William Pickard appointed first Bahamas honorary consul in Detroit

William Pickard appointed first Bahamas honorary consul in Detroit
Dr William F Pickard.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday that the government has appointed Dr William F Pickard, PhD, as the first honorary consul of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in Detroit, Michigan.

A statement on the appointment noted: “Dr Pickard’s responsibilities will include inter alia liaising with the government when there are Bahamians in distress and representing the interests of The Bahamas in Detroit.”

It added: “Dr Pickard comes from humble beginnings and is the first person in his family to earn a four-year degree. His degree is from Western Michigan University. He went on to earn a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan and a Doctorate degree from Ohio State University.

“Dr Pickard is chairman and executive founder of Global Automotive Alliance (GAA) Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management, GAA New Ventures, co-managing partner, MGM Grand Detroit Casino, CEO of Bearwood Management McDonald’s, and co-owner of five black-owned newspapers.”

Pickard now becomes the 37th honorary consul to be appointed since The Bahamas became independent, and according to the statement, the government is considering making further appointments in “other jurisdictions of interest”.

Those appointed to this role, the statement highlighted, are “usually a private citizen or permanent resident of a country where he [or] she resides”.

“The primary purpose in appointing these persons is to assist The Bahamas with its interests in jurisdictions where the government has no representation either by way of a Mission or a Tourist Office,” it read.

The statement added: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and by extension the government of The Bahamas, offers its congratulations and its full support to Dr William F Pickard in his new role as honorary consul.”