(Photos by Derek Carroll Photography)
Grand Bahama Island - An evening to honour His Excellency, Cornelius A. Smith, Ambassador to Washington for his long public service to the Bahamian people and to the people of Pine Ridge took place on Saturday April 5th, 2008 at Xanadu Beach and Marina Resort in Freeport, .
Over five hundred of the Ambassador's supporters, colleagues, friends and family joined a sell-out evening to pay honour to His Excellency including the
Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Brent Symonette who was also serving as Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. A special pre-recorded tribute to Ambassador Smith by the Right Honourable, Hubert A. Ingraham, Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas
was screened along with a video presentation highlighting photos of Ambassador Smith's involvement in public service over the years.
Deputy House Speaker, Kwasi Thompson also gave remarks at the event. Also in attendance was the Minister of Tourism and Aviation, Neko Grant; Miniter of Health & Social Development, Dr. Hubert Minnis, and Minister of State for Youth & Sports, Byran Woodside.
Food was prepared and served by the College of The Bahamas students, and guests enjoyed a chocolate fountain fondue for dessert. The evening capped off with a display of fireworks and the Conch Juice band played for everyone's dancing pleasure. Ambassador Smith enjoyed dancing with his family and friends.
David Wallace and Sarah Kirkby were the on mic hosts and as part of the evening enjoyment a suitcase was filled for the Ambassador with tokens from The Bahamas to take back to Washington, and they included: a year's subscription to The Punch, a jar of peanuts, a large bottle of Bahamian pepper sauce, 2 packages of benny cake, 2 Vita Malt, 1 case of ginger beer, a case of Goombay punch, some bush medicine, and a roll of foil!
Despite the wind, it was a wonderful evening of food, celebration, music and honour!
Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Brent Symonette shakes hands with Ambassador Cornelius Smith. (Photo: Derek Carroll)
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As part of the evening enjoyment a suitcase was filled for the Ambassador with tokens from The Bahamas to take back to Washington, and they included: a year's subscription to The Punch, a jar of peanuts, a large bottle of Bahamian pepper sauce, 2 packages of benny cake, 2 Vita Malt, 1 case of ginger beer, a case of Goombay punch, some bush medicine, and a roll of foil! (Photo Derek Carroll)
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His Excellency, Cornelius A. Smith, Ambassador to Washington stands with his family for a photo, poolside at Xanadu Hotel on April 5th, 2008. (Photo: Derek Carroll)
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Ambassador Smith stands against the photography backdrop at the special night to honour him at the Xanadu Hotel on April 5th, 2008. (Photo:Kathy Forbes)
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About His Excelleny Cornelius Alvin Smith (from the programme booklet):
His Excellency Cornelius Alvin Smith is The Bahamas’ Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America and Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States.
Ambassador Smith presented his credentials to President George W. Bush on January 22, 2008.
Ambassador Smith presented his credentials to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Mr. Jose Miguel Insulza on November 13, 2007.
Cornelius Alvin Smith, the son of the late Silvanus and Susan Smith, was born in North End, Long Island, Bahamas on April 7, 1937. He received his primary education at Glintons Public School, Long Island and his secondary education at the Bahamas Teachers Training College at Nassau, Bahamas. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami.
Ambassador Smith served as a public school principal in the Department of Education from 1956 to 1964 and as a senior revenue officer in the Customs Department of Education from 1964-1967. From 1967 to 1982 he was employed as a human resource specialist with Syntex Corporation, an international chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing company.
A civic-minded individual, Ambassador Smith provided leadership to a number of organizations, including the Bahamas Jaycees, the Kiwanis Club of Lucaya,
the Grand Bahama
Chamber of Commerce and the Bahamas Association for Manpower Training and Development (BAMTAD). In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the civic life of The Bahamas, he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow award by Rotary International.
As President and CEO of Smith & Associates from 1982 to 1992, he provided professional consultancy services to international corporations in the specialized areas of manpower development, employee training, compensation, benefits and labour relations. Ambassador Smith was inactive in the firm from 1992 and in May 2002, he resumed his active involvement.
A community and political activist, Ambassador Smith entered front line politics in the early seventies and is a founding member of the Free National Movement (FNM).
He was elected as an Opposition Member of Parliament for the Marco City constituency in 1982. IN 1987, the constituency name was changed to Pine Ridge.
Ambassador Smith re-elected to serve this constituency for four successive five-year terms from 1982 to 2002.
From 1982 to 1992, he served as Opposition spokesperson on Education, Public Safety and Tourism matters. He also served as a member of House Select Committee on Illicit Drug Trafficking Within and Through The Bahamas and on the Constituency Boundaries Commission.
In 1992, the Free National Movement, under the leadership of the Right Honourable Hubert A. Ingraham, was elected the governing party and Mr. Smith was appointed to serve in the Cabinet of The Bahamas.
During his long and distinguished career, Mr. Smith served the people of The Bahamas as a senior Minister with the portfolios of Minister of Education (1992-1995), Minister of Public Safety and Immigration (1995-1997), Minister of Tourism (1997-2000) and Minister of Transport and Local Government (2000-2002).
Mr. Smith served as the election campaign coordinator for the Free National Movement in its successful bid to win the Government again in the 2007 general elections.
He is married to the former Clara Elizabeth Knowles and the couple has three children.
View an exclusive The Bahamas Weekly interview with Ambassador Smith HERE
