By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
DAME Marguerite Pindling said yesterday that her appointment to the highest constitutional office in the country – Governor-General – is “not bad for a barefoot girl from Andros”.
Speaking during her inaugural address, Dame Marguerite pledged to serve all Bahamians to the best of her ability without political interference or regard for race or social class.
The remarks came moments after her swearing-in ceremony at Government House on Mount Fitzwilliam where scores of dignitaries, family members and supporters gathered to witness the event. Dame Marguerite, the second woman Governor-General and the ninth Bahamian holder of the post, is the widow of the country’s first Prime Minister, Sir Lynden Pindling.
She succeeds Sir Arthur Foulkes, who held the post for the last four years. Sir Arthur officially demitted office yesterday but bid farewell during a ceremony at Government House on Monday evening.
“I can clearly remember stepping off of the boat on Woods Rodgers Wharf (from Long Bay Cay in south Andros), wearing a pair of blue and red sling back tennis shoes and marvelling over the sights and sounds of downtown Nassau,” Dame Marguerite, 82, said.
“It has been a long journey from that day to now. From my years growing up with my parents in a four-room thatched roof house, running about barefoot wearing hand-me-downs and yet not having a care or worry in the world.”
Dame Marguerite stressed the importance of unity and pledged to be a non-partisan representative.
“I will at all times serve you to the very best of my ability without political distinction and without regard for race, class, social station or any of the other things that can stand between us or keep us apart.
“There is no greater or higher duty than a Governor-General can have than to bring our people ever closer together in love, in unity and in common purpose.
“I am absolutely determined to fulfil that duty without unwavering consistency and in the fullest possible measure.”
She urged all Bahamians to stop fighting each other, but instead to come together with a view to building the country.
Prime Minister Perry Christie said the appointment was well deserved. He noted Dame Marguerite’s efforts in the fight for Majority Rule and her charitable work. He expressed confidence that she will carry out her duties according to the constitution and without engaging in partisan politics.
He said: “I have the highest confidence that Dame Marguerite will discharge her duties as Governor-General with complete fidelity to the constitution and in close concord with the conventions of impartiality and non-partisanship that have been so scrupulously adhered to by all her predecessors.
“All of our Governors-General, going all the way back to Sir Milo Butler 41 years ago, came to office from the political arena. Moreover, without exception, up to today, they had all served in one or the other of our two houses of Parliament before coming to Mount Fitzwilliam.
“Without exception, up to today, they had all done vigorous battle with their political adversaries in the legislature before going to Government House. And yet when they were successively called to serve as Governor-General, they all left their partisan politics outside the front door of Government House. They never let it inside.”
In addition to being the high-profile wife of Sir Lynden for 44 years, Dame Marguerite spent several years as the chair of the fund-raising committee of The Bahamas Red Cross. She has also helped with fund-raising for the Hope Dale School and the Children’s Emergency Hostel.
She has previously served as deputy to Sir Arthur when he was out of the country.
Comments
banker 10 years, 4 months ago
Another reason to be ashamed of the Bahamas. The wife of the chief drug runner is now a Governor General, and she is tax deadbeat to boot. Have the PLP no shame? We really look like a banana republic to the rest of the world, and Fred Mitchell doesn't help. I honestly don't know how the PLP can look in the mirror every morning and wonder what is real. Are they all that much of Kool Aid drinkers?
This latest moves cheapens the office. We have truly lost our moral compass as a nation.
carlh57 10 years, 4 months ago
amazing what money, bribery and a bit of history does for a nation...but remember...she's going to "unite the nation"....but the question is "how"?
CANDACESCOTT 10 years, 4 months ago
says the woman from the most divisive family and party in our country's history!
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago
My thoughts exactly. Her personality is inherently divisive
ohdrap4 10 years, 4 months ago
when women are in positions of bosses or managers in the bahamas, they treat employees like maids and gardeners. i have worked under many of them. once a colleague of mine told me about a plantation mentality, and yes, they treat people like slaves,but i guess one could say divisive
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago
I've worked for men who shouted at the employees, were hand and foot behind them on every task and pointed out every little thing that was not to their personal satisfaction, oh and don't forget the sexual harassment and taking advantage of females under their employ. What is that? Talk about plantation. Mrs Pindlings divisiveness has nothing to do with her being "female", but everything to do with her character. Perhaps if in the Bahamas we could get past what you have, have on, drive, live in and started looking at what you have in you, we could progress as a nation.
pilgrimagerock 10 years, 4 months ago
"In addition to being the high-profile wife of Sir Lynden for 44 years, Dame Marguerite spent several years as the chair of the fund-raising committee of The Bahamas Red Cross. She has also helped with fund-raising for the Hope Dale School and the Children’s Emergency Hostel."
