EIGHT MILE ROCK, Grand Bahama -- Members of the Local Government Townships in the West Grand Bahama District and members of statutory boards will hold two events for retiring Family Island Administrator, Rufus Johnson this weekend.  

Chief Councillor for the West Bahamas District, Marjorie Darville said, “We want to first call on God’s grace and so we will be attending church as a unit on Sunday.  We will assemble at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Eight Mile Rock for the 11:00 a.m. service.

“From there, we will travel to Everlena Reception Hall in Deadman’s Reef for a special luncheon where we will pay tribute to Mr Johnson in a more tangible way,” she said.  

Minister of State for Lands and Local Government the Hon Byron Woodside will be the featured speaker at the luncheon.  

Mrs Darville said, “I believe all will agree that Johnson was most efficient in his work, and did so without fear or favour.  We did not always agree but we knew that he was doing his job and ensuring that all the Townships follow the prescribe guidelines.  

“The bottom line is he knew his job well and performed it well and I believe all the Townships are the better for it.  

“And so we want to come together and say Thank You! Thank You Mr Johnson for a job well done,” she said.  

At the reception Mr Johnson will also officially pass the baton over to Mrs Angela Pratt-Rolle, who has replaced him as the Administrator for the West Grand Bahama District.  

“She is no stranger and had worked with Mr Johnson for several weeks prior to his retirement and so we also want to show her encouragement and give our assurances of working together for the betterment of the people in our District and Grand Bahama as a whole,” Mrs Darville said.  

Always ambitious and hardworking, upon graduating from high school Mr Johnson was recruited by Barclays Bank and worked in various section of the bank until September 1969.  

On October 1, 1969, he joined the Immigration Department as an Immigration Officer and was stationed in many Family Islands during his tenure in the Department.  He was promoted to the substantive rank of Deputy Director and acted as Director of Immigration on many occasions.  

In October of 1992, Mr Johnson was promoted to Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.  

In1995, because of his experience in the electoral process, he was seconded to the Parliamentary Registration Department as Special Assistant to the Parliamentary Commissioner.  

On March 1^st 1998, he was appointed Family Island Administrator and during his tenure worked in the South, Central, and North Eleuthera District, including Harbour Island and Spanish Wells.  

He also worked as an Administrator in the City of Freeport before moving on to the West Grand Bahama District where he retired on January 6, 2010.