2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours List Revealed
Her Majesty the Queen has recognized former Premier Paula Cox, Rev. Dr. Conway Simmons, Mr. Graham Pewter and Mr. Richard Bascome Jr in the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Ms Cox was named Commander of the British Empire, while Rev. Dr. Simmons Mr. Pewter, and Mr. Bascome were awarded Queen’s Certificates and Badges of Honour.
From left to right: Graham Pewter, Rev. Dr. Conway Simmons, Paula Cox, and Richard Bascome
Paula Cox
A spokesperson said, “Ms. Paula A. Cox was honoured for services to Bermuda. Lately a Member of Parliament and formerly Premier of Bermuda, Ms. Cox’s public service and political career has spanned nearly 20 years. She is the former Premier and Minister of Finance and was first elected to the Bermuda Parliament in October 1996.
“She has had varied experience in government, having held a number of Cabinet Portfolios. In November 1998, she was appointed as the first PLP Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety.
“In 2001 she was appointed Minister of Education and Development. In 2003, while she was serving as the Attorney-General and Minister of Education and Development, Wheelock College invited the then Minister Paula Cox to accept an honorary doctorate in Education. In 2009, Dalhousie University invited her to become an Honorary alumnus of Dalhousie University.
“Ms. Cox assumed the Finance portfolio in January 2004, succeeding her late father, Eugene Cox. She held the Ministry of Finance up until December 2012 when the Government changed following the December 2012 General Election.
“In 2011, Paula Cox received the Caribbean region’s “Woman of the Year Award.” In 2012, she received a “Women Who Make A Difference” Award from the International Women’s Forum.
“Paula A Cox attended Havergal Ladies College in Toronto; later this year, Havergal Ladies College will induct her into their Hall of Distinction. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and a post-graduate Diploma in International Law from the University of Manchester.
“She trained in the UK as a Solicitor and was called to the Bermuda Bar. She was the Founding President of the International Women’s Forum-Bermuda Forum, which she established.
Rev. Dr. Conway Simmons
“Rev. Dr. Conway Simmons was awarded for services to the church. Rev. Dr. Conway Milton Simmons retired from Pastoral Ministry in February 2014. He was the pastor of Richard Allen Church in the World Heritage Site of St George’s. He served at Richard Allen for 49 years.
“He was ordained as an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Kingston, Jamaica. Over his many decades of service, Rev. Simmons has pastored at numerous churches both home and abroad. Locally, he led St. John’s AME Church, Heard Chapel AME, Vernon Temple AME, and St. Paul’s AME Church.
“He was the Presiding Elder for the Jamaica Annual Conference Central District and for the Bermuda Annual Conference. He is an honoured and celebrated figure in Bermuda’s religious and wider community. He has served as a mentor to many pastors over the years, and through the many challenges Rev. Simmons has served the community and the church fraternity with dignity, grace and pride.”
“His favourite scripture is Proverbs 3: 5 & 6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Mr. Graham Pewter
“Mr. Graham Pewter was awarded for services to the community. Graham C. Pewter is President and CEO of Catlin Insurance Company. Under the umbrella of Catlin, Mr. Pewter has spearheaded a robust charitable movement over the years. Catlin Bermuda is involved in a number of community endeavours.
“Most notably, it is the title sponsor for the annual End to End Walk. They also support Caron Bermuda, which is a charity that provides assistance and treatment to people struggling with substance addiction and he is heavily invested in our youth.
“Catlin provides funding to the Student Assistance Programme (SAP) at Pride Bermuda, and several schools around the Island. Catlin has also assisted the Bermuda Football Association’s National Academy programme which works with boys from 12 to 18-years-old.
“In his spare time, Mr. Pewter is also significantly involved with the Centre on Philanthropy and is deputy chair and chairman of their development committee.
“He is a community minded individual who wants only the best for Bermuda and its people. He is selfless and generous advocate of the non-profit sector, who has always sought to find positive ways to tackle the growing funding challenges to address the increasing social needs for our community.
Mr. Richard Bascome Jr.
“Mr. Richard Bascome Jr. was awarded for services to the community. Mr. Bascome, from West Over Farm, is no stranger to the agricultural scene. He was born into a farming family, and has been involved in farming since a young boy. As a youngster, Richard Jr. was required, along with his brother Bryson, to deliver milk as far as Hog Bay by horse and carriage every day before school began.
“Richard Jr. attended Southampton Glebe Primary School, where his mother, Elsie Bascome, was a teacher. After primary school, he attended Sandy’s Secondary High School and then continued his education abroad at Hampton University. He started working on the farm with his father in the 1960s.
“Though better known as a dairyman, Richie also grows a wide range of traditional field crops. Many of the island’s residents, especially those in the Somerset area, are very familiar with his tasty sweet corn, potatoes, and onions.
“A summer pilgrimage to West Over Farm to buy one of Mr. Bascome’s legendary watermelons is an annual custom for many. If you’re interested in Bermuda’s agricultural history, ask him and be prepared to spend a while listening to some of the most fabulous stories of days gone by.
“His knowledge of agricultural environment was valued by the Government, who appointed him to the Agricultural Board. Richard Bascome takes great pride in the fact that over the past 50 years he has encouraged or mentored most of the commercial farmers working today.”
- Paula Cox photo by Scott Tucker
Commander of the British Empire and plp…that’s ‘king hilarious!!!
Only in Bermuda…What they say, “Bermuda is another world”? Indeed it is:-)
Nuffin but the truth, it must be a color thing with you, stop playing with white golf balls and try playing billiards. Everything is not white.
