“A Girl Called Nettie: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship and Love” is the poignant but inspiring story of the life, trials and tribulations of Netica Symonette, a Bahamian icon and female pacesetter in the hospitality industry of the country.
While not at the forefront of the suffrage movement, Netica Symonette has certainly been an activist in the country’s primary industry, charting the path for both Bahamian men and women in the field. The release of her autobiography is timely as the country again finds itself at the crossroads of questioning where are the leaders-in-training among Bahamians in this important sector of the economy. Ms. Symonette’s story shows how she defied the management glass ceiling in the workplace that was predominantly male. However, she does not hesitate to address the personal challenges of her search for love, becoming an unwed mother several times over, and the vision and people around her that kept her focused. Ms. Symonette is convinced that “despite the adversity which I faced in accomplishing what I set out to do, the book is truly meant as an inspiration to those generations after me which may feel there is little hope of advancement, achievement or recognition in their own country. Persistence and your own sense of self-worth are critical to your success and accomplishment.”
Ms. Symonette took the opportunity of presenting Sir Arthur Foulkes with a hard-bound copy of the book on Tuesday, 16th April. The Governor General commended her on this and indicated that he was impressed with the broad distribution of the book worldwide. “It serves as an inspiration to me in the writing of my own memoirs”, Sir Arthur stated.
Sean McWeeney, former Senator and Attorney General, also stated that “Netica is an inspiration to all Bahamians, and her story is remarkable and should be read. We certainly need to replicate more like Netica Symonette for the continued growth and development of the tourism sector.”
Owen Bethel, President of Bahamas FilmInvest International, and organizer of the book launch, stated that “Nettie’s story is one which truly has universal value as an epic documentary or movie about the struggles, against all odds, of a local girl, on her determined road to success. It is a story of inspiration with which many can relate, and while Nettie has yet to write the sequel which reveals a lot of the “juicy” highlights of her journey, the consideration of a film is certainly on the drawing board.”
Ms. Symonette was accompanied to the presentation to Sir Arthur Foulkes by Sean McWeeney, Owen Bethel, and her son, Wellington Symonette.
By Owen Bethel
