By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 15, 2024 – Senator Ronald (Roni) Duncombe today posted a collection of photos on Facebook, several of which I absolutely had to share — along with the accompanying narrative — with readers of my Washington, D.C. – based online publication, BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge following among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean.
S
enator Duncombe posted the photos with the following narrative:
Celebrating Academic Excellence at R.M. Bailey! As a former student of R. M. Bailey class of 1988.I was deeply honored and privileged to have had the opportunity to serve as the guest speaker at my alma mater, R.M Bailey, during their Honors Ceremony on March 13th, 2024. At this ceremony One hundred and sixty (160) students were recognized on the honor roll list.
In my view, this achievement underscores the immense potential of the youth in our nation, who deserve recognition for their dedication and hard work. They are the architects of our future, and it’s crucial to acknowledge and support their academic endeavors.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to Principal Shari Russell and her dedicated faculty for their unwavering commitment to nurturing and guiding these young minds. I was fortunate to have presented my token of R. M. Bailey High School. In attendance was Minister of Education The Honorable Glenys Hanna – Martin.
Here’s to continued success and empowerment for the students of R.M Bailey! Go Pacers!
BAHAMAS CHRONICLE EDITOR’S NOTE: Senator Duncombe was the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidate for the Killarney Constituency in New Providence during the general elections held on September 16, 2021. He conducted a strong campaign, but lost by a narrow margin to former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis.
Clearly, since then he has established himself as one of the most effective politicians in the PLP, most notably through his NexGen Young Men Mentorship Program, which focuses on empowering young men to thrive in various aspects of life, including education, leadership, financial literacy, networking opportunities and community involvement.
When the program was launched in July of 2023, during a courtesy call on Prime Minister Philip E. Davis on July 31, Senator Duncombe’s publicist Chereise Rolle noted in a press release: “Senator Ronald Duncombe had the vision for this program because as a young man growing up in Kemp Road, he experienced firsthand the absence of a father figure in his life. His mother Norma Duncombe did her best to raise him, but she recognized the invaluable role that positive male mentorship plays in shaping young men’s lives. It became clear to Senator Duncombe that a mother, with all her good intentions, cannot single-handedly raise a man to fulfill his potential into manhood.”
