The Tribune

THE government yesterday moved a resolution thanking God for the life of the late Nelson Mandela, who Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell called a shining example for all people, but particularly those of African descent.

Mr Mitchell told the House of Assembly it was a special honour for him to lead the resolution, and that he feels lucky to have lived at the same time as the South African leader.

Mr Mitchell said: “In our life time, in the life times of each and every one of us gathered here today, I am certain that there are moments in our lives when we have been extraordinarily privileged to have been part of the fabric of history.

“Some are more fortunate than others but one thing about history is the fact that we are all a part of history and each gets to play a part.

“I count myself then amongst those fortunate ones who have been a part of history as it is writ large on the local, regional and world stage.

“It is in that context and against that background that I speak today, living an extraordinarily fortunate life that caused me to cross paths with some great men and women in my life time, up close and personal.”

Among these great people was Nelson Mandela, who Mr Mitchell said he first met in 1992 when appointed the Bahamian representative to the Commonwealth Observer Mission to South Africa.

“I got to see him up close and personal as they say. I got to see him work.

“And I was able to do something then which I could never have thought possible when I started out in the anti-apartheid movement in the Bahamas back in 1978, which was to deliver a personal letter to Mr Mandela from the Honorary Chair of our Committee, the late Beryl Hanna who was then the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas the Hon Arthur Hanna,” Mr Mitchell said.

“Mr Mandela in turn kindly wrote a letter back to Mrs Hanna, personally thanking her for her part in leading the struggle against apartheid in The Bahamas, which letter I was able to deliver to her. That letter was framed and I believe remains in her office today at A D Hanna and Co even though both have now passed on.

“So today, I am proud, privileged really to be able to stand here and move his resolution because by any measure what we did together here in the Bahamas in the anti-apartheid movement was a good work.”