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Organisation, the Guyana Cancer Society and Paws for a Cause Foundation.

TRUSTEE – LADY A. ANANDE TROTMAN-JOSEPH, GRENADA

Lady A. Anande Trotman Joseph is an Attorney-at-Law and managing partner in the law firm Joseph & Joseph. She is a founding member and Chairperson of the Grenada Integrity Commission, has chaired the Commonwealth Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-corruption Bodies and continues to serve on its Executive. She is past-President of the Grenada Bar Association, the current President of the Caribbean Institute of Women in Leadership and is recognized internationally for her work in gender equality, rule of law, transformational leadership, sustainability and anti-corruption advocacy. Lady Joseph has served as Solicitor General of Grenada, Chairperson of the Grenada National Coalition on the Rights of the Child and Grenada’s Adoption Board.

Lady Anande has led other national and regional organizations including but not limited to the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers; the Guyana Bar Association and UN Women Civil Society Advisory Group (Caribbean). She has co-authored the UNICEF-funded multi-country study on Juvenile Justice in the Caribbean and published on Constitutional Reform in the Caribbean.

TRUSTEE – DR TONIA FRAME, GRENADA

Dr Tonia Frame an Assistant Professor at St. George’s University, Grenada and Board President of the Grenada Planned Parenthood Association. She is a public health and development professional with expertise SRHR, health education, GBV and project management. She is a public health consultant and global/public health educator who believes in a world where every person controls their sexuality and reproduction without discrimination.

Tonia is a former Programme Manager for Health at the European Union Delegation to the Eastern Caribbean Countries, OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM, and former President of the Grenada Public Health Association. Currently, she is a member of the Grenada Chronic Non-Communicable Disease Commission, and an Advisor to the Board of GrenCHAP. Tonia has a keen interest in the SRHR of adolescents and youth, the elimination of VAWG, engaging men and boys in Family Planning, and integrating SRH into Primary Health Care.

TREASURER – JADE TRIM, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (YOUTH)

Jade Trim is a MPhil student and Research Assistant at the IGDS UWI. She has a passion for gender justice advocacy. Jade is the Coordinator of Ignite, a feminist undergraduate student mentorship group at University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.  She considers herself and her work to be influenced by various streams of feminism including socialist, Caribbean, transnational, eco and queer feminisms.

Jade believes in the strength of young people to create a better world in which peace with justice reigns. Through her work with Ignite she supports young people to build transnational solidarity and provide support in their empowerment, resilience, compassionate spirit and critical thinking. Jade is an activist who has led campaigns on GBV awareness, Caribbean solidarity with Palestine and Climate Justice.

SECRETARY – RAKEEM MCFARLANE, GRENADA (YOUTH)

Rakeem McFarlane is the President of the Youth Advocacy Movement of the Grenada Planned Parenthood Association. He is a 2^nd year student at the T. A. Marryshow Community College and is passionate about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), striving to advance STEM education in Grenada and the wider Caribbean. As a Founder of the T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) STEM Society, Rakeem aims to cultivate a culture of innovation and curiosity among his peers.

Rakeem serves as a private tutor in Math and Sciences, guiding students to achieve their full potential. Beyond STEM, Rakeem is dedicated to promoting SRHR among youth, advocating for safe sex practices, sexual rights and challenging societal taboos. He is currently working alongside the Department of Student Affairs at TAMCC to establish a condom and contraceptive hub at the school. Through these initiatives, Rakeem hopes to contribute to a well-educated and informed youth population that engages in safe sex and accesses reproductive health services when needed.

ASSISTANT SECRETARY / TREASURER, GIOVANNI CHARLES, ST. LUCIA (YOUTH)

Giovanni Charles is the Caribbean Regional Coordinator of the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network with the key role of leading the strengthening of resilient communities and fostering peace across the region. Through his work with the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE) and Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia Inc., he has championed initiatives for marginalized groups, specifically the LGBTQ+ community and women facing GBV. Giovanni is recognized as a Young Peacebuilder by the UN Alliance of Civilizations and has represented the region internationally.

Giovanni is Founder of Artistic and Cultural Youth Development Canvas, a youth organization focused on social advocacy through arts, and Co-founder of SAGE (Social Advocacy for Growth and Empowerment), a CSO dedicated to social justice and empowerment in Saint Lucia. He is committed to fostering equity, growth, and community engagement through innovative approaches.

MEMBER – DR ANNA KASAFI PERKINS, JAMAICA

Dr Anna K. Perkins is the Senior Programme Officer with the Quality Assurance Unit, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Jamaica. She also serves on he UWI Ethics Committee. She teaches and researches In Ethics, Justice, Popular Culture, Sexuality, Theology, Scripture, and Quality Assurance.  She is a member of the National Bioethics Committee of Jamaica and the Legal Aid Council of Jamaica, and former Dean of Studies and lecturer at St Michael’s Theological College, Jamaica. Anna is also the Coordinator of the Caribbean Women Theologian for Transformation.

