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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
State Minister for Transport and Aviation and the Member for Sea Breeze Hon. Hope Strachan paid tribute to honouree Charles Carter during the park renaming ceremony on 12th December 2014. (Photo courtesy of Elcott Coleby/BIS)
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Nassau, Bahamas - For his lifetime of public service to our country in the areas of broadcasting, cultural development and governance, a Bahamian son was honoured on Friday evening and fittingly by a "next generation public servant."
Welcoming those who came in large numbers and thanking her support staff at the Sea Breeze constituency association and the Minister and staff of the Ministry of Works for making the event so special in the life of the Sea Breeze community, State Minister for Transport and Aviation Hon. Hope Strachan led the incorporation of the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony and caroling service into the renaming of the public park in Sea Breeze. The new name is the Edward Charles Carter Community Park.
In paying tribute, the State Minister talked about her appreciation for the indelible mark and legacy of public service left behind by the former MP and honouree Charles Carter when he served as MP for the area during the 1980’s. Mrs. Strachan, who led the way and was instrumental in having the park renamed in Mr. Carter’s honour, thanked him for his years of public service, wise counsel and all of the assistance he rendered during her formative years in public life.
Enjoying the park renaming ceremony from left are Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Transport and Aviation; Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie, and honouree, Edward Charles Carter, all of whom paid tribute. (Photo courtesy of Elcott Coleby/BIS)
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As the member for Sea Breeze, Strachan told well wishers that her tenacity in getting electricity, perimeter lighting and other amenities paid off and she thanked Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development, Hon. Philip Brave Davis for the public works done to the park.
Also on hand to pay tribute Prime Minister Christie and Minister of Transport and Aviation, Glenys Hanna-Martin. CARICOM High Commissioner HE Picewell Forbes was the Master of Ceremonies.
In his response, Mr. Carter explained his motivation for electoral politics: simply put, he loved and had a genuine interest in people.
“When I was privileged to be given the opportunity to run for this constituency, I jumped at it simply because it put me in a position to get to know people. I love Bahamians. I don’t care if you’re fat or you’re skinny, you’re tall or you’re short, you’re white or you’re black – if you are from The Bahamas, I am interested in you.”
Delivering his response to the renaming of the Sea Breeze public park in his honour was Edward Charles Carter.
(Photo courtesy of Elcott Coleby/BIS)
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He also said that he would take an active role in the development and upkeep of the park named in his honour.
“Hope Strachan, when you came and told me that you were going to name a basketball court after me, I was pleased that somebody remembered me. I like the idea. I like the idea even more Prime Minister when I see the space. I have already in my own mind decided what we are going to do with this space because now if it has my name on it, I am not going to wait for some Ministry of Works to decide that they will try to keep it up.”
The honouree, Mr. Carter, a career broadcast journalist; cultural icon; Bahamian historian and entrepreneur spent most of his adult life promoting and developing Bahamian culture. As the host of the Young Bahamian Show on ZNS radio, he kept Bahamians across The Bahamas informed while providing a platform for countless Bahamian artists including Blind Blake, Ronnie Butler, Jay Mitchell, Cyril “Dry Bread” Ferguson, Tony McKay and the T-Connection just to name a few. One half century later having started his career at the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas in 1964, Mr. Carter continues to promote junkanoo and provide exposure to generations of Bahamian artists. Earlier this year, he was selected as one of the 40 Culture Warriors for his years of public service as 2014 was declared the year of culture by the government of The Bahamas.
His life of public service would take him into the halls of Parliament and the cabinet for a decade. He was elected to the House of Assembly in 1982 and served for 10 years as the M.P. for the Holy Cross Constituency. During the years of 1982-1992 he served as Chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas; Chairman of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation and Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly; Minister of Foreign Affairs, and finally in October of 1990, Mr. Carter was made Minister of Health where he remained until August 1992.
The Holy Cross constituency was renamed Sea Breeze in the run up to the 2007 general elections and Mrs. Strachan who was unsuccessful in her 2007 bid to represent Sea Breeze, prevailed in the 2012 general elections.
The renaming ceremony for the public park, located on Charles Saunders Highway, was held on Friday, 12th December 2014.
© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com
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