By NORMAN ROLLE
Today marks the fourth year since the death of Sir Lynden Pindling, the country's first
and longest serving prime minister. Sir Lynden died at his Skyline Drive residence -
Lynmar - in the early morning of Aug. 26, 2000. His family and spiritual advisors were
by his bedside at the time of his passing.
Sir Lynden was diagnosed with prostate cancer in April 1996 by a team of doctors
including Dr Dwane Sands, Dr Perry Gomez and Dr Robin Roberts. Subsequent
exploratory surgery at Doctors Hospital uncovered several malignant outgrowths in his
stomach.
Sir Lynden, now leader of the Opposition, was still one of the most popular politicians in
the country. Thus the news of his illness unified a large percentage of the population and
on Apr. 12 1996 a prayer and intercession service was held for him at Faith United Mission
Baptist Church, Blue Hill Rd. South.
On April 22, 1996 Sir Lynden entered John Hopkins University Hospital for a first round of treatment.
Upon his return to The Bahamas in May, Sir Lynden announced that there was a 100 percent chance for a full recovery. In August, however, he left for a six-week second round of radiation treatment at John Hopkins.
Sir Lynden would return to John Hopkins on two additional occasions in 1996. His final visit was a 9-week stay. In December, he was rebaptised at the Centreville Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Pastor H. A. Roach immersed Sir Lynden in a pool of water behind the choir loft.
A State Funeral was held for Sir Lynden on Monday, Sept. 4, 2000 at the Church of God
of Prophecy, East Street Tabernacle. Officiating were: Bishop Brice H. Thompson,
general presbyter and Bishop Elgamet Rahming, national overseer, Church of God of
Prophecy; His Grace, the Most Reverent Bishop Drexel Gomez, Bishop of the
Archdiocese of Nassau and The Bahamas; His Grace the Most Reverend Lawrence Burke,
archbishop of Nassau; The Rt Rev Michael Eldon, assistant bishop; the Rev. Gilbert
Thompson, suffragan bishop; Rev Fr Patrick Johnson, rector, St Agnes Church; Pastor
Keith Albury, president the Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; Pastor Leonard Johnson; Pastor Hugh Roach; Pastor Eric Clarke, Pastor Jeremiah Duncombe and Pastor
Peter Missick.
The following appeared in the obituary of the State Funeral booklet of Sir Lynden:
"As the dominant personality in the two most historically significant developments of the
post-slavery era - the achievement of Majority Rule in 1967 and the attainment of
National Independence in 1973 - Sir Lynden Pndling is adjudged by many to be the
greatest Bahamian of all times and acclaimed by all as the Father of the Nation. His name
shall forever be linked with the liberation of the Bahamian masses from the bondage of racial, social and economic degradation and the transition of our country from centuries
of colonial dominion to self-government and national sovereignty."
In his tribute to Sir Lynden, the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham then prime minister said:
"History will judge the accomplishments of Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling as a man, as a
politician, and as a statesman. And history will, I believe, record that Lynden Oscar
Pindling is inextricably linked to Bahamian nationhood, to the formation of our national
character and the development of our people.
"Sir Lynden Pindling was the consummate politician, single-minded in his ambition and
exceptionally skillful in the art and craft of politics. Clearly, he was the most successful
Bahamian politician in our history. He was an extraordinary political figure a man or
and of all time. He possessed a charming, charismatic and endearing personality, which
enabled tens of thousands of Bahamians to love and honour him. To these he is, and will
always be, the Liberator. Sir Lynden Pindling influenced and swayed virtually every
political career in The Bahamas during the past 35 years of our history. He, more than
anyone else, had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape an entire society. He was truly
a legend in his time.
"Sir Lynden first came to office as premier in 1967 in an election 'upset' which won
world acclaim. His election, and the government which he formed, brought peaceful
revolutionary change to the political and social landscape of The Bahamas.
"His party, the Progressive Liberal Party, promised a 'square deal' and pledge to build a
country of greater social and political freedom and in which every Bahamian citizen can
achieve a higher standard of living. He inspired a generation of Bahamians and released
the hopes and aspirations of ordinary citizens to realize previously unimaginable goals.
Particularly for black Bahamians, Sir Lynden and his Progressive Liberal Party
represented an affirmation of self and of intrinsic human dignity.
"Sir Lynden served 41 years as member of the House of Assembly, a giant in an arena not
well known for the longevity of its members. At the time of Sir Lynden's first election to
the House of Assembly, The Bahamas was a small, insignificant British Colony on the
northern border of the Caribbean Sea., ruled by a white minority government in which he
best opportunities were reserved for a favoured few and an increasing number of non-
Bahamians. Gerrymandering of constituency boundaries, the company vote, the multiple
property vote and continued disenfranchisement by the denial of full adult suffragette
prevented the hopes and aspirations of the majority of Bahamians from being realized
through the free expression of the ballot box.