Anna a published author of books, book chapters and journal articles.  Her most recent publications are Ethics Amidst COVID-19: A Brief Ethics Handbook for Caribbean Policymakers and Leaders (2020), co-authored with Professor R. Clive Landis, and Rough Riding: Tanya Stephens and the Power of Music to Transform Society (2021), co-edited with Adwoa Onuora and Ajamu Nangwaya. She is also contributor and co-editor of Justice and Peace in a Renewed Caribbean: Contemporary Catholic Reflections (2012).

MEMBER – ANDREA BRUNO, DOMINICA (YOUTH)

Andrea Bruno is sports and health enthusiast (especially women’s health). She has a passion for sexual rights because of the severity of rampant sexual abuse and rape in the Caribbean and the world. Andrea wants to be part of a movement for effective actions behind words so that the world can be a safer place for women and children.

Andrea began her SRHR work with a study with Advocates for Safe Parenthood; Improving Reproductive Equity (ASPIRE), which helped to open a pathway for her to pursue her passion. Andrea envisions not a perfect world but a world that is just and promotes fairness and equity. She is elated to be nominated for the CFPA board of directors, and is eager to serve and learn, and is ready to put her best foot forward to actualize the goals and aspirations of CFPA as well as hers.

FORMER PRESIDENT – DR ROSMOND ADAMS (EX-OFFICIO / ADVISOR)

Dr Rosmond Adams is a Health Systems and Services Advisor at the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) He has expertise as a medical doctor, bioethicist and public health specialist and has been collaborating with national and regional stakeholders, conducting research and analysis, and providing technical assistance and guidance. Rosmond’s core competencies include disease prevention, control, and management, with a focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and communicable diseases, such as HIV and SRHR. He also has skills in data analysis, research methods, report writing, health systems strengthening, public health surveillance, emergency response, and global health security.

Rosmond is passionate about improving the health and well-being of the population in the region, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized groups.

ADVISOR – MS SHEILA ROSEAU (ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA)

Sheila Roseau is an expert in sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender equality with vast experience in the Caribbean, Southern Africa and worldwide. She is the recipient of a National Award, Commander of the Most Illustrious Order of Merit (CM) given by the Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda. In 2011, Sheila received the Hero Award for “Acting to End Modern Day Slavery” from US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, in recognition for her work on the human trafficking legislation; and she was also nominated for the Women of Courage Award.

Sheila is currently the Coordinator of the UN 4^th SIDS Conference 2024. She has served as the UNFPA in various capacities – Namibia Country Representative, Deputy Regional Director of the Regional Office Panama for Latin America and the Caribbean, and as Director and Representative of the UNFPA Sub-Regional Office following her service as the Executive Director of Gender Affairs for Antigua and Barbuda.

Sheila Roseau is known as a longtime advocate of women’s rights. In 2010, Sheila played an active role in the passage of Antigua and Barbuda’s first law that penalise criminal for human trafficking and provided vast protection for victims.

ADVISOR – DR FRED NUNES (JAMAICA / USA)

Dr Fred Nunes is a Former Head of Management Studies at University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Jamaica. He worked to create access to UWI for residents of non-campus countries. He is currently a management consultant for the World Bank. Fred has worked with UNDP/CARICAD in Barbados and with PAHO in Guyana, where he supported research in maternity health, particularly unwanted pregnancies and abortion, which led the process for abortion law reform in Guyana. He was a consultant with IPPF/WHR and conducted a review of CFPA for the strengthening of its regional positioning.

He is a founding member of ASPIRE – Advocates for Safe Parenthood; Improving Reproductive Equity (ASPIRE).

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER – REV. PATRICIA SHEERATTAN-BISNAUTH

Rev. Patricia Sheerattan-Bisnauth is the CEO of the Caribbean Family Planning Affiliation (CFPA). She is a gender and development and sexual and reproductive health and rights specialist. She is also a feminist theologian with extensive experience in addressing gender justice and promoting partnership of women and men in the Caribbean and internationally. Patricia is a former Executive Director of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (2013-2018) and led the Association’s transformation to a high performing, rights based, pro-choice and thriving organsiation.

Patricia has skills in analytical and transformative approaches to Gender Justice and Partnership and brings a critical understanding of the influence of beliefs, values, cultural norms to the understanding of SRHR. Patricia has published more than fifteen articles in academic journals, books and manuals, and has edited nine books and developed two gender manuals, including, From Hierarchy to Partnership: Promoting Positive Masculinities.