Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia "Mother" Pratt, Nation Builder awardee, is the first inducted into The Committee for a Better Bahamas Hall of Fame.
By MONIQUE FORBES
Guardian Features Reporter
A total of 15 persons were honoured in The Bahamas' first Nation Builders Award ceremony.
The event, organised by The Committee for a Better Bahamas, was held yesterday morning in the Government House Ballroom.
According to Mrs. Pansy Hamilton-Brown, committee member for A Better Bahamas, the committee saw the need to honour those whom she called "unique symbols of excellence."
She further told those in attendance that persons chosen distinguished their skills in meeting the needs of others in the community.
Of the 15 honourees selected, two will be the first to be inducted into The Committee for a Better Bahamas' Hall of Fame.
Those persons are Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia "Mother" Pratt and Rev. Glenroy W Nottage, Director of the All Saints Camp of St. John the Divine.
"It's difficult for me to hold back the tears because God is so awesome," said an emotional Pratt, who expressed gratitude at having being dubbed a nation builder.
"Today, honourees, I stand here proud to be a part of you because we must say to the nation today, in particular our young persons, that it is always more blessed to give than to receive," she said as she urged her fellow honourees to go out and instill such an attitude in the present younger generation.
Speaking on behalf of all the honourees, Pastor H.A. Roach, former President of the Bahamas Conference of Seventh Day Adventists, gave thanks to God for the good that the honourees have done in the community.
"We work hard, yes, we worked long, yes, but actually we weren't doing it, it was God working through us," he said.
"Whatever we are, is because God poured out His kindness and grace upon us," he added.
Among those receiving recognition were Deacon Hubert Wong, Apostle Walter S. Hanchell, Rev. Glenroy W. Nottage, Dr. John Carey, Mrs. Willamae Miller, Bishop Cephas Ferguson, Leviticus Adderley, Dr. Reginald William Eldon, Roy Davis, Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson, Ms. Phyllis Aldridge and Ms. Yvonne Christofilis.
The Committee For A Better Bahamas was formed four years ago with the goal of "promoting and advancing the spiritual, social and moral welfare of The Bahamas."
Its board consists of a total of 14 members and its founder and president is Pastor Jeremiah Duncombe.
