A landmark ceremony held in Exuma, The Bahamas, on Wednesday marked the official renaming of Rokers Point Primary School to Pembroke E. Ferguson Primary School, a tribute to the late beloved educator whose decades of devotion shaped generations of learners and strengthened local communities across the island nation.
Bahamian Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis opened the official ceremony by framing the occasion as a milestone moment for Exuma, celebrating the enduring legacy of Ferguson, who devoted his entire professional life and personal energy to advancing education and public service.
Born in the small Exuma community of Farmers Hill in 1908, Ferguson built a 47-year career in education that spanned multiple Bahamian islands. He began his career as a head teacher in Crooked Island before advancing to principal roles first in San Salvador, and later returning to his home island of Exuma to lead the local education community.
His impact extended far beyond the classroom walls. Beyond his work in education, Ferguson served the public as a justice of the peace, worked as an ordained Christian minister, and operated a small farm where he grew fresh produce to distribute to low-income and food-insecure families across the region.
Prime Minister Davis emphasized that Ferguson’s commitment to community uplift was visible wherever he worked. He noted that Ferguson regularly went above his formal job requirements, staying after school hours to provide extra support to struggling students and offering mentorship to early-career teachers new to the profession.
“In Mr Ferguson, we see a generation of Bahamian educators who understood that teaching was never confined to four walls. To teach was to serve. To educate was to build a community, and that is precisely why this renaming matters to us,” Davis said during his address.
Bahamas Education Minister Chester Cooper echoed Davis’ remarks, noting that the formal recognition of Ferguson through the school renaming was a long-overdue honor for one of the nation’s most iconic educational leaders.
“As the children walk through the doors, some will ask who he was and we must tell them. Tell them that he came from right here. Tell them that he did not begin with any advantage. Tell them he worked, he learned, he taught and served,” Cooper said, highlighting Ferguson’s story as an inspiration for current and future students at the school.
Ferguson’s son, Bishop Franklyn Ferguson, spoke on behalf of the family at the ceremony, expressing gratitude for the honor and echoing Cooper’s sentiment that the recognition was a long time coming. “We are rejoicing today because as many would have said that this was long overdue,” he added.