The historic family residence of Governor General Dame Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt has been ceremoniously inaugurated as a permanent museum honoring her extraordinary life journey. Government officials and community representatives assembled yesterday for the unveiling of the Dame Cynthia ‘Mother’ Pratt Legacy Hall, housed within the very home where The Bahamas’ first female Deputy Prime Minister spent her formative years.
Located on Sixth Street, Poinciana Avenue, the property known as The Grove now serves as a meticulously curated repository of photographs, personal artifacts, and historical exhibits documenting Dame Cynthia’s evolution from humble beginnings to becoming the nation’s head of state. The Governor General described the museum’s establishment as the realization of a ‘lifelong dream,’ emphasizing its role in preserving her narrative of perseverance, faith, and purposeful living.
The opening ceremony featured musical performances by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Band and students from three inner-city schools adjacent to the gubernatorial residence. Personal testimonials from family members, including her daughter, highlighted Dame Cynthia’s resilience and leadership qualities.
In remarkably candid reflections, Dame Cynthia recounted her childhood in a household of sixteen children where food scarcity was commonplace. She narrated Sundays when a single chicken had to be distributed among all siblings, leaving her—as the thirteenth child—to hope for remaining portions. She described foraging in plum and dilly trees for sustenance and sometimes facing the choice between consuming insect-contaminated rice or going hungry.
The Governor General shared poignant memories of her mother, an illiterate straw vendor, and her own experiences singing for tourists in exchange for nickels to purchase lunch. One particularly moving account involved a Canadian couple she met as a child while guiding them to a local hotel. So captivated by her spirit, the couple spent two decades attempting to locate her with intentions of adoption, only to discover she had already become a Member of Parliament.
Dame Cynthia’s distinguished athletic career was also highlighted, including her leadership of the Bahamas women’s national softball team to a bronze medal at the 1981 World Games in Santa Clara, California—where she earned the enduring nickname ‘Mother.’ She additionally competed on the National Basketball and Netball Teams before assuming her current role as Governor-General on September 1, 2023.
In her inaugural address last year, she emphasized her maternal approach to governance: ‘As a mother my eyes and ears are always open to the needs of our young people and the importance of doing all we can to uplift them.’