Bahamas News
Thirty-four Bahamians Conferred Honours at Historic National Honours Investiture Ceremony
#Nassau, October 9, 2018 – Bahamas – In a ceremony befitting royalty, Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor-
General and Chancellor, conferred national honours on 34 distinguished Bahamians Monday, October 8, 2018 for their contributions to the development of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
With ladies adorned in classy hats and elegant dresses, men in sharp suits, and classical music perfectly suited to Mount Fitzwilliam, Government House, the “historic” ceremony was conducted as prescribed in the National Honours Act, for National Heroes Day.
In a special ceremony, on August 23, 2018, national honours were conferred upon the Most Honourable Sir Orville Turnquest and the Most Honourable A.D. Hanna, both former Governors-General.
Today, family, friends, well-wishers, members of the religious community and high-ranking government officials witnessed the two-hour ceremony which saw the nation’s highest honours of the Order of National Hero, the Order of Nation, the Order of The Bahamas, the Order of Distinction, and the Order of Merit bestowed on the honourees.
Romel Shearer and Giovanni Clarke, gave cello and flute musical performances respectively; Candace Bostwick, soprano, sang “He’s Got the Whole World”; and the song “God Bless Our Sunny Clime,” written by Rev. Dr. Philip Rahming was performed by various musicians. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force Band, the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band and C.H. Reeves Junior High School Band also provided entertainment.
Permanent Secretary to the Office of the Governor-General, Mrs. Anita Beneby, described the ceremony as a “rite of passage” for the nation. She said the annual event marks “an important step in our transition from a British colony to a sovereign people. But more importantly, I believe that this morning’s ceremony, as well as the many that will follow, will elevate the minds of our people, our own worth and our dignity as a nation.”
Mrs. Beneby said the vision of the late Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, former Prime Minister, has become a reality because of the sacrifice of the country’s finest warriors; “amazons of vision, fighters of courage, warriors of steel … those who did not shrink from dirty hands; those with the imagination to create; persons with the strength of character to stare into the chilly teeth of the raging winds of change; soldiers without fear,” as Sir Lynden called them.
In her remarks, the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite said a national honour is the highest form of recognition and tribute that a sovereign government can bestow on those who have distinguished themselves as nation builders.
She congratulated and commended all of the honourees, some of whom were recognized posthumously. “Their selflessness and high achievement serve as a clarion call to all Bahamians to pattern themselves accordingly so that we can all be of greater service to the nation we hold so dear and whose best interests we are all summoned to serve to the very best of our ability and with steadfast loyalty,” said Most Hon. Dame Marguerite.
The Governor-General called on Bahamians to continue to uphold the virtues of love, mutual respect and goodwill for one another that Bahamians have enjoyed throughout the ages.
“These timeless virtues must continue to guide and direct our best effort as citizens of our Commonwealth.
“We must never set these virtues aside, nor subordinate them to self-centered pursuits that diminish our patriotic pride and deflect us from our 
sense of commitment to service.
“Now more than ever, we need men and women, boys and girls, to join hearts and minds all across our beloved Bahamas so that a spirit of nation-building can flourish as never before, not only for the present, but as a sure foundation for generations of Bahamians yet unborn.”
Following the Investiture of National Honours ceremony, the Most Honourable Dame Marguerite inspected the Guard of Honour during a parade of the Royal Bahamas Police and Defence Forces at the main entrance of Government House.
A reception followed on the terrace and upper gardens of Government House.
The following awards were formally conferred by the Governor-General:
THE ORDER OF NATIONAL HERO (awarded posthumously):
The Rt. Excellent Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, N.H., O.N., K.C.M.G.
The Rt. Excellent Sir Roland Theodore Symonette, N.H., K.B.
The Rt. Excellent Sir Milo Boughton Butler, N.H., G.C.M.G
The Rt. Excellent Sir Cecil Vincent Wallace-Whitfield, N.H., K.B.
