Bahamian prime minister speaks at lecture
Prime Minister Philip "Brave" Davis spoke as the keynote speaker on Dec. 11 in the annual McCarthy Center lecture. Davis has served in the role since 2017.
CSB+SJU’s McCarthy Center welcomed the distinguished Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Philip “Brave” Davis, as the keynote speaker for the inaugural McCarthy lecture held on Dec. 11 at the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater. This historic occasion marked the first visit by a head of state to CSB+SJU.
The lecture given by Davis delved into various topics, including the relationship between CSB+SJU and The Bahamas, climate change, economics and other challenges and opportunities facing the island nation.
Davis, who is a human rights and corporate lawyer, is the leader of the Progressive Liberal Party in The Bahamas and has been since 2017. He has served as prime minister since his election in the fall of 2021.
Bahamian sophomore and McCarthy Center Student Coordinator Ilan White played a pivotal role in orchestrating the prime minister’s visit.
To get Davis to deliver the McCarthy lecture, White maintained consistent contact with key figures, including Sen. Barry Griffin and Permanent Secretary Creswell Stirrup, both St. John’s alumni.
Davis was originally scheduled to speak on Nov. 20, but the death of Obediah Hercules Wilchcombe, social services and urban development minister, and the subsequent special election required Davis to remain in the country and the lecture date to be moved.
The prime minister arrived on campus on Dec. 11 with a packed schedule ahead of his keynote address.
The itinerary and the prime minister’s delegation were put together by Philip Galanis, a member of the Board of Trustees.
Davis attended a breakfast reception with President Brian Bruess at Renner House. He visited the Multicultural Center to see how the space is occupied and what goals and systems are in place to assist international students. A student luncheon was held in upper Gorecki where Davis sat among students, shared advice and answered questions.
Davis was also given a tour of SJU. This tour involved visiting the McCarthy Center, seeing the newly built woodwork and organ building and visiting the library, where he saw a display depicting the longstanding relationship between CSB+SJU and The Bahamas.
The tour was centered around current and past Bahamian students’ impact and contribution to CSB+SJU.
CSB+SJU has an extensive history with The Bahamas, after Rev. Chrysostom Schreiner established a headquarters for the Benedictines in The Bahamas named “The Priory” in 1893.
In the century following, many Bahamian students attended CSB+SJU and left a legacy of academic, social and professional success.
For White, this common history makes it especially significant to have the Bahamian leader on campus.
“The history of it really means a lot because I have learned how integral both institutions are to The Bahamas, especially St. John’s with Catholicism,” White said.
The day culminated with Davis presenting his lecture, followed by an insightful interview conducted by Professor Britanny Merrit Nash. The discussion explored Davis’s background, upbringing and values.
During the lecture, Matt Lindstrom, director of the McCarthy Center, expressed optimism about the future, remarking that he would not be surprised if White presented the McCarthy lecture in the near future.
White’s most memorable moment, however, was introducing Davis.
“Getting to introduce my prime minister at my university means a lot,” White said.
Inspired by the success of the event, White and Lindstrom organized a study tour in The Bahamas for American students during winter break.
The students immersed themselves in Bahamian culture, exploring the Bahamas National Trust, touring Parliament and The Senate, and meeting former politicians, including Philip Galanis (CSB+SJU Board of Trustee member), and former Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes, who was a signatory on The Bahamas constitution.
The students experienced local transportation and cuisine and had the opportunity to ride the jitney, a popular form of public transportation in The Bahamas.
White emphasized the need for more study tours.
“I believe that these institutions must do more to showcase the history and relationship between The Bahamas,” White said.
This sentiment was echoed by A’Jani Culmer, a Bahamian computer science major, who sees the relationship between CSB+SJU and The Bahamas as an opportunity for Bahamians to study abroad and further their education.
Culmer found it important to be included in the prime minister’s visit.
“I wanted him (Davis) to see that we (Bahamians) are involved in our campus and are making a difference,” Culmer said.
The prime minister’s visit and the subsequent study tour not only strengthened the ties between CSB+SJU and The Bahamas but also served to enrich the cultural ex- change between the two nations, leaving an undeniable mark on the institutions’ history.
