NASSAU, Bahamas — Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor-General of The Bahamas, on Monday conferred national honours on 34 distinguished Bahamians for their contributions to the development of The Bahamas.
The “historic” ceremony was conducted as prescribed in the National Honours Act for National Heroes Day.
In a special ceremony, on August 23, 2018, national honours were conferred upon the Most Honourable Sir Orville Turnquest and the Most Honourable A.D. Hanna, both former Governors-General.
On Monday, family, friends, well-wishers, members of the religious community and high-ranking government officials witnessed the two-hour ceremony, which saw the nation’s highest honours — The Order of National Hero, The Order of Nation, The Order of The Bahamas, The Order of Distinction, and The Order of MeriT — bestowed on the honourees.
Anita Beneby, Permanent Secretary to the Office of the Governor-General, described the ceremony as a “rite of passage” for the nation, adding that the annual event marks “an important step in our transition from a British colony to a sovereign people.”
“But more importantly,” Beneby said, “I believe that this morning’s ceremony, as well as the many that will follow, will elevate the minds of our people, our own worth and our dignity as a nation.”
Beneby said the vision of the late Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, the first Prime Minister of The Bahamas, has become a reality because of the sacrifice of the country’s finest warriors: “Amazons of vision, fighters of courage, warriors of steel … those who did not shrink from dirty hands; those with the imagination to create; persons with the strength of character to stare into the chilly teeth of the raging winds of change; soldiers without fear,” as Sir Lynden called them.
In her remarks, Dame Marguerite said a national honour is the highest form of recognition and tribute that a sovereign government can bestow on those who have distinguished themselves as nation builders.
She congratulated and commended all of the honourees, some of whom were recognized posthumously.
“Their selflessness and high achievement serve as a clarion call to all Bahamians to pattern themselves accordingly so that we can all be of greater service to the nation we hold so dear and whose best interests we are all summoned to serve to the very best of our ability and with steadfast loyalty,” said Dame Marguerite.
