NASSAU, Bahamas -- Governor General His Excellency the Hon Arthur D Hanna (left) presents Michael Pintard with his Letter of Appointment as a Senator in a ceremony at Government House, Wednesday, April 7, 2010. Also pictured seated left is Prime Minister the Rt Hon Hubert A Ingraham. (BIS photo/Derek Smith)

Remarks by

Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham

Prime Minister

at the Swearing-in of

Senator the Hon. Michael Pintard

Government House

7 April, 2010  

Your Excellency Governor General A. D. Hanna

Colleague Ministers

Members of Parliament

Secretary to the Cabinet

Senior Public Officers

Ladies and Gentlemen:  

I thank His Excellency for so graciously presiding over this ceremony.  Thank you, Sir.  

It gives me great pleasure to welcome to the Upper House of Parliament another talented and accomplished Bahamian professional who has ably demonstrated his willingness to render public service to his country.  

Best known in our community as an accomplished playwright and brilliant humorist with a sometimes biting political wit, Michael is also a teacher, a motivational speaker, a writer and a human resource development consultant.    

Michael Pintard was born on July 3, 1964, the son of Sister Laura Benson and the late John S. Pintard. He was educated at government-operated schools here at home before completing an Associate’s Degree in Agriculture at the College of The Bahamas.  In 1988 he completed studies leading to a Bachelor of Science Degree at Tuskegee University in the United States of America.  

Through the Consulting firm Scribes Ltd. he has provided consultative services to a wide range of local and international business houses and to Governments including our own.  

Michael is a founding partner in Congo Town Development Ltd., a Bahamian company focused on developing housing in urban centres. He and his business partners developed Plumbago Gardens in Fox Hill, a historic community on the island of New Providence in The Bahamas.   

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Governor General His Excellency the Hon Arthur D Hanna (left) presents Michael Pintard with his Letter of Appointment as a Senator in a ceremony at Government House, Wednesday, April 7, 2010. (BIS photo/Derek Smith)

More recently, Michael served as the Organizational Development Manager for the Grand Bahama Airport Company, Freeport Harbour Company and Freeport Container Port. He also provided consultancy services to Vopak Terminal Bahamas.  

Michael is eager to make a difference and I believe that all of us will benefit from having his special perspective in the Upper Chamber.  

In him the art and cultural community will find a sympathetic, listening ear; educators will find a friend and supporter; small business owners a fellow traveler, and ordinary Bahamians a man committed to building community, promoting personal responsibility and uplifting things Bahamian.  

I am pleased that Michael accepted this call to service at the national level in the Upper Chamber of Parliament and warmly welcome him.  

I wish to take this opportunity to recognize Michael’s wife Berlice Pintard (nee Lightbourne), a practising attorney, and to thank her for agreeing to her husband taking on this important national service.  

Your Excellency:  

I wish to express a special thanks to you for receiving us so graciously in these, the closing days of your public life in service to the people of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.  Your life’s achievements are writ large in the annals of our history as a life worthy of emulation.