The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FORMER US ambassador to The Bahamas, John Rood, donated an undisclosed amount of money to the Urban Renewal Commission yesterday.

Before presenting his cheque to Cynthia “Mother” Pratt, the co-chair of Urban Renewal, he told the press and officials that the best days of his life were spent in the Bahamas and that returning here feels like he has come home.

Mr Rood was the US ambassador to the Bahamas from September 2004 to April 2007. He was replaced by Nicole Avant, the last US ambassador to the Bahamas.

Mr Rood got married in the Bahamas eight months ago. He said he told his friends to give money in support of a Bahamian charity organisation rather than send him wedding gifts.

The money given to him by his friends was donated to the Urban Renewal Commission yesterday.

Mrs Pratt thanked the ambassador for his contributions to the Bahamas, noting that he was especially instrumental in bringing about faith based services to Her Majesty’s Prison when she served as National Security Minister from 2002 to 2007.

Urban Renewal co-chair Algernon Allen also thanked the ambassador for his contributions, adding that the United States is “the best international friend of the Bahamas”.