THE ORDER OF THE NATION
Former Governors-General:
The Most Honourable Sir Orville Turnquest, O.N., G.C.M.G.
The Most Honourable Dame Ivy Dumont, O.N., G.C.M.G.
The Most Honourable Arthur Hanna, O.N.
The Most Honourable Sir Arthur Foulkes, O.N., G.C.M.G.
Awarded posthumously:
The Most Honourable Sir Milo Butler, O.N., G.C.M.G.
The Most Honourable Sir Gerald Cash, O.N., G.C.M.G.
The Most Honourable Sir Henry Milton Taylor, O.N., K.B.
The Most Honourable Sir Clifford Darling, O.N., G.C.V.O.
Former Prime Minister:
The Most Honourable Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, O.N., K.C.M.G.
Prime Minister:
The Most Honourable Hubert Alexander Minnis, O.N., M.P.
THE ORDER OF THE BAHAMAS
Companions:
The Rt. Honourable Janet Bostwick, C.B.
The Rt. Honourable Maurice Moore, C.B.
Officer:
The Honourable Dame Doris Johnson, O.B., D.B.E. (posthumously)
Member:
Dr. Myles Munroe, M.B. (posthumously)
THE ORDER OF DISTINCTION
Companions:
Mrs. Cynthia Pratt, C.D.
Mrs. Anita Bernard, C.D, C.M.G.
Mrs. Eileen Carron, C.D., C.M.G.
Officers:
Dr. Merceline Dahl-Regis, O.D.
Mr. Lowell Mortimer, O.D., O.B.E.
Mr. Barry Rassin, O.D.
Mrs. Sandra Dean-Patterson, O.D.
Dr. Patrick David Roberts, O.D.
Members:
Mr. William Sands, D.M.
Mr. Robert Sweeting, D.M.
Dr. Bernard Nottage, D.M. (posthumously)
THE ORDER OF MERIT
Companions:
The Reverend Canon. Sebastian Campbell, C.M.
Mrs. Pauline Davis-Thompson, C.M.
Officers:
Monsignor Preston Moss, O.M.
The Reverend. Dr. J. Emmette Weir, O.M.
Members:
The Reverend Dr. Gary Curry, M.M.
The Reverend Walter Hanchell, M.M.
The Reverend Ervin Clarke, M.M. (posthumously)
By Kathryn Campbell
Release: BIS
Photo Captions:
Header: Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor General and Chancellor, is pictured with National Honours recipients and their representatives at Government House following the Investiture Ceremony of National Honours, Monday, October 8, 2018.
First insert: Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite Pindling gives remarks during the Investiture Ceremony of National Honours, Monday, October 8, 2018.
Second insert: Sir Lynden Pindling, former Prime Minister, was accorded the Order of National Heroes and the Order of the Nation Awards posthumously. His grandson, Lynden Pindling II, accepted the awards on his behalf. Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor-General, is pictured with Lynden Pindling II holding the awards.
Third insert: 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.
Fourth insert: Anita Bernard, who has spent more than 50 years in the Public Service, receives the award of The Order of Distinction (Companion) from Her Excellency the Most Hon. Dame Marguerite Pindling.
BIS Photos/Letisha Henderson
PHOTO BY SIXERS NATION
Bahamian pride is already on full display in South Florida, with fans arriving in strong numbers ahead of tonight’s highly anticipated NBA matchup featuring VJ Edgecombe and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Helping to power that movement was Bahamasair, which rolled out a strategic promotion to facilitate travel, turning the game into a full-scale national showing.
And the celebration started early.
A “Bahamas Invades Florida” pre-party over the weekend set the tone, with Bahamian fans, DJs and supporters converging in Fort
Lauderdale to build momentum ahead of the game. The event, marketed as a major cultural gathering, has spilled into Miami, where a strong Bahamian presence is expected inside the arena tonight.
This is no ordinary road game.
