The Tribune

CHARLES Carter, the former Holy Cross MP and Cabinet minister, pledged his involvement in the development and upkeep of the public park in Sea Breeze which now bears his name at a ceremony there on Friday night.

The Edward Charles Carter Community Park was officially renamed at a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and carol service at the park in honour of Mr Carter for his lifetime of public service in the areas of broadcasting, cultural development and governance.

A career journalist, Bahamian historian, owner of Island FM Radio and Carter Marketing, Mr Carter served as the Minister of Health and Foreign Affairs in the Pindling government. The current Sea Breeze constituency was the former Holy Cross seat.

Local church choirs, soloists and the Region Bells were on hand to entertain the crowd as they led the carol service.

Hope Strachan, the current Sea Breeze MP, was instrumental in having the park renamed in Mr Carter’s honour. She thanked him for his years of public service, wise counsel and all of the assistance he rendered during her formative years in public life.

Mr Carter was elected to the House of Assembly in 1982 and served for ten years as MP for the Holy Cross constituency. From 1982 to 1992 he served as Chairman of the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas; Chairman of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation and Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 1990, Mr Carter was made Minister of Health, where he remained until August 1992.

Mr Carter has spent most of his adult life promoting and developing Bahamian culture. As the host of the Young Bahamian Show on ZNS radio, he kept Bahamians informed while providing a platform for countless Bahamian artists, including Blind Blake, Ronnie Butler, Jay Mitchell, Cyril “Dry Bread” Ferguson, Tony McKay and the T-Connection. A half century later having started his career at the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas in 1964, Mr Carter continues to promote junkanoo and provide exposure to generations of Bahamian artists. Earlier this year, he was selected as one of the 40 Culture Warriors for his years of public service as 2014 was declared the year of culture by the government.

“When I was privileged to be given the opportunity to run for this constituency, I jumped at it simply because it put me in a position to get to know people,” Mr Carter said. “I love Bahamians. I don’t care if you’re fat or you’re skinny, you’re tall or you’re short, you’re white or you’re black – if you are from the Bahamas, I am interested in you.”

He also said that he would take an active role in the development and upkeep of the park named in his honour. “When you (Hope Strachan) came and told me that you were going to name a basketball court after me, I was pleased that somebody remembered me. I like the idea. I like the idea even more Prime Minister when I see the space. I have already in my own mind decided what we are going to do with this space because now if it has my name on it, I am not going to wait for some Ministry of Works to decide that they will try to keep it.”

Also paying tribute were Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin and Prime Minister Perry Christie.