"To his party's credit, Sir Lynden used his position, his power and his influence to
transform The Bahamas from the sleepy, racially and economically divided village he
knew in 1956 into this modem, independent country which, at the end of the 20th century, is
the envy of our region.
"Sir Lynden's policies in government brought educational opportunities for thousands of
Bahaman citizens, laying the foundation for a newly educated and professional class and a newly expanded entrepreneurial class; inclusive of black citizens; who; for generations had been held at the periphery of full economic participation.
"Sir Lynden has a legitimate claim - indeed a right - to be called the principal architect of
the modem Bahamas. His hand stretches across this land in a host of history-making
legislative and policy initiatives. Among them are:
Progressive Labour Laws
The Parliamentary elections Act
The National Insurance Board
The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation
The College of The Bahamas
The Archives Department
The Central Bank The Bahamas
The Bahamas Development Bank
The Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation
The Bahamas Tourism College
The Industrial Training Centre (Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute)
The National Flag Carrier, Bahamasair
The Royal Defence Force
The Water and Sewerage Corporation
The Bank of The Bahamas
The Government-owned Television
"Sir Lynden's impact on Bahamian society,however, reached far beyond legislation or the
implementation of policies. He was at the forefront of all major political and social
change in The Bahamas for more than 35 years; in realization of full adult suffrage; in the
elimination of the property vote; in the extension of the right to vote to 18 year olds; and
in the early extension of electricity; education; health and telecommunications services to
the Family Islands.
"Sir Lynden was instrumental in completing the social revolution begun in the earlier
times by men such as Sir Milo Butler and Sir Clifford Darling; and his government
brought an end; once and for all, to segregated schools segregated residential suburbs segregated theatres,, segregated club segregated Bay Street and discriminatory employment practices."
One of the great orators of his time Sir Lynden, in his final speech in Parliament, a chamber where he had dominated debates for 41 years, said the following: "When all I did for good is put in the balance against all I did for ill or failed to do at all, I hope that future generations will not find me sorely wanting.
"I am now done, Madam Speaker. I have reached the end of my political journey. I have run my course. I did my best."
By NORMAN ROLLE
Today marks the fourth year since the death of Sir Lynden Pindling, the country's first
and longest serving prime minister. Sir Lynden died at his Skyline Drive residence -
Lynmar - in the early morning of Aug. 26, 2000. His family and spiritual advisors were
by his bedside at the time of his passing.
Sir Lynden was diagnosed with prostate cancer in April 1996 by a team of doctors
including Dr Dwane Sands, Dr Perry Gomez and Dr Robin Roberts. Subsequent
exploratory surgery at Doctors Hospital uncovered several malignant outgrowths in his
stomach.
Sir Lynden, now leader of the Opposition, was still one of the most popular politicians in
the country. Thus the news of his illness unified a large percentage of the population and
on Apr. 12 1996 a prayer and intercession service was held for him at Faith United Mission
Baptist Church, Blue Hill Rd. South.
On April 22, 1996 Sir Lynden entered John Hopkins University Hospital for a first round of treatment.
Upon his return to The Bahamas in May, Sir Lynden announced that there was a 100 percent chance for a full recovery. In August, however, he left for a six-week second round of radiation treatment at John Hopkins.
Sir Lynden would return to John Hopkins on two additional occasions in 1996. His final visit was a 9-week stay. In December, he was rebaptised at the Centreville Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Pastor H. A. Roach immersed Sir Lynden in a pool of water behind the choir loft.
A State Funeral was held for Sir Lynden on Monday, Sept. 4, 2000 at the Church of God
of Prophecy, East Street Tabernacle. Officiating were: Bishop Brice H. Thompson,
general presbyter and Bishop Elgamet Rahming, national overseer, Church of God of
Prophecy; His Grace, the Most Reverent Bishop Drexel Gomez, Bishop of the
Archdiocese of Nassau and The Bahamas; His Grace the Most Reverend Lawrence Burke,
archbishop of Nassau; The Rt Rev Michael Eldon, assistant bishop; the Rev. Gilbert
Thompson, suffragan bishop; Rev Fr Patrick Johnson, rector, St Agnes Church; Pastor
Keith Albury, president the Bahamas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists; Pastor Leonard Johnson; Pastor Hugh Roach; Pastor Eric Clarke, Pastor Jeremiah Duncombe and Pastor
Peter Missick.
