NASSAU, Bahamas — In an unprecedented move, Dame Marguerite Pindling made history with the presentation of Medals to the 2019 R.E. Cooper Sr. National Meritorious Service Awards Honorees at Government House this past Friday, June 21.
In one of her last official functions before demitting office, Dame Marguerite for the first time hosted some of the nation’s most outstanding people, who have made a tremendous contribution to Nation building in The Bahamas since Independence and recognize the R.E. Cooper Awards as a National event.
The R.E. Cooper Sr. National Meritorious Service Awards was started in 1985 in memory of the late Dr. R.E. Cooper Sr., who believed that The Bahamas in going forward after Independence needed our people to be educated in order to build the nation. He himself awarded hundreds of scholarships to deserving Bahamians to study abroad and at home. He believed that we must become nation builders as a chosen people to develop our new nation.
These awards recognize these nation builders who quietly go about making things better for all Bahamians. In this unprecedented move, the outgoing Governor-General saw fit that these awards — because of the significance of Dr. R.E. Cooper Sr., to the development of this nation — should be held at the highest level in our country and be a national event.
The 2019 Awards was to be held as part of the Independence celebrations, but Dame Marguerite wanted to do the honors before leaving office, as a result of her relationship with the late educator. As a result the awards ceremony was planned so that she could make this historic presentation.
Some 19 of the country’s leading citizens were recognized and presented with their one-of-kind medal in honor of the late Dr. R.E. Cooper Sr. Heading the list of honorees was former Governor-General Sir Arthur Foulkes, who was more than happy to be a part of this 2019 class.
Also presented with their medals were: Mark Holowesko, Ruth Millar, Llewelyn Astwood, Thelma Grimes, Rev. C.B. Moss, Leonard “Skeeter” Dames, Janet Brown, Francis Crothers, Terry Tsavoussis, Marisa Mason-Smith, Chris Tsavoussis, Darold Miller, Darrell Rolle, Rev. Dr. Phillip Rahming, Rev. Timothy Stewart, Susan Roberts, Kirk Williams and Franklyn Butler who was unable to attend the event.
The ceremony was well attended at Government House and Dr. D Wenith Davis gave an overview of the history of the awards and the late Dr. R.E. Cooper Sr. Popular Entertainer Fred Munnings, Jr. sang the National Anthem, and Dr. R.E. Cooper Jr, Chairman of the Awards Committee and founder, gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the Cooper Family.
A reception was held following the event and everybody got to meet Dame Marguerite as she leaves Government House for the final time.
The official Awards presentation that was originally planned will now be held at Government House on July 26th, with the new Governor General doing the honors.
