Mourners Recognize Sports Pioneer Neville Wisdom During State-recognized Funeral

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – It was a slow procession into the parking lot of Bahamas Faith Ministries from Carmichael Road.

The casket carried former cabinet minister Neville Wisdom, draped in a Bahamian flag, surrounded by police and defence force officers.

Hundreds gathered Friday morning to pay their final respects to the late Neville Wisdom, a former cabinet minister, and sports icon.

Wisdom died at the age of 76 on September 5th.

He stepped into frontline politics, serving as a senator from 1987-1992.

Then he was then elected as the member of Parliament for Deleporte when the PLP won the 2002 General Election, a post he served in until 2007.

Wisdom, appointed to cabinet as the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture by then Prime Minister Perry Christie, focused heavily on youth programs, athletics, and national heritage.

Having worked with him closely, Christie says his former political colleague was gifted from the beginning.

Perry Christie – Former Prime Minister

“He was a coach, having to have the flexibility and the adaptability of being able to move and change circumstances and deal with youngsters well below his age and get their respect.”

A former youth sports and culture minister turned opposition leader, Michael Pintard, says Wisdom’s contributions laid the groundwork for what we have today.

Michael Pintard – Leader, Opposition

“He played a pivotal role in helping to shape the framework for sports development under the NSA as we knew it. He was a part of the group that was a fore runner giving birth to that.”

For Prime Minister Philip Davis, the success of The Bahamas on the world stage was a credit to the former cabinet minister.

Philip Davis – Prime Minister

“From CARIFTA to the Commonwealth Games, from the Pan American Games to the Olympics, Bahamians stood on the podium of the world because one man believed in them before they believed in themselves.”

Even though Wisdom lent himself to public life and the athletic arena for decades, none knew him most like his own family.

Dr. Keith Wisdom – Brother, Neville Wisdom

“We tell the story of his life and the larger things he believes in and realization that he had a gift to make people achieve what he somehow felt that they could achieve.”