By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 28, 2023 — I was plunged into a mentally debilitating dungeon of despair when I found out that my very close and dear friend George A. Smith had died. George and I became very good friends when we both worked at Bahamian Times in the 1960s.
George’s death affected me greatly, but I have finally composed myself sufficiently to turn off the faucet of continuous tears to extend my deepest, deepest condolences to my brother Philip and the rest of the family.
As I pointed out in a column I wrote on the stalwart contributions of George to Bahamian politics, by Bahamian standards, George was a white man. He easily could have been a prominent member of the United Bahamian Party (UBP) had he chosen to align himself with the Bay Street Boys, who only decided to establish themselves as a political party after the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) made such a strong showing in the 1956 general election by winning six seats.
George was very smart and he had a “good head for business.” It was in this capacity that he made tremendous contributions to the progressive struggle in the 1960s as a young member of the National Committee for Positive Action (NCPA), the activist group within the PLP that essentially was the “power base” of then PLP leader Lynden O. Pindling.
When Arthur A. Foulkes and a group of other NCPA members established the Bahamian Times in the early 1960s after Foulkes lost his bid for a seat in the House of Assembly in the 1962 general election and resigned as News Editor of The Tribune, George subsequently joined the staff of Bahamian Times ostensibly as General Manager.
As Foulkes recalled in an article he wrote back in 2005, “I met George Smith when he was a young insurance agent back in the early 1960s. Mr. Smith’s complexion would have made it easy for him to find acceptance on the white side of the Bahamian racial divide at the time. But he chose to throw in his lot with the struggle for majority rule. He frequently stopped at the office of Bahamian Times on Wulff Road – which was a little hothouse of political ferment – to help with the newspaper and join in the debates.”
George and I became extremely close friends after I left The Tribune in 1965 and joined the staff of Bahamian Times, having received my early training in journalism, under the tutelage of Foulkes and the late Sir Etienne Dupuch, the Tribune’s Publisher and Editor. I had joined the staff of The Tribune as a trainee reporter in May of 1960.
Following the historic January 10, 1967 general elections, in which both the then governing UBP and the opposition PLP won 18 seats, the PLP was able to convince the lone Labour Party winning candidate Randol Fawkes and Independent Alvin R. Braynen to support the PLP and subsequently formed The Bahamas’ first black-led majority-rule government.
One year later, however, members of the PLP were faced with making a crucial decision of holding a bye-election to fill the Shirlea seat left vacant following the death of Uriah McPhee, but it was decided instead to “go back to the people” in a general election on April 10, 1968. It turned out to be the right decision, with the PLP winning by a landslide, capturing 29 seats, while the UBP won just 7. Randol Fawkes was re-elected as a Labour candidate, as was Alvin R. Braynen as an Independent.
George Smith’s family roots are in Exuma, and naturally when he decided to embark on a political career, he chose to run as a PLP candidate for the Rolleville constituency in The Exumas and was among the winning candidates in the 1968 general election.
I was very much involved in George’s campaign, and every Saturday after Bahamian Times had been published, we would head to Exuma. It was during this time that I fell in love with the islands that comprise The Exumas, which the tourist brochure describes as “an archipelago of 365 cays and islands, beginning just 35 miles southeast of Nassau.” That “love affair” continues even to this day. Although I have not visited The Exumas in more than two decades, I developed some lasting friendships during those campaign years.
My friendship with George Smith remained “rock-solid” over the years as a result of the strong foundation on which it was established during our years as co-workers at Bahamian Times, even though we took “different sides,” so the speak, when there was a “political split” in the PLP in 1970. I was best man in George’s wedding at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral to his first wife Mavis McCartney and I am godfather to their daughter Gina.
Likewise, George and Sir Arthur Foulkes also maintained a close friendship after Sir Arthur became one of the Dissident Eight that broke away from the PLP in 1970 because of disagreements with the leadership of Sir Lynden Pindling, whom George still strongly supported.
When I returned from London in November of 1969 after one year’s on-the-job advanced training in journalism at the London Evening Standard, my mentor Sir Arthur had just been fired a couple months earlier as Minister of Tourism by Sir Lynden, so there was no question as to whom I would be “loyal” to, even though it was Sir Lynden who had arranged for me to go to London on the training course.
I was appointed Editor of Bahamian Times but my tenure in that position was not very long after I was fired by Sir Lynden for writing an editorial supporting the Dissident Eight. If my memory serves me right the Board of Directors of Bahamian Times, which at the time was poised to become a daily publication, were Sir Arthur, George Smith, Jimmy Shepherd, Bazel Nichols and I.G. Stubbs. I subsequently found out that both Sir Arthur and George were opposed to me being fired.
Of course, after the Dissident Eight made the split official and joined moderate remnants of the disbanded UBP to form the Free National Movement (FNM), I became a founding member of the FNM and Editor of its newspaper, The Torch of Freedom.
However, the fact that we were now on opposite sides of the political divide, the genuine friendship George and I shared remained rock-solid. and shall indelibly be a source of pleasant memories for me for the rest of my life. To say that I shall miss him tremendously would be a gross understatement.
Paying tribute to George in a statement earlier this week, Prime Minister Philip E. Davis said:
“It is with profound sorrow that I announce the passing of my personal friend and respected colleague, George A. Smith,” the Prime Minister said. “George was a steadfast advocate for the Bahamian people, a dedicated public servant, and a passionate voice for progress.
“George served with distinction in various roles throughout his career, from his early days as a young member of the National Committee for Positive Action (NCPA) to his most recent roles as Special Advisor for our 50th anniversary of Independence celebrations and as the Non-resident Envoy to the Republic of Singapore. His unwavering dedication, wealth of experience, and keen understanding of the intricacies of Bahamian history and identity made him a pillar in our society.
“Born in Exuma, George chose a life of service to his people. He was a tireless advocate for Majority Rule and was actively involved in the political evolution of our nation. His contributions to the pivotal events in Bahamian history will forever be remembered.
“As Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries & Local Government, George played a significant role in the accelerated production of agricultural and marine products, leading to the economic empowerment of many Bahamians. He also served as Chairman of the Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation during the introduction of cellular services and of the Hotel Corporation of The Bahamas, overseeing key developments in our tourism sector.
“George’s commitment to our nation extended beyond his professional achievements. He was a mentor, a friend, and a trusted voice who helped shape the discussions that have propelled The Bahamas forward. He was steadfast in his dedication to empowering ordinary Bahamians, and his tireless advocacy for progress and change will remain his enduring legacy.
“His life and legacy will continue to inspire generations of Bahamians and his memory will forever be etched in the annals of our nation’s history.
“On behalf of the Government and People of The Bahamas, I extend my deepest condolences to George’s family, particularly to his children, and to all who knew and loved him.
“I shall miss him. May his soul rest in peace.”
Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, Member of Parliament for The Exumas and Ragged Island, also paid tribute to his fellow Exumian.
“I learned with great sadness today of the passing of the Hon. George A. Smith,” he said in a statement. “It was an honour to follow in his footsteps as the member of Parliament for Exuma and a member of Cabinet.”
The DPM added: “He was a signatory to the constitution and a legend in politics, with a sharp mind and a deep vault of historical knowledge. George was a fellow Exumian, and a long-time mentor and friend. He supported me in all of my political efforts.
“He had a fierce love for Exuma and an unwavering commitment to The Bahamas. He was a fighter for the Progressive Cause. A greater patriot I have not known.
“He will be missed. My sincerest condolences to his family, who, for George, was the most important thing to him under God’s gaze.
“Rest in Peace, George.”
Indeed, may the soul of my very dear friend George A. Smith Rest in Peace.