The following appeared in the obituary of the State Funeral booklet of Sir Lynden:
"As the dominant personality in the two most historically significant developments of the
post-slavery era - the achievement of Majority Rule in 1967 and the attainment of
National Independence in 1973 - Sir Lynden Pndling is adjudged by many to be the
greatest Bahamian of all times and acclaimed by all as the Father of the Nation. His name
shall forever be linked with the liberation of the Bahamian masses from the bondage of racial, social and economic degradation and the transition of our country from centuries
of colonial dominion to self-government and national sovereignty."
In his tribute to Sir Lynden, the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham then prime minister said:
"History will judge the accomplishments of Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling as a man, as a
politician, and as a statesman. And history will, I believe, record that Lynden Oscar
Pindling is inextricably linked to Bahamian nationhood, to the formation of our national
character and the development of our people.
"Sir Lynden Pindling was the consummate politician, single-minded in his ambition and
exceptionally skillful in the art and craft of politics. Clearly, he was the most successful
Bahamian politician in our history. He was an extraordinary political figure a man or
and of all time. He possessed a charming, charismatic and endearing personality, which
enabled tens of thousands of Bahamians to love and honour him. To these he is, and will
always be, the Liberator. Sir Lynden Pindling influenced and swayed virtually every
political career in The Bahamas during the past 35 years of our history. He, more than
anyone else, had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shape an entire society. He was truly
a legend in his time.
"Sir Lynden first came to office as premier in 1967 in an election 'upset' which won
world acclaim. His election, and the government which he formed, brought peaceful
revolutionary change to the political and social landscape of The Bahamas.
"His party, the Progressive Liberal Party, promised a 'square deal' and pledge to build a
country of greater social and political freedom and in which every Bahamian citizen can
achieve a higher standard of living. He inspired a generation of Bahamians and released
the hopes and aspirations of ordinary citizens to realize previously unimaginable goals.
Particularly for black Bahamians, Sir Lynden and his Progressive Liberal Party
represented an affirmation of self and of intrinsic human dignity.
"Sir Lynden served 41 years as member of the House of Assembly, a giant in an arena not
well known for the longevity of its members. At the time of Sir Lynden's first election to
the House of Assembly, The Bahamas was a small, insignificant British Colony on the
northern border of the Caribbean Sea., ruled by a white minority government in which he
best opportunities were reserved for a favoured few and an increasing number of non-
Bahamians. Gerrymandering of constituency boundaries, the company vote, the multiple
property vote and continued disenfranchisement by the denial of full adult suffragette
prevented the hopes and aspirations of the majority of Bahamians from being realized
through the free expression of the ballot box.
"To his party's credit, Sir Lynden used his position, his power and his influence to
transform The Bahamas from the sleepy, racially and economically divided village he
knew in 1956 into this modem, independent country which, at the end of the 20th century, is
the envy of our region.
"Sir Lynden's policies in government brought educational opportunities for thousands of
Bahaman citizens, laying the foundation for a newly educated and professional class and a newly expanded entrepreneurial class; inclusive of black citizens; who; for generations had been held at the periphery of full economic participation.
"Sir Lynden has a legitimate claim - indeed a right - to be called the principal architect of
the modem Bahamas. His hand stretches across this land in a host of history-making
legislative and policy initiatives. Among them are:
Progressive Labour Laws
The Parliamentary elections Act
The National Insurance Board
The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation
The College of The Bahamas
The Archives Department
The Central Bank The Bahamas
The Bahamas Development Bank
The Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corporation
The Bahamas Tourism College
The Industrial Training Centre (Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute)
The National Flag Carrier, Bahamasair
The Royal Defence Force
The Water and Sewerage Corporation
The Bank of The Bahamas
The Government-owned Television
"Sir Lynden's impact on Bahamian society,however, reached far beyond legislation or the
implementation of policies. He was at the forefront of all major political and social
change in The Bahamas for more than 35 years; in realization of full adult suffrage; in the
elimination of the property vote; in the extension of the right to vote to 18 year olds; and
in the early extension of electricity; education; health and telecommunications services to
the Family Islands.
"Sir Lynden was instrumental in completing the social revolution begun in the earlier
times by men such as Sir Milo Butler and Sir Clifford Darling; and his government
brought an end; once and for all, to segregated schools segregated residential suburbs segregated theatres,, segregated club segregated Bay Street and discriminatory employment practices."
One of the great orators of his time Sir Lynden, in his final speech in Parliament, a chamber where he had dominated debates for 41 years, said the following: "When all I did for good is put in the balance against all I did for ill or failed to do at all, I hope that future generations will not find me sorely wanting.
"I am now done, Madam Speaker. I have reached the end of my political journey. I have run my course. I did my best."
