“An attitude of the heart.”
-Her Excellency Dame Ivy Dumont
The first female Governor-General of The Commonwealth was confirmed in the post by the Queen on January 01, 2002. She had assumed office as Acting Governor-General on November 13, 2001, in succession to Sir Orville Turnquest. She had been one of three females in the Cabinet of the Free National Movement government.
In 1946 Dame Ivy received the Cambridge Junior Certificate; she gained the Cambridge Senior Certificate in 1947. In 1952 Dame Ivy received a certificate as an Associate of the College of Preceptors, a British organization; in 1954 she was awarded a Teacher's Certificate by the Bahamas Teachers College. She furthered her training in the United States of America on a Fulbright Grant as a participant in an International Teacher Development Programme, in 1962/1963. From 1968 to 1970 Dame Ivy continued her studies at the University of Miami where she earned a Bachelor of Education degree and a doctorate in Public Administration (DPA) from Nova University (1976 to 1978). Dame Ivy also participated in several in-service workshops and public service courses over the years.
In 1992 when the Free National Movement took over the Government, she was appointed a Senator and Leader of Government business in the House. She was appointed a Minister from 1995-2001. Her portfolio included the Ministry of Health and Environment and Education and Culture respectively. She later made history in January 2002 when she was appointed the first female Governor-General of The Bahamas, where she retired from this post on November 30, 2005.
Dame Ivy is married to Mr. Reginald Deane Dumont and is the mother of two children; Cheddi Dean Dumont and Edda Dumont Adolph.
Dame Ivy Dumont speaks during the official naming of the government complex housing the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture in her honor.
Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis (left) and Dame Ivy Dumont (right) unveil the plaque officially naming the government complex housing the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Culture the Ivy L Dumont Building.
Former Governor General of the Bahamas Her Excellency Dame Dr. Ivy Dumont right poses with her sister and honouree Anna Turnquest-Cooper at the Nurses Association of the Bahamas Gala Ball celebrating “60 Years of Stellar Service," on Saturday, November 17, 2007, at British Colonial Hilton Hotel. (BIS Photo: Derek Smith)
A grade-one student at Bahamas Academy Elementary School, presenting Dame Ivy Dumont with a bouquet of flowers following her swearing-in as Acting Governor-General Tuesday, November 13, 2001, in the Public Square.
Britain's Prince Harry poses with Bahamas former Governor General Ivy Dumont (L) and Governor General Arthur Foulkes during a reception at Government House on March 4, 2012, in Nassau, Bahamas. The Prince is visiting the Bahamas as part of a Diamond Jubilee tour where he will be visiting Belize, the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Brazil as a representative of Queen Elizabeth II. (March 3, 2012 - Source: Pool/Getty Images North America)
Dame Dr. Ivy Dumont, the first female Governor-General, is pictured with HE the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite Pindling after being conferred the award of the Order of the Nation for former Governors-General.
Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Cornelius A. Smith hosted a luncheon in honour of the former Governor General in the Dining Room at Government House, Thursday, July 18, 2019. Pictured from left: Dame Ivy Dumont; H. E. Cornelius A. Smith; Dame Marguerite Pindling and Sir Arthur Foulkes. (BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson)
Former Governor General Dame Ivy Dumont presents a copy of her book 'Rose's to Mount Fitzwilliam' to Prime Minister the Rt Hon Hubert A. Ingraham at his Cable Beach office, Monday, December 14. It took six years for Dame Ivy to complete the book. (BIS photo/Patrick Hanna)
Former Governor General Dame Ivy Dumont presents a copy of her book Rose's to Mount Fitzwilliam to Governor General His Excellency Arthur D Hanna during a courtesy call at Government House, Tuesday, December 15.
Ivy Dumont presented her book to Governor-General Dame Marguerite Pindling in 2014.
Former Governor General Dame Ivy Dumont delivers the graduation address and encourages graduates to strive for excellence at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus graduation ceremony on Saturday, November 10. (BIS Photo)
Former Governor General Dame Ivy Dumont, centre, is pictured with His Excellency Sir Kenneth Hall, Governor General of Jamaica, left, and Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham at a University of the West Indies Reception following its conferring of an honorary Doctor of Laws degree (LLB) on Dame Ivy at the University’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, November 10. (BIS Photo)