The Tribune

By CHESTER ROBARDS

Tribune Senior Reporter

crobards@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas will have to “do better” on the education front if it is to compete with other countries, Sir Sidney Poitier said yesterday as he toured Mario’s Bowling and Entertainment Palace.

He said while this country is doing “the best we can” in educating our children more has to be achieved in terms of sciences and technological advancements.

“We can’t import those (educated) kids,” he said. “We have to produce those kids.”

Sir Sidney said though he was here to accept the honour of having the bridge to Paradise Island named after him, he also came to champion the advancement of education in The Bahamas.

“My whole reason for being here is to encourage the advancement of education of all the Bahamian children, because I genuinely believe that it will be required if they are going to stand toe-to-toe with all the educated people of the world,” he said.

“Education is the future of this country and our children will be face to face with the smartest kids in the world and they 
will have to hold their stand.

“They will have to be prepared to deal in a world where there are may different highly educated individuals.”

Sir Sidney credited Sir Lynden Pindling and his “compatriots” with advancing the country to where it is today.

And he told owner of Mario’s Leslie Miller that it was because of those advancements that a Bahamian could own something as “stunning” as Mario’s.

The private bowling suite within Mario’s was named in honour of Sir Sidney when it opened three years ago.

Yesterday was the first time he visited the room.

Sir Sidney said while in the Bahamas he was also able to visit with family and friends.

His older brother Reginald Poitier visited Mario’s with him.

Following his visit to Mario’s, he went to visit his mother and father’s grave.

“I felt that I was coming home to a genuine homeland,” said Sir Sidney about his visit back home.

“I am honoured by it and I deeply respect it.”

Mr Miller said the Sir Sidney Poitier room received more than $300,000 for its four lanes, big screens and furnishings.