The Sixers enter the matchup healthy and are favoured to win, adding to the anticipation surrounding what many expect to be a standout performance by the Biminite guard.
Edgecombe, the third overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, has been electric in his rookie season — delivering high-scoring performances and quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s most exciting young talents.
But beyond the stats, it’s the moment that matters.
With South Florida just a short flight away, Bahamians have seized the opportunity to show up in force — flags, energy and all — transforming the game into something far bigger than basketball.
A national turnout.
A rising star.
And a night where the Bahamas is expected to be felt — from tip-off to final buzzer.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
The Bahamas, March 18, 2026 – Twenty days into the latest Middle East escalation, the United Nations is warning the conflict is spreading beyond its original battlefield, as the death toll rises and governments around the world issue urgent travel advisories — including The Bahamas.
In a March 17 statement, the UN Secretary-General’s office said the war must stop and called for all Security Council resolutions to be respected, noting with concern that countries in the Gulf continue to be targeted, raising fears of a wider regional confrontation.
The current round of fighting began February 28 with strikes involving the United States, Israel and Iranian-linked forces, followed by missile and drone attacks across Iraq, Lebanon and parts of the Gulf.
International monitors report more than 1,300 people killed in Iran alone, with additional casualties reported in Lebanon, Israel and Gulf states. U.S. officials confirm at least 13 American service members have died since the escalation began, while reports indicate additional senior Iranian military leaders were killed in recent strikes.
Despite the growing violence, several NATO countries including the United Kingdom, France and Germany have not joined offensive operations, instead calling for diplomacy to prevent the conflict from widening.
The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also issued a travel advisory, warning Bahamian nationals to avoid travel to Israel, Palestine, Iran and Lebanon and to reconsider travel across much of the Gulf region due to the risk of sudden escalation, flight disruptions and security threats.
Officials say Bahamians already in the region should remain vigilant and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
Bahamas News
The Bahamas Celebrates Andrew Young at 94 – A Legend Honoured with Love at Baha Mar Gala
The Bahamas, March 18, 2026 – The Bahamas showed its deep affection for one of the world’s most respected civil rights leaders as Ambassador Andrew Jackson Young Jr. celebrated his 94th birthday in grand style at a gala held at the Eccho Art Gallery, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar on March 12, 2026.
The evening was filled with tributes, laughter and cultural pride, reflecting what many guests described as a genuine bond between Young
and The Bahamas — a country he has long admired and visited often. Those in attendance said the celebration felt less like a formal event and more like a heartfelt tribute to a man whose life has helped shape modern history.
Prime Minister Philip Davis, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell, Bahamas Ambassador to the United States Wendall Jones, and U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas Herschel Walker were among the dignitaries offering remarks, along with Andrew Young Foundation President Gaurav Kumar and other international guests.
The event was co-hosted by veteran broadcaster Karyn Greer of WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News and Bahamian journalist Dr. Deborah Bartlett, who both reflected on Young’s lifelong commitment to justice, diplomacy and public service.
Born in 1932, Andrew Young is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures of the American civil rights movement. He worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., served as a key leader in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and later became a U.S. Congressman, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President Jimmy Carter, and Mayor of Atlanta.
Over the decades, Young has been honoured by multiple U.S. presidents, including receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the
nation’s highest civilian award, from President Bill Clinton. His diplomatic work, civil rights leadership and global humanitarian efforts have earned him recognition across the world.
Guests noted that even at 94, Young remains active, engaged and passionate about international cooperation and human rights, continuing to inspire new generations.
His wife, Carolyn McClain Young, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude for what she called the warmth and love shown by the Bahamian people.
The celebration ended in true island fashion with a Junkanoo rush-out, bringing guests to their feet in a joyful close to an evening that blended history, culture and admiration.
For many in attendance, the message of the night was simple — Andrew Young loves The Bahamas, and The Bahamas loves him right back.
Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.
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