HER QUALIFICATION IS A NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT TO SAY THE LEAST. This PLP government HAS NO SHAME.
TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago
The red shirts have this unhealthy obsession with the Pindling name. Comrades I can already sense a promise by this newspaper and it's red bloggers to be relentless over the next 3 years as they shine their ongoing spotlight of negativity against Bahamaland's 10th Governor-General, having no desire at easing-up on the hatred, buried so damn deep within their hearts for Mrs. Pndling and the Pindling name. I'd ask you reds to feel ashamed but how in hell can you when you're not even embarrassed with the actions of so many within your own party. Why waste my time - cause to you reds, you'd think I was speaking Creole.
realfreethinker 10 years, 4 months ago
Tal you need to get off your red shirt hang up. any time this lousy crew is criticized for doing shit you think it is an Fnm. nothing could be further from the truth
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago
Simple answer, technology. I've sent in letters over the years, If I remember correctly, I was lucky once to get in the paper. There's only so much space and so much time to get written letters in. This is much more convenient.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
I look forward to Mrs. Ingraham and Mrs. Christie being confirmed in the future as GGs. The precedent has been set ................ SMDH
Purcell 10 years, 4 months ago
I blame the electorate.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
How?????? 2300 PLP supporters voted for Perry Christie to become MP. He is appointed PM as a result of the 2012 election and then he appointed GG. Blame Centreville dummies who still using water pumps and outside toilets
birdiestrachan 10 years, 4 months ago
There is no reason to be ashamed of the Bahamas. The only shame is the mean spirited angry people in the Bahamas, out of this comes hate, thieves and killers. that is why there is so much crime in the Bahamas. Wish Lady Pindling well, lift her up in prayers and good will and make no attempts to bring her down. it will not work. so give it up and try to sleep well.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago
For once I agree with you birdie. get all of those thieves out of Parliament square
jlcandu 10 years, 4 months ago
You are right! She is there and we as the populace cannot do a darn thing about it.
Just hope she is promptly replaced in 2017!!!
TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago
I think psychologically the reds have some major serious Pindling issues. It's got's be stressful to be clinging onto they old Papa's power trips. Comrades they have such an appetite for a Papa return I feel it does effect on their brains, making them to say some crazy things about Mrs. Pindling. What in the hell is there about the mere mention of a Pindling, which can lead them red shirts to experience such anxiety, guilt over their losing power and making them to hold onto deep pangs of inadequacy. What was there about their Papa Hubert's brainwashing which allowed him to will in his loyal followers, his own Pindling disorder thing he too held? But I say good for they Papa even though the Tribune for good red readers reasons decided against publishing his attendance photo, was also right there in the thick of the crowd at Government House, for Mrs.Pindling's swearing-in as Bahamaland's 10th "Still Colonial" Governor-General.
jackbnimble 10 years, 4 months ago
The Pindling name is not the issue. It's whether or not the appointment is "deserved" as it reeks of cronyism. Frankly, I can think of persons who are far more qualified and deserving!
TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago
Comrade JackBnible rest assured had PM Christie offered the GG job to either Minnis, Loretta or Chairman Daron, with all three being such colonialist holdovers, they'd have accepted his Englishman's PLP appointment.
carlh57 10 years, 4 months ago
Your missing the point.....it's not the name, its the "character" associated with it...
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 4 months ago
And the Brits wonder why many of us laugh at the silliness of their ceremonial monarchy which costs far in excess of the tourist dollars that it (alone in isolation to all else) draws to the UK economy?! Here we have Christie literally mocking the naivety of the British throne and bringing great embarrassment and shame to it by having the Queen accept (under deliberate omission of all the relevant background information) his nomination of Mrs Ping as GG of the Bahamas. There are no depths to which Christie and the PLP will not stoop; now they have spit in the eye of the Queen and by extension all of her British subjects, particularly those within the bowels of the British monarchy responsible for the vetting of such "lofty" appointments in Commonwealth countries like the Bahamas. It will be interesting to see whether all those spat on even come to know of it or care enough about their monarchy to do something about it. The Queen certainly would wish to know about anything that casts serious aspersions on the British monarchy and all of its subjects!
