Nassau, The Bahamas, May 19, 2022 – The Ministry of Education received copies of Former Prime Minister The Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham’s book, ‘I Say What I Mean and I Mean What I Say: Hubert A. Ingraham In His Own Words’ courtesy of Colina Insurance Limited (Colina).  The books will be distributed to public high schools across The Bahamas.

Wendy Butler, Vice President, Group & Health Benefits and Jeffrey Randall, Branch Manager, Colina, presented the books to Ministry of Education representatives.

“In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, the more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future,” said Wendy Butler, Vice President, Group & Health Benefits.  “As a strong proponent for educating our nation’s children, we are indeed honoured for the opportunity to donate copies of volume one of Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham’s book to public junior and high schools throughout our archipelago from Grand Bahama in the North to Inagua in the South.”

“It is our hope that the youth of our nation [who are the] leaders of tomorrow will read and be inspired by the life and legacy of a barefoot boy from Cooper’s Town, Abaco raised by his grandmother who ascended to the office of Prime Minister of The Bahamas,” said Butler.

Former Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham, who attended the presentation, shared his hope that students would gain inspiration from his journey to success.

“I wanted to make sure that Bahamian students understood that if Hubert Ingraham, son of an unwed mother who never saw his biological father until he was 11 years old, grew up in Coopers Town Abaco, went to school in a one room school and who could eventually achieve what he has, that anybody can do it, anybody!,” said the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham.  “I hold myself up as an example to students of The Bahamas – in this country you can become whatever you want to become,”

The Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham also shared his wish for the book to become a useful resource for educators, “I hope that social studies teachers will find in this collection many examples that they could point out to students and help to inspire them”.

The Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education, Technical & Vocational Training also made remarks at the event.

“We feel honoured that we are able to share this book in our schools,” said Hanna-Martin.

“Marcus Garvey once said, a people without knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots,” said Hanna-Martin. “We do not want our children to be like a tree without roots”.

“[Former Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham’s] life is exemplary to people as to the possibilities of who we are and what we can do,” Hanna-Martin noted.

Hanna-Martin also expressed her gratitude, “I wish to thank Colina for funding this donation – we appreciate it greatly.”

The donation was presented at the Ministry of Education headquarters on University Drive.

About The Ministry of Education  

The goal of the Ministry of Education is to create, provide and maintain a Bahamian Education system that will foster academic excellence and equip students with the literacy competence to make meaningful contributions as nation builders, on a global scale. Both the Department and Ministry of Education seek to provide all persons in The Bahamas an opportunity to receive a quality education that will give them the necessary knowledge, attitudes and skills required for life.

About Colina Insurance Limited (Colina)

Colina is a diversified financial services company, offering comprehensive life and health insurance solutions. Colina is wholly-owned by Colina Holdings Bahamas Limited (CHBL). CHBL is a Bahamian Company, built on a firm foundation of trust, integrity and responsibility. Colina has evolved over the past 155 years to become The Bahamas’ largest life and health insurer, with a solid reputation for providing insurance and related financial services products that help clients prepare for life’s unexpected events.