Mrs Helen Ebong/ PS Ministry of Finance
NASSAU, Bahamas – Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance Mrs. Helen Ebong died at Doctors Hospital on Saturday, October 27, 2007 following a short battle with cancer. She was 53.
Christened Helen Lauretta Adderley, Mrs. Ebong was a career public servant who joined the Public Service in September 1978.
Mrs. Ebong’s early education was at St. John’s College and the Government High School, Nassau. Her qualifications included a Master of Science degree in Agriculture Economics from Auburn University in Alabama (1978) and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Tuskegee University in Alabama in 1976.
She also obtained a certificate in Economics from North Western University in Chicago, Illinois (1976).
Mrs. Ebong held senior positions in various Ministries including the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development and Permanent Secretary in the Ministries of Trade and Industry, and finally, Finance.
She had a wealth of experience in macroeconomics, trade and agriculture policy formulation.
In preparation for her various roles in the Public Service, Mrs. Ebong had successfully completed every qualifying examination in the Public Service, including the FAS Assessment Course, the Administrative Competition Course, Senior Management Courses and Public Sector Planning courses.
She also attended professional courses at the International Monetary Authority (IMF) and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
In May 2001, she participated in an Enterprise Competitiveness course that was jointly sponsored by the Government of Singapore and the Commonwealth Secretariat, which was held in Singapore.
Additionally, she actively participated in The Bahamas obtaining Observer Status to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the organizing of training programmes in The Bahamas with the WTO.
She gave 29 years of professional and dedicated service in the Public Sector.
Mrs. Ebong represented The Bahamas as the Vice Minister at Free Trade Association of the Americas (FTAA) negotiations, served as a former Director of the Water & Sewerage Corporation Board (1994-2002), Secretary to the Council of Economic Advisors (1990- 2000), Bahamas Trade Commission member 2002-2006 and a member of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company’s (BTC) Privatization Committee (2006-2007).
She was an active member of Christ Church Cathedral, member of the Anglican Church Women’s Hospitably Committee and also served as a member of the Anglican Diocesan Finance Committee.
Mrs. Ebong was married to Cyril Ebong, a Senior Project Engineer at the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) and had three children: Ima, Arit and Ebo Ebong.
I was just about to get connected with all my friends who have attended IMF FPP course in ’97 which included the late Mrs Helen Ebong. We were close buddies during the course. Hence, was terribly shocked to hear that she died in 2007. My condolences to her family and may she rest in peace.
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