Minister for Grand Bahama, Dr. Michael Darville, formally introduced the 2013 Grand Bahama Independence Committee, saying that they have selected a team capable of making the 40th Independence Celebrations the best ever.
Joining Dr. Darville at the announcement Thursday was Jack Thompson, head of the Secretariat for the 40th Bahamas Independence Celebrations.
While introducing the new committee, Dr. Darville said they will be responsible for executing the plans for Grand Bahama, starting in March thru July this year.
He announced that seasoned public relations expert, Peter Adderley has been selected to co-chair the celebration’s committee along with civic activist Mrs. Mary Culmer.
“We are excited that finally we now have the permission, now that the committee is formed, to begin to move swiftly, to begin to put our plans into action for Grand Bahama.
“Grand Bahama is a very unique place with a lot to offer. I want to let the community know that this celebration is not a Freeport celebration. It is a celebration of 40th Anniversary from West End all the way to East End including the Cays,” he stated.
Describing the Committee, he said it is a diverse group with bright minds who represents many districts in Grand Bahama and that they are certain we will notice in Grand Bahama, the necessary cross section of representation as we go forth to celebrate our 40th Independence Anniversary.
Among those named to the Committee were Kevin Ferguson, Chief Councillor for the City of Freeport; Rosney Cooper, Chief Councillor for West Grand Bahama, and Mrs. Alberta Cooper, Chief Councillor for East Grand Bahama. In similar fashion all Administrators in the three Districts have been named to the Committee.
Likewise, Ms Ginger Moxey, Vice President of the Grand Bahama Port Authority is on the Committee as well as the Deputy Director of Education for Grand Bahama and the Cays, Mrs. Sandra Edgecombe.
Mrs. Michelle Reckley, who heads Urban Renewal, has also been named as well as Kevin Thomlison, who heads the Grand Bahama Youth Choir. Pastor Keith Meadows of the Grand Bahama Christian Council is also a part of the Committee.
Addressing the gathering, Jack Thompson said he was happy to be in Grand Bahama to represent the Secretariat and the National Independence Committee.
“My visit here today is really the first of all of the visits that we are going to make in the Family Islands. We want to ensure that the communication lines are there. We want to ensure that we have an understanding of our events, and I am thrilled, truly excited by what I am hearing from this committee.
“We are excited and pleased about all the activities coming out of our Family Islands, which includes concerts to food festivals, regattas, church services, the symposiums, everything.
“This is a wonderful opportunity and I can tell you that this committee is fired up ready to go. And so, we look forward to some wonderful events starting in March and moving straight through the rest of the year,” he stated.
Co-chairman for the Grand Bahama Independence Committee, Peter Adderley, said that “forty years marks a generation and we intend to celebrate from east to west and show off what Grand Bahama has done and what we are capable of doing.
“At every turning point in the history of The Bahamas, Grand Bahama has played a pivotal role, and each and every one of us on this committee has set out use every inch of our energies and experiences to make this one of the best celebrations ever.
“I must say in a boasting way that we intend to show the national committee what Grand Bahama is truly made of. This will go down as the finest committee ever selected for any celebrations in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and we are privileged to serve,” he stated.
By Simon Lewis
Bahamas Information Services
