Twelve more Bahamians were elevated to Nation Builder status Monday (October 28) during the 22nd Nation Builder Award Ceremonies held at Government House, Mount Fitzwilliam.
The 2019 Class brought the number of Bahamians receiving Nation Builder status to 206 since the Award was established in 1997. The Award Ceremony did not take place in October, 2004 due to the passage of Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.
Governor-General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Cornelius A. Smith, O.N., presented the twelve honorees – eight females and four males – with their Awards, replicas of the Conch Shell.
The honorees were: Mrs. Gwendolyn Dorothy McDeigan, Mr. Cyril Leon Johnson, Ms. Clara Evans, Mrs. Berthalee Adderley, Mr. Carl Orlando Bethel, Mrs. Beverly Joyce Taylor, Mrs. Sylvia Anita Bain-Moss, Mrs. Muriel Elizabeth McKinney-Rahming, Mrs. Sislyn McIntosh, Mrs. Ethel A. Williams, Bishop Charles Malcolm Rolle, J.P., and Mr. Joseph Emmanuel Wemyss.
The country’s newest Nation Builders are from diverse backgrounds including education, law enforcement, broadcasting, the tourism and hospitality industry, business sector, healthcare, religion and the legal profession. All of the honorees are also renowned for their volunteer work in communities across the length and breadth of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell, said the honourees’ designation Monday allowed them to join other unsung heroes whose contributions to the country cannot be measured.
“As diverse as your faces are, so are your talents. Some of you have contributed to the spiritual growth of the community as Pastors, Deacons, Elders and Sunday School teachers; others to education as teachers and tutors; some to sports, blazing the trail and opening international doors for future athletes,” Minister Campbell said.
“Others have led Feeding Programmes, while some others have given their time to helping at-risk youth through mentoring. Still others have given to healthcare as nurses and caregivers and yet others to building strong families. You were the unsung heroes who, though not compelled to do so, saw the need and met it.”
Minister Campbell called on the nation’s youth to change their way of thinking, as well as their behaviour, towards older persons.
“Youth is the prized standard and old age is abhorred by many,” Minister Campbell said. “However, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years of age will nearly double from its current twelve per cent to 22 per cent by the year 2050.
“Just imagine that! Since old age is inevitable, I encourage the young among us to change your way of thinking, as well as your behaviour towards older persons. The time has come for us to give them their rightful place as equals in our society.”
Governor-General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Cornelius A. Smith, O.N., (third right) and Minister of Social Services and Urban Development, the Hon. Frankie A. Campbell (third left), are photographed with the recipients of the 2019 Nation Builder Award following the ceremony Monday (October 28, 2019) at Government House, Mount Fitzwilliam. Also pictured (from left seated) are: Mrs. Beverly Joyce Taylor (honoree); Mrs. Kathryn Campbell, wife of Minister Campbell; Ms. Phedra Rahming, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development and Mrs. Ethel A. Williams (honoree). Pictured (standing from left) are: Mr. Colin David Moss-Bain (who accepted the Award on behalf of his mother Mrs. Sylvia Anita Bain-Moss; Mrs. Muriel Elizabeth McKinney-Rahming (honoree); Mr. Joseph Emmanuel Wemyss (honoree); Mrs. Berthalee Adderley (honoree); Mrs. Merlease Bethel (who accepted the Award on behalf of her husband, honoree Mr. Carl Orlando Bethel; Ms. Clara Evans (honoree); Mr. Cyril Leon Johnson (honoree), Mrs. Sislyn McIntosh (honoree); Mrs. Gwendolyn Dorothy McDeigan (honoree) and honoree Bishop Charles Malcolm Rolle, J.P.
Members of the Department of Social Services Choir perform during the 22nd Nation Builder Awards Ceremony held Monday (October 28, 2019) at Government House, Mount Fitzwilliam.
Mrs. Ruth Wong, Member, National Council on Older Persons, presents Governor-General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Cornelius A. Smith, with a token of appreciation at the conclusion of Monday’s Awards Ceremony. The Nation Builder Awards Ceremony is a collaboration between the Ministry of Social Services and Urban Development and the National Council on Older Persons.
(BIS Photo/Letisha Henderson)
