By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 13, 2023 — First Lady Ann Marie Davis today posted a fabulous collection of photos on Facebook that were taken during the state funeral for the Hon. Obie Wichcombe. There were far too many to share all of them with readers of my online publication, BAHAMAS CHRONICLE, which has a huge readership among the Bahamian diaspora across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom as well as in The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean.
However, I absolutely had to share a selected group of them with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONILE. Mrs. Davis posted the photos with the following narrative: “One Love”. Photos from State Funeral – A very moving, final farewell to Hon Obie Wilchcombe. Very much loved, as he showed love for his people.”
As The Nassau Guardian, one of The Bahamas’ leading newspapers –where I had the privilege to serve as editor from 1998 to 2002 – noted in its report today in on the state funeral it was indeed “a somber morning in Parliament Square yesterday as the flag-draped casket of Obediah Wilchcombe, the West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP who died on September 25, was carried out of the House of Assembly and loaded onto a waiting gun carriage.”
“The drums of the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band echoed along the uncharacteristically quiet Bay Street as the solemn procession made its way west toward Christ Church Cathedral for his state funeral,” The Guardian’s article stated. “At the time of his death, Wilchcombe was minister of social services, information and broadcasting. He is the first minister with portfolio to die in an independent Bahamas.”
In reporting on the sermon delivered by Rev. Harry Bain, dean and rector of Christ Church Cathedral, The Guardian noted that Rev. Bain described Mr. Wilchcombe as “not only a politician but a nation builder.”
“Obediah Hercules Wilchcombe was a dedicated public servant, a Cabinet colleague, a brother, a father, one who has left an indelible mark on the tapestry of our nation,” Rev Bain, as he reflected on his many encounters with Mr. Wilchcombe and his acts of service in the Grand Bahama community.
“He exemplified what it meant to be a servant, to love people,” Rev. Bain added. “His work was not for selfish gain or praise and admiration from others…He recognized that we are one people united in love and service, unlike so many others who only seek to help themselves.”
In a stirring tribute, former Prime Minister Perry Christie described Mr. Wilchcombe as a dear friend as he reminisced on Mr. Wilchcombe’s contributions to the Progressive Liberal Party, his constituency and the tourism industry in The Bahamas.
In his tribute, Prime Minister Philip E. Davis said that Mr. Wilchcombe was a man of principle and an optimist, who truly believed in the work he was doing.
“There is so much to be learned from Obie’s boundless optimism and his profound belief that politics are a force for good, one of the best agents for positive change,” Prime Minister Davis said. “Cynicism and narrow self-interest will not produce the kind of country that we all hope for, the kind of country that we are all thriving for.”
Free National Movement Opposition Leader Michael Pintard remembered Wilchcombe as a gifted orator and “remarkable public servant” who sought to better the country through his work.
“Mostly, Obie was a compelling personality, a very complex public servant who was a storyteller,” Mr. Pintard said. “Obie had no difficulty admitting when there were challenges that he had or when the administration that he was a part of fell short…”
Prior to his time in politics, Mr. Wilchcombe, who was born on November 14,1958 in Freeport, Grand Bahama, was a journalist with the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas, where he worked for more than 20 years, rising through the ranks to eventually serve as Assistant General Manager.
Mr. Wilchcombe entered frontline politics in 1994 when former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling appointed him a senator.
He was elected into office for the first time in 2002 and served as Minister of Tourism from 2002 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2017.
Mr. Wilchcombe’s body will be buried in West End, Grand Bahama, on Saturday.
