I have been informed of the passing of yet another outstanding Bahamian, Timothy B Donaldson C.B.E, better known as T. Baswell or T.B. Donaldson, who served his country with great distinction and ability over a lengthy period of time, most notably as the first Governor of the Central Bank of The Bahamas and subsequently as the Ambassador for The Bahamas to the United States and Permanent Representative to the OAS; as Chairman of the Securities Commission; and later still as Chairman of the Council of the College of The Bahamas.
Of special historical note, Mr. Donaldson served as the Economic Advisor to the Bahamas Government at the Independence Conference in London in 1972. He subsequently became the Governor of the Central Bank at its founding, and was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty the Queen in 1973.
In addition to his many diverse accomplishments in the public sphere, Mr. Donaldson was also a pacesetter in the private sector, especially in the fields of education and banking. He served for many years, and until quite recently, as Chairman of Commonwealth Bank, an institution whose worth surpassed the One Billion Dollar mark under his leadership.
Indeed Mr. Donaldson was widely regarded as the elder statesman of the financial services community. He was a major role model for successive generations of Bahamians in the banking industry. A man of great intellect, he possessed superb organisational and leadership skills. He had a passion for giving the very best of himself at all times and he invariably applied himself with great vigour and efficiency to whatever task he had undertaken to perform. He was a high achiever and an inspiration to those he led.
Mr. Donaldson was the recipient of numerous awards, both locally and internationally, including the W.E. B. Dubois Lifetime Achievement Award from his alma mater, Fisk University; and the Financial Services Industry’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mr. Donaldson was an outstanding patriot who contributed a great deal to the development of The Bahamas.
On behalf of the Government and people of The Bahamas, and on my own behalf, I extend condolences to Mr. Donaldson’s widow and his children and wider family.
May he rest in peace.
By Perry G. Christie
