Sir Gerald Cash

Former GG suffered stoke on New Years Day

By SEAN INNISS

Sir Gerald Cash the nation's second Governor General passed away yesterday after suffering a stroke on Saturday.

Paying tribute to the late Sir Gerald, Deputy Prime Minister Pratt said Sir Gerald's service to his country spanned 40 years in almost all levels of the public service.

"He served as a member of the House of Assembly, as a member of the Senate, and on numerous boards and committees throughout his public life."

Calling him a Distinguished "Son of the Soil," she said he was a distinguished barrister, avid sportsman, faithful churchman and devoted father and husband, who enjoyed a long and fruitful life.

"On behalf of the government and the people of The Bahamas, I wish to extend sincere condolences to Mrs. Cash, their sons (Gerald Jr. and stepson Gilbert Ward) and daughter (Sharon) and all of the members of Sir Gerald's family, this nation is indeed grateful for the generous sharing of personal gifts that was the legacy of this great man and honoured son," said Deputy Prime Minister Pratt.

Sir Gerald Cash, 85, was born May 28, 1917, to the late Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Gladstone Cash.

He was appointed as Acting Governor General on September 2nd, 1976 by Her Majesty the Queen.

He was substantively appointed Governor General by Her Majesty the Queen on September 29, 1979.

On October 25, 1940 he was called to The Bahamas Bar as Council and Attorney of the Supreme Court of The Bahamas and practiced until 1945 when he left for London to read Law at the Society of Middle Temple. He was also appointed as a Justice of The Peace in 1940.

Sir Gerald passed the Bar Examinations with Class 2 Two Honours and was called to the English Bar as a Barrister at Law on November 17, 1948.

Returning to Nassau in December of 1948 he began private practice.

In 1949 Sir Gerald was elected to Parliament as Senior Representative of the Western District of New Providence and was again elected as Junior Representative for the same district in 1956, serving as a member of Parliament for 14 years.

He served as a member of Her Majesty's Executive Council from 1958 to 1962.

In 1964 he was appointed as an officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the Queen's New Year's Honours.

In the year 1977 Sir Gerald was awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal and on October 20, 1977 he was made Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

He was also made Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George in Her Majesty's 1980 New Year Honours.

Sir Gerald was awarded the Silver Medal of the Olympic Order in 1983, and two years later, on October 18, 1985 he was knighted by Her Majesty The Queen titled Knighted Grand Cross of The Royal Victorian Order.

He was appointed a member of The Bahamas Senate in 1969 to 1979, where he also served as Senate vice president from 1970 to 1972, when he was appointed Senate president and continued as president until 1973.

Over the years Sir Gerald has served in numerous Committees, Organisations and Boards, such as the Education Board, Labour Board, Boy's Industrial School, Immigration and Road Traffic Committee to name a few.