(EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was posted on Wednesday, September 7, Gina Knowles in the Facebook group Knowles Knows, and I thought I would share it with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE as a Guest Commentary.)
GUEST COMMENTARY: BY GINA KNOWLES
HAVANA, Cuba, Sept. 7, 2022 – Kk family, I have a story to tell you. I think most of you know that I have been going to Cuba to do medical trips for years now. This last week, I went to take my husband for yet another surgery (he’s doing well) and saw a specialist for myself. That story I’ll have to tell you one day (lol). I make this post to tell you what happened that I have to give a HUGE shout to our Ambassador in Cuba! 🎉.
The flight was supposed to return yesterday (Tuesday) at 6:30pm, but it had to turn back to Nassau because of the bad weather. Here we are in the airport in Cuba, being told at about 7:30 p.m. the flight was canceled. We all understood — bad weather — but had NOWHERE to go. We were staying at the hospital the entire time. Most taxis stopped running because it was late and their airport had closed.
We were told our “flight would be at 10am, collect your bags and leave”. Well muddos! The stress was real — not because we couldn’t go to a hotel, but no hotels around there like that, we don’t know the language, most of our credit cards work and one thing after the next. Y’all know WiFi is little to NONE? We follow instruction. I’m on phone trying to call all my Cuban friends for help, walk outside the airport and BAM! WiFi cut off! Talk about stuck 🙄.
In the airport, of course, the Bahamians find each other, 🥰 which always warms my heart. This one sweet girl, Anya Chisholm, comes over and introduces herself.
She says, “Y’all are Bahamians? I know you! I’m going to call Ambassador Ellison Rahming.”
When we walk outside, The Bahamas Ambassador is outside waiting for his people. Listen to me. I cannot explain how impressed I was. He asked for a headcount of Bahamians who needed help; there were 16 of us. He arranged the vans and took us to houses — 8 in one and 8 in the other. We were in the Ambassador’s house.
He said, “My job is to take care of my people when they are here.”
I felt like we were rescued. For those of you who will immediately say, “Ohhh that’s his job!”, some things are way above and beyond. After we got settled in rooms, with AC and nice beds and welcomed at home, he goes and gets us dinner! Then had the vans pick us up in the morning to take us back to the airport.
I want to let you know that I feel so grateful for him. I also would like to say I feel better knowing that he is there, when we make trips.
Thank you so much for taking care of “your fellow Bahamians”. We appreciate you. I will never forget this!