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
SOOOOOOOOOOOO, why didnt the Queen do due diligence and rejected the appointment of Dame Ping??????? I cry shame of my Head of State as well..................... SMT. Or, maybe QEII is hanging us out to dry as well
GrassRoot 10 years, 4 months ago
Yes agree 100% that is the real embarrassment....
asiseeit 10 years, 4 months ago
I wonder how she thinks she is going to unite the Nation when she is part of the problem. Lady P is a political elite, she has all the perks of being part of the very party that most normal Bahamians see as the root cause of the degradation of the nation. Now that our political elite have thrown all the rules and regulations that do not suite them out the window there is an almost complete breakdown of law and order. That is what you get when bribery, dishonesty, all for me, greed, and zero moral compass are the order of the day. The nation has watched it's leadership display all of the above and taken it to heart. If our leaders are conceived to be less than ethical, most dishonest, lacking in morals, and more than willing to be bought, well why not the rest of us. So Lady P, if you want to unite the nation, start by dealing with our supposed leaders including yourself.
banker 10 years, 4 months ago
You Bahamalanders are so naive and just plain stupid -- even retarded. Pindling robbed your patrimony, stole your self-respect, made you third class citizens in a Black country, and you still sing the praises of any Pindling and the PLP. I fear for your reasoning abilities and it is no wonder the country is in the sad shape that is it.
He was a criminal, and she is living off the spoils of crime and a tax deadbeat. End of story. Anything else is a lie. And the most irksome is that your Pingdomites don't have the brainpower to recognise that.
realfreethinker 10 years, 4 months ago
They cant see pass their noses.
B_I_D___ 10 years, 4 months ago
Well ya see banker...the trick there is one that SLOP also bestowed on us...keep the masses uneducated and stupid and they will follow you blindly. We have GENERATIONS of extremely uneducated people, who just breed into their children lawlessness, disrespect and, because they never got an education, they do not see the value in educating their children either...the government capitalizes on this stupidity every day.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 4 months ago
Don't forget to invoke Gods name while you're at it. Works every time
GrassRoot 10 years, 4 months ago
I wonder whether Mr. Flowers got an invite for the inauguration in exchange for 300,000 BSD.
TalRussell 10 years, 4 months ago
Comrade GrassRoot it's OK for Flowers be up at Government House, he is now PLP "regularized."
Well_mudda_take_sic 10 years, 4 months ago
Everyone please remember: "general crazy" is none other than Freddy Boy.
ohdrap4 10 years, 4 months ago
you does sound like freddy
242 10 years, 4 months ago
nope that's rory with a new username
Publius 10 years, 4 months ago
Not to worry, she meant she will actually UNTIE the nation, not UNITE it. Simply a typo! [kisses teeth]
birdiestrachan 10 years, 4 months ago
How could any one in their right mind say Mr. Pindling and the PLP keep the masses uneducated. This is the Government that started free high school education, it was no longer necessary to leave school at the age of 14. The Party that caused there to be a college of the Bahamas soon to be the University of the Bahamas. No one can cause any one to be uneducated. One must read and think for themselves. Do you people know how many persons they sent to universities out of their own pockets ..Many years ago there were few Doctors and Lawyers of colour. they could be counted on one hand with fingers left over.
GrassRoot 10 years, 4 months ago
the lack of literacy in this country is not a political issue it is an elitist issue. this country is run by two handful of persons. and they want to keep it that way. nothing to do with PLP, or FNM, really.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
Birdie........... the political elite send their children to private or boarding schools like the colonial whites .............. the others go to public schools and those who pretend to exceed their social status end up bankrupt
ohdrap4 10 years, 4 months ago
and lets nit forget, the dismantling of government high school , a factory of intellectuals, that he did
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
The PLP leaders had to get rid of the original GHS ........... it had created them ............. and now they wanted to hold on to that edge. This was a deliberate act against the future leadership of The Bahamas. Forty years later ............ not ONE major national political leader has emerged from COB
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
I hope Dame Ping first official country tour event is to go to South Andros and beg forgiveness for what she and her husband did to those poor people for 25 years .....................after Majority Rule
Bahamianpride 10 years, 4 months ago
The mention of queens or any Monark making appointments to political position in a sovereign nation is representative of a slave colony mentality that we still have. Then to pick a dinosaur from the past represents stagnation as Country. We are f--k-d.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 4 months ago
The PLP leaders had to get rid of the original GHS ........... it had created them ............. and now they wanted to hold on to that edge. This was a deliberate act against the future leadership of The Bahamas. Forty years later ............ not ONE major national political leader has emerged from COB.
Sign in to comment
OpenID