In The Bahamas, by 10th December 1967, other than Premier Lynden Pindling, the most famous Bahamian was Hollywood actor Sidney Poitier.
Both of their faces, repeatedly graced the pages of the international newspapers that year. Pindling, his for unprecedented, political achievements. Poitier, for an acting talent, that captured the imagination like no other.
In fact, by 1967, Sidney Poitier was the most famous black man in the world. Tall, incredibly handsome and talented, Poitier was the product of Cat Island and Nassau soil. He was Bahamian.
Poitier in 1964, won the Academy Award for Best Actor, becoming the first black male and Bahamian actor to win the award. Poitier won for Lilies of the Field (1963).
By the time Sidney Poitier, was standing in Holy Cross Anglican Church, in Nassau, taking on the time honoured tradition of godfather, and his wife as godmother, to the youngest and 4th child of new Premier Lynden Pindling and his wife Marguerite Pindling, Poitier was already the most successful draw at the Hollywood box office.
Other than Poitier’s historic Oscar win, the peak of his career, came with the overwhelming success of three popular films: To Sir, with Love, In the Heat of the Night, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.
10 December 1967 – PREMIER DAUGHTER CHRISTENED
If one believes in numerology, then it can be said that the number 10 seemed to be a recurring, if not an adopted lucky number for Lynden Pindling. Consider that the historic general elections of January 10th, 1967 ushered him and the Progressive Liberal Party into power. Then, a few years after, under his leadership, The Bahamas celebrated its independence on July 10, 1973.
Maybe, the christening of his youngest child, a daughter named Monique, on 10th December 1967, had a particularly poignant meaning for the new Premier.
Monique Marguerite, fourth child of the Hon. Lynden O. Pindling, Premier of the Bahamas, and Mrs. Pindling was christened on Sunday [. Godparents are film star Sidney Poitier and Mrs. Poitier who flew to the Bahamas from New York.
Left to right are: The Rev. Father Foster Pestina of Holy Cross Anglican Parish, Mrs. Poitier (holding Monique), Mrs. Marguerite Pindling, Gina Poitier (daughter of godparents), Mrs. Rubie Pestina, Hon. Lynden O. Pindling and Mr. Poitier.
