BAHAMAS CHRONICLE EDITOR’S NOTE: Susan Stewart-Moss, a chartered accountant who lives in Freeport, Grand Bahama, wrote this tribute to the late Philip Gallanis that I absolutely had to share 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.– Oswald T. Brown, Editor of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE
GUEST COMMENTARY: BY SUSAN STEWART-MOSS
FREEPORT, Grand Bahama, October 14, 2024 — It was about 1978 or shortly after that I first met Phil Galanis. He came to our office at Thorne Riddell Chartered Accountants for an interview after returning to the Bahamas. He did not join our firm but at that time, we were a community. All the Bahamian Accountants shared close ties.
Phil was always the gentleman, always truly concerned about your wellbeing. He listened to your concerns and shared his wisdom freely.
We served on the Council of the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants. Phil worked tirelessly to ensure that we obtain legislation as a body. He was persistent working along with the representative of the office of the Attorney General who was drafting the legislation and would later become his wife.
We shared political views and so we would engage in conversations on occasion discussing our dreams for our country. He had an office in Grand Bahama and would sometimes seek assistance in securing suitable staff members.
Thank you Phil for your contribution to our profession and our nation. You are a true patriot. Our deepest sympathy to his wife, Mrs. Tonya Galanis, his children and the entire family. May your soul rest in peace and rise in glory.
