NASSAU, BAHAMAS – After turning down national honours last year, former Prime Ministers Hubert Ingraham and Perry Christie will be offered the title again.
The men were to receive the order of the nation award which is bestowed upon all people who have served as governor general or prime minister. However, they refused it for separate reasons.
On Thursday, National Honours Committee Chairman Mark Humes said the former prime ministers will automatically be nominated.
“Because the Order of National is automatically given to prime ministers and former prime ministers, that invitation will be extended to them again and it will be up to them to determine whether or not they will accept it,” Humes said.
Committee member and Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Chairman Fred Mitchell said he thinks both former prime ministers should accept the honour in recognition of their service to the country.
“I did not quite agree or understand their reasons. I have heard their reasons and in my opinion, it is an honour bestowed to them by the country,” he said.
“It is in my firm view, but of course they have their individual views and it is up to them.”
Christie said he would not accept the title as long are there still members of his former cabinet before the court with criminal charges. Ingraham, on the other hand, said he saw no need to rush and get the award.
The former leaders were among 38 people selected to be awarded the national honours last year
On the sidelines of a ceremony to bestow the ‘Order of the Nation’ upon former Governors General Sir Orville A. Turnquest and Arthur D Hanna, Ingraham said he was disappointed Bishop Laish Boyd had not been named.
“I’m disappointed that Bishop Boyd didn’t get his own because he was the one minister of the gospel that they (the British) offered who said he would wait until the Bahamian had their own honours, and I hope that he will be on the list soon, that he gets his own soon. But they are both deserving,” Ingraham said
