By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., December 12, 2021 – I received two letters this afternoon in response to articles that I published in BAHAMAS CHRONICLE that I decided to share with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among Bahamians in the diaspora across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well back home in The Bahamas.
I hope that Sir Arthur Foulkes and Nicki Kelly — both of whom were my journalistic mentors at The Nassau Daily Tribune — do not mind me sharing their emails publicly, but I really would like to thank them for providing me with an excellent platform to comment on a matter that currently is of extreme importance to me.
I launched BAHAMAS CHRONICLE as an online publication to support the public relations efforts of THE BROWN AGENCY LLC, which I established after my diplomatic status as Press, Cultural Affairs and Information Manager at the Embassy of The Bahamas for four-plus years was revoked shortly after the Free National Movement (FNM) won the May 10, 2017, general election in The Bahamas.
Because I felt I had done a very good job in my diplomatic capacity, I officially wrote to the FNM government for me to continue doing what I did at the Embassy on a contractual basis. When I was in Nassau in November of 2017 promoting my novel WOES OF LIFE, I personally presented a copy of a proposal I had prepared to Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis prior to presenting him with an autographed copy of my novel.
Early in 2018, I was informed by Ambassador Sidney Collie that a revised proposal that I had submitted to Prime Minister Minnis had been approved, and this was subsequently confirmed by Attorney General Carl Bethel, who said it was forwarded to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presumably to be implemented.
For some reason or the other, it never was. I wrote several emails to Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Henfield checking on the status of my proposal, but never got a response. Meanwhile, I continued to covering embassy-related events publication BAHAMAS CHRONICLE and on Facebook without compensation because, even though I am a naturalized American citizen, I love the country of my birth with the consuming passion of a born Androsian.
I decided to rehash this information because I have formally approached newly elected Prime Miniter Philip “Brave” Davis about possibly utilizing my journalistic services diplomatically or in some other area. I have not yet received a response, but I fully understand that the Prime Minister is overburdened with far more important matters as the newly elected government seeks to restore good governance to The Bahamas.
I know that he is well aware of my capabilities, but I nonetheless decided to attach the letters below that I received from Sir Arthur Foulkes and Nicki Kelly as endorsements of my journalistic training.
LETTER FROM SIR ARTHUR FOULKES
Dear Oswald
I trust all is well with you. I have just read an article you wrote about me which was forwarded by a mutual friend. The sentiments you expressed brought tears to my eyes and a flood of memories. Thank you. You know that I think of you not so much as a friend but more like a son. It was my privilege to play a part in your life. Warm regards and affection.
AAF
LETTER FROM NIKI KELLY
Dear Oswald,
I finally got around to looking at my e-mail this afternoon after a week of feeling very much at loose ends. It is still difficult to process the suddenness of Ivan’s death.
And then I read your comments about The Punch and yours truly. You have no idea Oswald how much I appreciated what you had to say.
You, Arthur and I share a special bond in that we are the only journalists left from those early years when the country was undergoing historic changes.
They were exciting times, and we felt we were helping to record that history.
I often tell people that the politicians of yesteryear, whatever their personal failings, were far more knowledgeable and prepared to challenge the status quo than today’s lot.
Thank you again for your kind words. They meant a great deal coming from a fellow journalist.
All the best,
Nicki
