Bahamas Information Services Updates
The Country Has Come a Long Way in 42 Years, Says Tourism Minister Wilchcombe
By Robyn Adderley, BIS
Jul 7, 2015 - 6:14:24 PM

Three Bahamians were honoured on Monday during the Progressive National Baptist Convention International Conference held at First Baptist Church from July 5 to 7. Shown from left are: Pastor Ivan F. Butler Jr.; Bishop Simeon B. Hall, honouree; Rev. Dr. Keith Russell, host Pastor; Rev. Dr. John N.T. Rolle, honouree; Clayton Rolle, son (behind father); Minister of Tourism and Member of Parliament for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, the Hon. Obie Wilchcombe; Mrs. Timothy Stewart; Rev. Dr. Timothy Stewart, Vice President of PNBC. Shown behind Minister Wilchcombe from left are: Rev. Dr. James Perkins, President of PNBC and Mrs. Perkins; and Lawrence Foster, a visiting Pastor from Liberia. (BIS Photo/Vandyke Hepburn)

FREEPORT, Grand Bahama - Minister of Tourism and Member of Parliament for West Grand Bahama, on Monday told the congregation of the Progressive National Baptist Convention International Conference that The Bahamas has come a long way in 42 years of Independence.

The Minister was the guest speaker at the event being held at First Baptist Church from July 5 to 7.

He welcomed the President of PNBC, Rev. Dr. James Perkins, to the nation's second city and reflected upon a visit he had made to Memphis, Tennessee, and the memories of Dr. Martin Luther King.

He said: "It was important because many don't appreciate, some of us don't understand the relationship that our countries have. They don't understand that yes, we are separated by water, but we are connected. We are connected in such a way that when Martin Luther King came to The Bahamas in 1958, Martin Luther King told us, 'You've got to learn how to fly. If you can't fly, you've got to learn how to run. If you can't run, you've got to learn how to walk and if you can't walk, you've got to learn how to creep. But you've got to start to move."

Minister Wilchcombe said Dr. King inspired Bahamians as a people and think about the day that the country would gain its Independence.

At the Conference, there were three honourees: Bishop Simeon R. Hall, Rev. Dr. R.E. Cooper, Jr., and Rev. Dr. John N.T. Rolle -- all men who have been teachers and preachers and builders of a foundation that is walked upon today, noted the Minister.

He said, "when we were seeking to have our Independence, these men were there. They were preaching, they were teaching, they were lifting."

The Minister told Rev. Dr. Perkins that he has come to The Bahamas at a special time, when the country is on the verge of celebrating its 42 Independence. "It is a time when we have to think about where we are."

While the country does have social issues and difficulties, a lot has been built and done. It does not matter what your circumstances are and where you find yourself, said Minister Wilchcombe, you must hold onto God and rise above it.

He said as the nation celebrates Independence, the message must always be that we are forward, upward, onward and together, "because in unity there is strength and we must always understand that we might have our differences, but we are one people under one God."

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