Bahamas is in mourning over death of Cabinet minister who helped break tourism records
The Bahamas is mourning the loss of one of its long serving politicians, a former journalist who propelled a successful television news career into politics to represent the people of Grand Bahama and Bimini and help rebrand The Bahamas as a tourist attraction to African Americans and sports enthusiasts.
Obediah Hercules Wilchcombe, social services and urban development minister, died suddenly Sunday after spending the weekend attending public events among his Grand Bahama constituency. He was 64.
No cause of death was given for the passing of Wilchcombe, who in his final appearance was encouraging women to take the lead in advocating on issues like gender-based violence as he addressed members of the Progressive Liberal Party Women’s Branch in Grand Bahama.
“Our party is reeling this morning,” Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchel, chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party, said in a statement. “We have a deep sense of loss from one we have known over the decades of public life.”
Wilchcombe’s death, he added, was “a shocking development for a dedicated, energetic and vibrant public servant.”
The Office of Prime Minister Philip Davis said that even though Wilchcombe, who was known simply as “Obie” and also served as leader of government business in the House of Assembly, had achieved much in his many years of public service, he still had much more to offer.
Davis said on the social media platform X that Wilchcombe was “a distinguished servant to the Bahamian people and a dear friend.”
In honor of “his unparalleled service and enduring legacy,” Davis said he had ordered that all national flags be flown at half-staff.
Wilchcombe’s career began in journalism in 1975 at the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas. Over 25 years, he rose through the ranks from reporter to deputy director of news, news director and assistant general manager.
“He was resolute and courageous in his reporting and his defense of the Fourth Estate,” Davis’ office said. “He is perhaps the only journalist in the country to have been sent to prison for refusing to reveal his sources, an episode that continued to traumatize him many years later.”
Still, Wilchcombe’s roots were in politics. His parents helped established the Progressive Liberal Party’s branch in Grand Bahama, and he used to write speeches for Sir Lynden Pindling, the former prime minister who is considered “the Father of the Nation.” In 1994, Wilchcombe decided to formally enter politics and a year later became chairman of the Progressive Liberal Party.
He held several other posts: senator, cabinet minister and leader of government business in the House. But it’s his stint as tourism minister, a post he held twice, that helped raised his national and international profile. Though The Bahamas has a leading brand in Caribbean tourism, Wilchcombe decided to market the country to African American as well as in the sports and religious markets.
During his tenure, the country expanded new flight services, including JetBlue and Spirit airlines among others and The Bahamas saw record-breaking tourism arrivals.
“His contribution to the development of the film industry was exemplary, and the success of this policy was evident when two of the top three films of 2006 were shot in our beautiful nation,” said Davis, calling him “a true patriot.”
“He was funny and thoughtful, with a great sense of our place in history,” Davis added. “His articulate discourse and thoughtful insights were profound and often shocked the conscience of the Progressive Liberal Party, leading to meaningful deliberations and impactful resolutions.”
In addition to politics, Wilchcombe served as former president of the Grand Bahama Basketball Association and the Commonwealth American Football League.
This story was originally published September 25, 2023 at 4:06 PM.
