The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

AFTER the air waves were liberated and private radio was ushered into existence, many Bahamians found their voices, voices which had been long silent. Firstly-but not in any particular order-were J T Lewis street, Pumpkin eater, and Braman Darling Ferguson. Then came Jeff, 52, C Allen Johnson, Clever Duncombe, and of course Sparky, the incomparable one. They were the pioneers of talk radio, and many others followed thereafter. They are all ordinary Bahamians who had something to say and the talk shows carried their voices and messages unashamedly. These persons are known to many of us only by name.

These are the persons whose voice dared to confront power. They are the true gape keepers, the guardians of democracy, who along with Sparky, would often prick the conscience of the nation with their commentary on talk radio. In a Bahamas where rules are sometimes applied unevenly, they along with Sparky preached compassion, human rights, justice, and fair play for all, and as you can well imagine, Sparky was not to be out done. Sparky represented Bahamians who feared political recriminations or those who are afraid to express themselves openly, especially the common folks. Believe it or not, there are still some Bahamians in 2026 who are fearful of speaking up.

Sparky sometimes came across as controversial of repetitive, but he often spoke with a full chest. He kept nothing back. He wielded truth as both shield and sword. That was Sparky. He was a colorful character, a man who was knowledgeable about the affairs of life, and one who spoke with brutal honesty. He had a story to tell. He, like all of us, had his personal biases, but he spoke truth, an uncomfortable truth deliberately devoid of eloquence or sophistication. A child could understand him. Sparky’s passing is a vivid reminder to all of us that life is fragile, status is fleeting or temporary, and death is the ultimate equaliser and a certainty for all of mankind.

We will miss Sparky if only for his constant reminder that he attended “Thee government high school”, something for which he was so justifiably proud. His death has seemingly catapulted him into celebrity status, but so be it.

I did not know Mr Fountain personally, but he struck me as a man of strong conviction, a man like non other. He was truly a creature of his time. Sparky would often say “have a nice day”.

ZEPHANIAH

BURROWS

Nassau,

October 11, 2026.