BNSI Deputy Director Becomes First Bahamian Named to UN Advisory Expert Group on National Accounts

Nassau, The Bahamas – 22 October 2025 - Deputy Director of the Bahamas National Statistical Institute (BNSI), Mrs. Clarice Bridgewater-Turnquest, has been appointed to the United Nations Advisory Expert Group on National Accounts (AEG), marking the first time a Bahamian has been invited to serve in this capacity. Nominated by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and approved by the Intersecretariat Working Group on National Accounts (ISWGNA), the appointment recognises Mrs. Turnquest’s more than three decades of expertise in economic statistics and her leadership in national accounting across the Caribbean region.

The AEG supports the ISWGNA in shaping and updating the System of National Accounts (SNA), the global framework that guides how countries measure Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and other key economic indicators. The group’s work underpins the comparability and credibility of national economic statistics worldwide. Members are selected in their personal capacity based on their professional standing and technical contributions to the field. The AEG comprises experts representing all of the regions of the world and is set at 15 members plus a representative from the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Eurostat, and the World Bank.

Mrs. Turnquest’s three-year appointment places The Bahamas among the global voices contributing to the ongoing development and implementation of international economic measurement standards. “I am honoured and humbled by the opportunity provided by CARICOM to represent the region in this important work,” said Mrs. Turnquest. “This appointment reflects the years of training, dedication, and experience that have been built through my service at BNSI, and it ensures that the perspectives of Small Island Developing States like The Bahamas are considered in shaping the global statistical agenda.”

The 28th Meeting of the AEG will be held from 21 to 23 October 2025 under the auspices of the United Nations Statistics Division. During the meeting, members will discuss proposed updates to the System of National Accounts and review new methodological approaches. Mrs. Turnquest explained that her participation aims to strengthen the region’s capacity to adopt international best practices and modernise national statistical systems.

Commenting on the appointment, BNSI Managing Director Dr. Jamiko Deleveaux said, “Deputy Director Turnquest’s inclusion in the Advisory Expert Group underscores the calibre of technical leadership within the BNSI. It also affirms The Bahamas’ growing contribution to the international statistical community. Her insights will support the continued strengthening of our national accounts and our alignment with global standards.”

Mrs. Turnquest, who has served the national statistical system for over 30 years, has been instrumental in the development of GDP by island estimates, the production of the Bahamas Supply and Use Tables, and the integration of tourism satellite accounts into the national framework. In 2024, she was awarded the Bahamas Order of Distinction for her service to national development.

Her appointment also ensures that the unique challenges and priorities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are represented in global discussions on economic measurement, particularly as countries like The Bahamas explore the impact of climate change, environmental sustainability, other emerging sectors of GDP and national growth indicators.

As The Bahamas continues to modernise its statistical systems, BNSI remains steadfast in its mission to deliver data that drives progress, empowers policymakers, and strengthens the nation’s global voice. Mrs Turnquest’s appointment exemplifies the Institute’s commitment to excellence and its role in advancing the region’s leadership in evidence-based development.