{"id":17466,"date":"2012-01-30T08:59:53","date_gmt":"2012-01-30T13:59:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/?p=17466"},"modified":"2012-02-01T10:31:48","modified_gmt":"2012-02-01T15:31:48","slug":"cecil-wallace-whitfield-dedication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/2012\/01\/cecil-wallace-whitfield-dedication","title":{"rendered":"Dedication Ceremony For PM\u2019s New Office"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
The dedication ceremony for the new Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre, which serves as the Office of the Prime Minister took place Friday, January 28. The Centre has been relocated in what was once H G Hambros building, as the original Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre was torn down to make way for the construction of the new Baha Mar Resort. (BIS Photo\/Patrick Hanna)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NASSAU, The Bahamas — Prime Minister Hubert A. Ingraham praised the late Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield during the dedication ceremony of the Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre, Friday, January 27, for being among the \u201cgeneration of great men and women who led the struggle for Majority Rule and equality in The Bahamas.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Sir Cecil came to believe that some of the ideals of that struggle were not being honoured, he was at the forefront of the formation of a new political party,\u201d the Prime Minister said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis singular event ensured a viable two-party system.\u00a0 It was vital in securing and deepening democracy in The Bahamas.\u00a0 Fittingly, even as we dedicate this Centre to the memory and legacy of Cecil Wallace-Whitfield, we also pay tribute to all of those who championed freedom and democracy in The Bahamas; often at great sacrifice,\u201d Prime Minister Ingraham added.<\/p>\n

Lady Naomi Wallace-Whitfield; Sir Cecil\u2019s family and friends; the Deputy to the Governor General the Hon. Frank S. Watson; Cabinet Ministers; other senior government officials and dignitaries attended the dedication.<\/p>\n

The Prime Minister explained that the relocation of the original Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre, which serves as the Office of the Prime Minister, to the new site was required to make way for the construction of the new Baha Mar Resort.<\/p>\n

The Government sold the original Cecil Wallace-Whitfield building and site to Baha Mar Resorts for some $17.686 million and acquired the new premises from S G Hambros for some $13 million, Prime Minister Ingraham said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe refurbishment and upgrade of these premises were undertaken in record time by an energetic team of Bahamian companies coordinated by the capable leadership of Pineapple House.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham smiles as he unveils a photo of Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield with Lady Naomi Wallace-Whitfield, Widow of Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield (left) and his wife Delores Ingraham. Minister of National Security the Hon O.A.T. Turnquest (far left) and Deputy to the Governor General the Hon. Frank H. Watson are also pictured. The photograph hangs in the main staircase in the foyer of the Centre. (BIS Photo\/Peter Ramsay) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Prime Minister noted that more extensive work has begun on the grounds to create a Bahamian garden featuring native flora and hardwood trees. \u201cIt is our plan, to make these nine acres a mini-Bahamian botanical garden.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Ingraham said Sir Cecil would be pleased that 45 years after he helped to bring about Majority Rule, and approximately 40 years after he helped to form the Free National Movement, the country he loved and the party to which he devoted his considerable energies, continue to flourish.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany Bahamians recall the pivotal role Cecil Wallace-Whitfield played in safeguarding Bahamian democracy.\u00a0 Perhaps fewer may recall his contributions in the first majority-rule government.\u00a0 Though he only served briefly as a cabinet minister, the work he did was far-reaching,\u201d the Prime Minister said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Minister of Works, Cecil Wallace-Whitfield understood the need to bring critical infrastructure to the majority of Bahamians.\u00a0 His ambitious efforts to put streetlights in Over-the-Hill neighbourhoods, build new schools and roadways in the Family Islands and here in New Providence improved the lives of many thousands of Bahamians.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe understood the fundamentals necessary for educational advancement and student achievement.\u00a0 As Minister of Education, he spearheaded the establishment of a teacher\u2019s college in San Salvador.\u00a0 He understood the need for more Bahamian teachers, as well as the critical role of capable teachers in learning and overall national development,\u201d Prime Minister Ingraham said.<\/p>\n

Archdeacon Father Keith Cartwright performed the blessing\/dedication of the Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre.<\/p>\n

The Prime Minister participated in planting a Bahamian Lignum Vitae tree located adjacent to the area where two native trees were planted by Sir Lynden Pindling and Dame Margaret Thatcher in 1985.<\/p>\n

Dame Margaret, Prime Minister of Great Britain at the time, was in Nassau to participate in the 1985 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings.\u00a0 The tree planting then was in honour of the 50th Anniversary of Roy West in The Bahamas; Roy West being the occupant of the premises at that time.<\/p>\n

Lady Naomi and Mrs Delores Ingraham, wife of the Prime Minister cut the ribbon to the doors of the Centre.<\/p>\n

By Llonella Gilbert
\nBahamas Information Services<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The relocation of the original Cecil Wallace-Whitfield Centre, which serves as the Office of the Prime Minister, to the new site was required to make way for the construction of the new Baha Mar Resort.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_10223285771444175_51037792744":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[153,40],"class_list":["post-17466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-business-2","tag-government"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17466"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17466\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}