The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Deputy Chief Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

THE University of the Bahamas (UB) yesterday celebrated the renaming of two major nearby thoroughfares in honour of the country’s tertiary learning institution.

Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis announced that Thompson Boulevard, from the six-legged roundabout to the roundabout at the intersection of Carter Street and Poinciana Drive, is now officially known as University Drive.

And corridor eight, the two-lane road that links University Drive and the Moss Road intersection to the Baillou Hill and Cordeaux Avenue intersection, is now named University Commons, Mr Davis, who is also Minister of Works said.

During the short ceremony, University President Dr Rodney Smith added that he had been anticipating this “historic” name change for some time.

Prime Minister Perry Christie and other government officials attended the event.

“This is no small gesture,” Mr Davis said. “This is especially important to UB as the address University Drive publicises the property to which UB leads. What’s important to all of the Bahamas to note is the fact that by its address this property is an efficient means to locate others. Beyond that the world will now know that our nation is being built around the university.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the building of this university is no accident. The Education Act of 1962, Majority Rule of 1967 and (achieving) independence in 1973 are all landmark developments in the Bahamas which paved the way for today’s advances.”

He continued: “Recent and today’s events are the culmination of an idea at birth in the mind of Mr Arthur Dion Hanna, whose contribution to education is often forgotten and whose advancements for Bahamians is unparalleled.

“As the first Minister of Education in the post Majority Rule era, ‘AD’ as he is affectionately called, had responsibly for ensuring that scholarships were widely awarded to secure education for Bahamians of all colours to qualify them for leadership,” Mr Davis said.

For his part Dr Smith said the road renaming signified another step in the creation of a university zone.

He said: “I have been anticipating this historic name change for some time. For us it represents another step towards the creation of a university zone. It will serve as another visible marker for those who live in this community and for those in the country that we are a growing university. Not just to impact and exist behind these walls, but to engage and impact the neighbouring community and our country as a whole.”

The University of The Bahamas was chartered at the Thomas A Robinson stadium last November.

Mr Christie at the time said the country will look to UB to play an important role in national affairs.

“Students must have the proper facilities to work in and this should include a modern, state-of-the art performing arts theatre; a musical conservatory; and ample studio space,” he said in 2016.

“The nation will increasingly be looking to the University of The Bahamas to provide the public with a robust and active arts calendar. There is growing appetite for more musical concerts, dance performances, plays, poetry recitals, book readings, and art shows, to meet our need for these finer pleasures. The civilising effect that such experiences can have on the nation should not be underestimated.”

He added: “The university must be a place of relevance within both the national and global contexts. It is, therefore, critical that (the) university not only respond to national needs but also engage the country in meaningful discussions. The university must continue to have a voice in matters of national and global importance.”