Colina Insurance Limited (Colina) representatives gifted the University of The Bahamas’ Oakes Field campus with copies of Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham’s book, ‘I Say What I Mean and I Mean What I Say: Hubert A. Ingraham In His Own Words’.

DeAndrea Lewis, Vice President, Life Operations and Maxine V. Seymour, Director, Corporate Communications, Colina, presented the books to UB representatives and addressed press conference attendees.

“Colina is pleased that future generations will be able to access our history as told by our second Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Hubert Ingraham, in his own words and through speeches and statements that he made over the course of his time as prime minister,” said DeAndrea Lewis, Vice President, Life Operations. “Appropriately named ‘I Say What I Mean and I Mean What I Say’ the only thing missing from the book’s title is the signature laugh which frequently followed these words.”

Lewis expressed gratitude for the opportunity to donate the first volume of a three-volume compilation.

Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham attended the press conference and reflected on his humble beginnings as a child in Cooper’s Town Abaco. He briefly described his path to success and wish for people to gain inspiration from his book.

“It is my hope that the book which recites a part of my achievements, things I did, successes and failures, will be an inspiration for others,” said Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. “I want to say a special thanks to Colina who purchased and made available to this University, public schools and public libraries throughout The Bahamas copies of the book.”

“I trust that persons at the University and elsewhere will find the content very useful indeed,” said Ingraham.

“These are important stories about the indomitable Bahamian spirit as we go into our fiftieth anniversary,” said Allyson Maynard-Gibson QC, Chair, UB’s Board of Trustees, as she thanked Colina for donating copies of the book to the library.

“Our Prime Minister now, the Honourable Philip ‘Brave’ Davis, grew up under the tutelage of Prime Minister Ingraham at their law firm,” Maynard-Gibson noted.

Maynard-Gibson contrasted the life stories of the two prime ministers who as young boys grew up barefooted insisting that, as the country approaches its fiftieth anniversary, “we should celebrate these things that can happen and do happen and can only in The Bahamas”.

Colina’s donation to UB’s Oakes Field campus in New Providence follows a recent donation to the UB-North campus in Grand Bahama by representatives of Colina’s Freeport Branch.

“Nelson Mandela once described education as the most powerful weapon one can use to change the world,” said Maxine V. Seymour, Director, Corporate Communications, Colina. “We hope that UB students find passion and purpose in the book’s pages and use the knowledge attained to revolutionize our country.”

“As UB graduates, DeAndrea, Chantal [Horton] and I are thrilled to be back on campus after all these years,” said Seymour.

The donation was presented at UB’s Oakes Field campus on University Drive.