OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 26, 2024 – As a proud son of Andros, I absolutely had to embrace this opportunity to wish my “Androsian Queen”, Dame Marguerite Pindling, a Happy Birthday and in doing so pray that the Good Lord continue to bless her with long life and good health for many, many more years.
I have always been extremely proud of the accomplishments of this Daughter of Andros, who during her ascendency to prominence in the country still, figuratively speaking, on occasions referred to herself as “just a barefoot girl from Andros’.
Although male chauvinism was firmly entrenched politically in The Bahamas and women won the right to vote for the first time in 1962, Marguerite Pindling and a coterie of other women made monumental contributions to the struggle for majority rule, which culminated with the historic election victory on January 10, 1967, by the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), led by her husband Sir Lynden O, Pindling and a Band of Brothers with a similar commitment to bringing about positive political change in the country.
Following the January 10, 1967 election victory, Sir Lynden became the first black Premier of The Bahamas and subsequently the first Prime Minister after The Bahamas, a former colony of Great Britain, became an independent nation on July 10, 1973.
Born to Reuben and Viola McKenzie in South Andros on June 26, 1932, Marguerite McKenzie moved to Nassau in 1946 to live with her sister Louise, and attended the Western Senior School. After graduating, Marguerite’s first job was with well-known photographer Stanley Toogood.
She and London-trained lawyer Lynden O. Pindling were wed on May 5, 1956, and they remained married until his death on August 26, 2000. The couple had four children: Obafemi Pindling, Leslie Pindling, Monique Johnson, and Michelle Sands.
Dame Marguerite, who was the tenth Governor-General of the Bahamas (from July 8, 2014 to June 28 2019) was appointed Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George in 2014.
FLASHBACK: Sir Lynden Pindling and Lady Marguerite Pindling with Prince Charles in 1973.
