Bahamas Press Club Deeply Saddened By Death of Sir Charles Carter

Bahamas Press Club Deeply Saddened By Death of Sir Charles Carter

NASSAU, The Bahamas - The Bahamas Press Club today is deeply saddened by the passing of a noted Bahamian son, Sir Edward Charles Carter, KCMG. He was 78.

Sir Charles’ career ran the gamut from a radio announcer and television personality to the House of Parliament, and the Cabinet to newspaper publisher, and radio station owner.

Sir Charles, as he was affectionately called, was a pioneer in the early 1960s with the Young Bahamians radio programme on ZNS. He rose through the ranks of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas and was instrumental in setting up the television station in the mid-1970s, for which he was general manager.

Elected to the House of Assembly in 1982 and again in 1987, he served as Minister of Health, and as Minister of Foreign Affairs. With the introduction of private radio in 1993, Sir Charles was in 1999 granted a license to open a radio station, Island FM.

For a brief period – 2004-2007 – he was the publisher and general manager of The Nassau Guardian.

For his stellar career in the field of Journalism and Mass Communications, Sir Charles was the recipient of The Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honour, during the Bahamas Press Club Media Awards in 2018.

Although he was unable to attend the ceremony due to his then failing health, his grandson Cayman Cater received the award on his behalf. Also present was his son, Mark Carter.

Sir Charles message to the Bahamian media was: “Find in your work the trigger, the love that makes you want to tell the stories of this country in such a way that you cause young people to have a better idea about this country.”

Sir Charles is survived by his wife Muriel Lady Carter, sons Eddie and Mark Carter and a host of other relatives and friends.

Former broadcaster and newspaper general manager, radio station owner and politician Sir Charles Carter received The Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award, The Bahamas Press Club highest honour during the 2018 Media Awards held Saturday, November 10, 2018 at the British Colonial Hilton.  Pictured are Sir Charles (left), and Anthony Capron (right), President, Bahamas Press Club 2014.

(FILE PHOTO/BPC 2014)

Press Club Applauds Appointment of Freedom of Information Commissioner & Observes World Press Freedom Day

NASSAU, The Bahamas - The Bahamas Press Club 2014 says “hats off” to the Government of The Bahamas on the appointment of a Freedom of Information Commissioner, which brings the Freedom of Information Act closer to becoming law.

The Club sees this as a progressive step towards the strengthening of democracy, which we members of the media are bound to uphold.

The appointment of the Freedom of Information Commissioner and a deputy coincides with the observation of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2021.

This day as declared by the United Nations to observe and raise awareness of the importance of “Freedom of the Press” and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“Information as a public good” is an apt theme for this year’s World Freedom Press Day. It recognizes and addresses people and conditions in every sphere across the globe, especially in these pandemic times of COVID-19.

In that vein, the Bahamas Press Club 2014 applauds and upholds those fearless Bahamian journalists who diligently seek out, uncover and report abuses and corruption that may otherwise go unheralded.

We salute those in The Bahamas who are daily insulted and vilified for their attempts at seeking out truth and fair play. And we honour those in war zones and dictatorial regimes, whose very lives are on the line for the stories they produce.