Prime Minister Perry Christie found out much to his chagrin that he was unable to recommend any Bahamian for a knighthood in this year’s Queen’s new year’s day awards.
The Cabinet Office, according to reliable sources, found out from the awards office at Buckingham palace that the Bahamas had exceeded its quota of knighthoods until the year 2005.
Mr. Christie, according to high-ranking government officials, had every intention of awarding at least one knighthood in the new year’s day awards.
According to a source, “The Queens honours were abused.”
Secretary to the Cabinet Wendell Major confirmed Friday that no knighthood was awarded because the quota was filled. Mr. Major said under the system of granting the prestigious awards, a commonwealth country can only get three knighthoods every five years.
However, more than six awards were made in ten years under the former administration.
Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham in his almost ten years of office awarded some 11 knighthoods, according to Cynthia Gibbs, secretary to the Governor General.
Those who got knighthoods under the former administration include the late Sir Kendall Isaacs; Dame Joan Sawyer; Chief Justice Sir Cyril Fountain; Chief Justice Sir Burton Hall; Sir Geoffrey Johnstone; Sir William Allen; Sir Albert Miller; Dame Ivy Dumont; Sir Arthur Foulkes; Sir Durward Knowles and Sir Arlington Butler.
Now, Prime Minister Perry Christie will have to wait until year after next before he can submit any names for the award.
The next highest award is CMG, Order of St. Michael and St. George. Three Bahamians were granted the award this year. They are: Jeffrey McDonald Thompson, for service to politics; Rev. William Thompson, for service to religion; and Franklyn Roosevelt Wilson for service to economic and political development.
Receiving the Order of the British Empire Awards, OBE, were Dr. Michael Perry Gomez, for service to the medical profession; Leander Claudius Minnis, for political and community service; Pastor Hugh Arthur Roach, for service to religion; and Dr. Gail Saunders, for service to the history of the Bahamas.
Six Bahamians received the Member of the British Empire, MBE, award: Ronald Butler, for service to the music and entertainment industry; Russell Eugene Franks, for service to the community; Paul Conrad Knowles, for service to cultural development; Frank Garfield Rutherford, for service to sports and Henry Frederick Earl Storr, for service to business.
Receiving the British Empire Medal are Rev Godfrey Livingston Bain, for service to the community; Doris Burrows, for service to the community; Rudolph Dean, for service to the community; Louise Green, for service to the community; Ena Hepburn, for service to the community; Hysel Loran Roach, for service to the community; Anthony Reuben Romer, for service to the community; Effie Doretha Walkes, for service to the community; Laura Louise Williams, for service to the community.
For some Bahamians, the awards have become meaningless in recent years. In fact, a movement is afoot to eradicate the granting of the queen’s awards for Bahamians.
Rev. Sebastian Campbell, chairman of the National Heroes Committee, [which also has as a member Minister Fred Mitchell] has for years been pushing for the abolition of the granting of the awards in the Bahamas.
Committee members have said that it is time for the Bahamas to honour its own, independent of the British. A few years ago, the government started awarding the Bahama Order of Merit Award, but the Queen’s honours continue to be regarded as the highest awards to be granted in the Bahamas.
But according to one recipient of this year’s award from the Queen, that honour has real practical benefits.
“I am amazed that people all over the world have been reacting to it,” Mr. Wilson said of his receiving a CMG. “It’s incredible. I never dreamt that people would react in this way.”
Mr. Wilson, who does a great deal of international business, said the awards have generated interest in the international business world and he suggested that he may get increased business benefits as a result.
“I’m honoured that the people who decide these things deem me to be worthy of this high honour,” Mr. Wilson said. “I thank the incredible diverse numbers of Bahamians who have emailed or telefaxed to express the view that I should receive the award and I am humbled by the experience,” Mr. Wilson said.
When asked if he was in line to receive a knighthood, Mr. Wilson said he had no comment on the matter.
By Candia Dames, The Bahama Journal