Cue Stick nothing to do with colour so dont make it one. Read J Starling’s comment – tbe PLP had to change their constitution so they could accept these honours – pure hypocrisy.
What happened to Sir Ewart Brown?
He wouldn’t get down on his knees for the queen.
Dame Cox no longer a “Cog”
do you know what a CBE is?
Yes…… Cog Bermuda Empire
Cog of The BRITISH Empire
DBE is the female equivalent of a Knighthood. eg. Dame Jennifer Smith.
Ms. Cox made CBE.
Now that’s funny……………..
Cox. Beats. Ewart.
Rite horn…..
So happy for Paula Cox and Rev. Dr. Conway Simmons. They both deserve it. Well done!!
Pretty special. Oversee the almost demise of our Island and get honored for doing so. Where do I sign up? Thanks Cog.
Ironic really that awards were given on a day no longer recognized as a public holiday in Bermuda! I don’t suppose anyone felt that strongly though that the award was refused?
Mmmmmm…..
Congratulations!
There is a committee is London called the Honours Forfeiture List that strips any individual who is NOT deserving of the honour bestowed upon /him/her.
Dame Paula Cox name needs to be put forward to the committee for both consideration and investigation to be stripped of the award.
Speak with total self-interest of the members House of Parliament and spitting in the eyes of the public.
London, England
Thanks for the, “eye-opener” Ms. Valirie Marcia Akinstall…
A CBE is not a Dameship. That’s a DBE. They’re related awards, but a CBE is lesser than a DBE.
As far as I’m concerned they’re all colonial trinkets, and continue to be both disappointed and amazed at PLPers accepting them, even to the point of amending the PLP constitution post-1998 to allow for it.
How far the PLP has strayed from it’s roots…
The question is, why was awarded a CBE as opposed to a DBE like our other female Premiers?
Ooops
*** why was she awarded etc……
does a CBE make the recipient a Dame?
No. She is not a Dame.
you always have some stupip sh===t to say
Congrats to Paula Cox she worked tirelessly for Bermuda as an open and honest leader. She had the country’s
best interest at heart despite what others would like to think. The biggest gripe seemed to be finances. I don’t see us in a better financial situation – in fact I only see an increase in debt doesn’t seem to be easy when in the drivers seat and the shoe is on the other foot
She did not have the country’s best interest at heart. She had the PLP’s best interest at heart. She refused to step in and stop the economic madness that was going on at the time, all for the sake of self and party, if she spoke out she would have walked.
She took us where we are now. The OBA are trying to find away back out. Although I do believe she had the best intentions she quite obviously lacked any of the aptitude to deal with the finances of Bermuda in a wise and prudent way. The proof of that is self evident. That ehavior should not be celebrated or awarded. She should have declined.
History tell us.
“The People are hungry”.
“They have no bread”.
“Let them eat cake”.
To all those well deserving people over the years who unfortunately have not been recognized.
Only you! know in your heart of hearts of your valuable contributions made to society.
Congratulations to all. Re: Ms Cox, given the PLP’s disdain for our colonial heritage and all that it represents, I do find it interesting that their members accept this award. Given the fact that the party once had a constitutional clause barring anyone from accepting such an award, I do wonder whether there will be any appreciation whatsoever, of same.
I know one person that did not accept the Queen’s honour awards; Dr. Pauulu Kamarakafeg(Roosevelt Browne).
I once joked with him and asked’Hey Bye’ why have your not accepted your party’s Queen ‘s Honour award? He laugh and said;” I told them not to embarrass themselves’. We both laugh after that for we both considered that Queen’s honour awards are the awards of another man’s country.
Funny story Alvin… not.
PC must have enough meaningles awards from around the world to paper all of her wall.
This one only cheapens what the Queens Honours List is all about. An embarrasment for others who really did deserve recogmition.
Do we continuously have to smear people so much and not just be happy for them.
Teed Off; you hit the ball square and got a hole in one.
Bermuda was and is a small gathering of small families that have had it good and some bad.
It’s a cultural thing.
When your out on the water and you see those expensive boats, all colors are included.
Out dinning and dancing and lawn parties, all colors included.
Home ownership and travel.
Dress, appearance, …….
Class is a bi***.
Shalom.
Where is the smear? The country should be happy and say nothing?
Do not attempt a stance of reverse psychology by projecting what is both misleading and undeserved into a stance of righteous indignation.
If this woman got this award in the pursuit of bettering herself then yes, she deserves the accolade.
But when you take on a political position handed out to you due to nepotism, without any qualifications and/or previous background in that highly specialise field, yet you enter at the very top of that field, and fail at the expense of an entire country, the truth deserves transparency not hypocrisy.
There is nothing like taking the moral high ground to cloak incompetence and failure. But if incompetence and failure brings you happiness, then may you retain everlasting emotional bliss; just do not expect everyone to buy into your fallacy.
London, England
Sir Ewart next?
What a dishonour to the Queen.Ms.Cox took Bermuda to near bankruptcy and gets a CBE,unbelievable.
Ewart will get knighted soon and really expose the incompetence of the select committee who gives out these awards.
Ewart is gonna get the BIU.
Brought in Illegal Uighurs.
No, he was awarded the CCO. ( Convenient Cost Overruns )
Paula Cox? Really!
Commander of the British Empire-CBE.
Paula, not so much. I am always intrigued why people are given these awards for doing salaried jobs. Now many spend countless hours fundraising or completing community work, but for being a highly paid politician or a Minister of the Church…I think not.
Alvin, your derogitory remarks are detrimental to those who have received these awards and were befitting of the accolade. Maybe Dr.R. Brown felt he had not merited such an award.