By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday recognised former parliamentarian Bernard Dupuch as a man who “demonstrated a great love of country” as he offered condolences on behalf of the government.
Mr Dupuch died early Friday morning at the age of 81.
In the House of Assembly, Mr Christie said Bahamians needed to know of the impact that great men had on the country. He said Mr Dupuch’s character could be measured by his representation of the islands of Mayaguana and Inagua.
On May 2, 1962, he made history by becoming one of six independent candidates elected to Parliament.
Mr Christie said: “One has to observe that representing Mayaguana and Inagua it was very different and I think about how difficult it really is to do now. During the period which he represented his constituency was in itself a difficult period for members of Parliament.”
FNM Deputy Leader and Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner recalled the imprint of Mr Dupuch on Bahamian society.
“He was a prolific writer (and) journalist,” she said. “And when you look at the history of that family in The Bahamas you look at all of the written works they produced and continue to produce today. From The Tribune to the Bahamas Handbook and all the various other publications.”
While in frontline politics, Mr Dupuch served as Chairman of the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) and acting Minister of Works. He is further credited with writing several articles in the travel section of The New York Times with a view to promoting Bahamas’ tourism while he served on the tourism board.
Funeral services for Mr Dupuch will be held at 1pm on Saturday at Sacred Heart Church, Shirley Street. Interment will follow in St Anslem’s cemetery, Fox Hill. Viewing will be from 5pm to 7pm on Friday at Kemp’s Funeral Home, Palmdale.
Instead of donations, those who wish may make a donation to the Bahamas Humane Society or BAARK (Bahamas Alliance for Animal Rights and Kindness).
Comments
MonalisaHanna47 10 years, 3 months ago
Unbelievable! I only just found out of my buddy, Mr. Dupuch’s passing at 1am yesterday morning whilst I was reading Bahamas Uncensored. It was a joy to have known such a loyal, generous and decent human being. I greatly respected and appreciated Mr. Dupuch and was always fascinated how his loyalty to the friendship he shared with my late dad, David Hanna remained way, way past the death of my father in 1980. Such a strong testimony and powerful lesson in loyalty and friendship! If my memory serves me well, I think the last trip you, Maryann and Anthony made to Gt Inagua was in 1999 for the burial Mass of my mother, Yvette Ellis Hanna. Mr. Dupuch was “simply the best”. I will most definitely miss our long telephonic chats, where you ALWAYS enquired if I was behaving, consistently encouraging and of course, loaded with great jokes. My family - sister Cheri, brother Dave, Aunt Phyll, Unca Vern and all your friends of Gt Inagua extend condolences to The Dupuch Family esp, Anthony and the Executive Printers Family, esp Steph. RIP Mr Dupuch and please give BIG hugs to my parents.
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