The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I read lately where the Minister of Education tabled in the House of Assembly during the Budget debate that they were going to name a road after Mychal Thompson. And this was to take place shortly.

While I praise this demonstration of acknowledgement for Mychal Thompson, I feel that this would be grossly insulting to Sir Durward Knowles. You see, at the celebration of Sir Durward and Cecil Cooke winning the Gold Medal on their 50th anniversary last year at the Atlantis Resort, it was pointed out that a street would be named in their honour. And it was the request of Sir Durward that the Montagu foreshore be renamed Knowles & Cooke Drive. It was agreed by the Minister and signed off by the respected Ministers of Sports and also Works.

Since then, nothing has happened, as it was stated that it was before Cabinet and it was approved. Now out of the blue, the government is naming a street after Mychal Thompson.

What happened to Knowles & Cooke Drive that has already been approved?

Sir Durward Knowles has fought for this on behalf of himself and the late Cecil Cooke. He realises that Cecil cannot do anything for himself, so he has campaigned for the two of them. That’s the type of action we have come to expect out of Sir Durward, always looking out for others.

Lest we forget, let me state again for the record, that Sir Durward Knowles is undoubtedly the father of Tourism in this country. He won the world championships in 1948 when nobody knew what the Bahamas was. He won a Bronze medal in 1956 in the Olympics, first ever in our history. He then won the Gold Medal in 1964. One month later, Sir Stafford Sands felt it would be fit to establish our Ministry of Tourism. Mostly because of the publicity that Sir Durward had brought to the country and yachtsmen from around the world wanted to come to see this Bahamas. Our country has never been the same. Thanks, Sir Durward!

Sir Durward is a full-blooded Bahamian who has chosen to stay in The Bahamas and help its growth. He has contributed to all areas of our society, especially in sports and social services. He has accomplished so much and has been practically the first in everything that was created post 1964.

Many athletes that have come after Sir Durward has had some government/public thing named after them that will last an eternity. To date the Government has only named a ship after Sir Durward and the life expectancy of that ship might be 15 to 20 years. After that, there would no public thing named after Sir Durward and generations to come will not have heard of this giant of a man who built the name of The Bahamas on the world stage.

It is quite disappointing that nothing as a memorial has been named by the government for Sir Durward Knowles. The Montagu Bay is where Sir Durward and Cecil Cooke among many others trained and perfected their skills in sailing. It is only fitting that this Drive should be named Knowles and Cooke.

Again, I’m not knocking the street being named after Mychal Thompson who gave up his citizenship for the US. He won championships for the Los Angeles Lakers. His son who is also a US citizen won a championship for Golden State Warriors.

Hopefully, the Government will see the wisdom in this and do what is right before Sir Durward reaches his 98 birthday, which by the way is this coming November 2nd.

I felt this is the least I can do as one voice crying in the wildness for recognition for an outstanding Bahamian who truly deserves whatever accolade we the Bahamas as a country, can bestow on him, that will last forever, Knowles & Cooke Drive, formerly Montagu Driveway.

TYRONE OLANDER

Sports Magazine,

Nassau,

June 28, 2015.