2023 | Dame Cynthia A. Pratt, O.N., GCMG

HER EXCELLENCY
DAME CYNTHIA A. PRATT O.N., GCMG

GOVERNOR-GENERAL
2023 - PRESENT

A prolific Bahamian Philanthropist and Community Developer, Cynthia “Mother” Pratt was born on November 5, 1945 in New Providence, The Bahamas, to Herman and Rose Moxey of Mangrove Cay, Andros and the Bluff, Eleuthera, respectively.

"Mother,” as she is affectionately called, is a former Educator, Unsung Author, National Icon, former Deputy Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, former Member of Parliament for the St. Cecilia Constituency, Senior Pastor of Prayer & Praise Assembly Church, located in the heart of the inner city, and currently the Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Above all these roles, she was first and foremost a devoted wife, and she enjoys being a mother, matriarch and nation builder. 

Her Excellency the Most Hon. Cynthia Alexandria Pratt, 12^th Governor General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas at her induction September 1, 2023, most recently accepted the award of Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George at Buckingham Palace, May 1, 2024.

Educator: 

Dame Cynthia Pratt holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health & Education with a minor in Sociology, and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, awarded by St. Augustine’s University, North Carolina, USA.  An exemplary educator, she has devoted more than two decades as a Physical Education Teacher and Head of Department  At C.C. Sweeting Senior High School.   From 1980 to this present time, Dame Cynthia continues to secure hundreds of scholarships for deserving Bahamians.  She has held the position of Assistant Director, Student Activities, and a part-time lecturer at the University of The Bahamas (formerly College of The Bahamas), where, she served with distinction.

World-Class Athlete:

Gold Medalist for the Caribbean Amateur Softball Championship, Belize, Central America; Bronze Medalist World Games (Softball), Santa Clara, California; Coach of the Year, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) 1980-1983, St. Augustine's University; Softball Team Head Coach/Most Valuable Player in leading The Bahamas National Softball Team to a Bronze Medal win at the World Games held in Santa Clara California in 1981: These are partial honourable mentions of Dame Cynthia’s stellar contribution to Sports in the national and international arenas.  It was during these games that she was given the name “Mother.”  Her contribution as President of The Bahamas Chapter of St. Augustine’s University Alumni Association has brought her international acclaim in Sports Education and Coaching.  Today, she still gives of her time as Recruiter for St. Augustine’s University, Raleigh, North Carolina. 

Foundation Founder:

The Cynthia Mother Pratt Foundation: Prolific Philanthropist, Dame Cynthia is the Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cynthia Mother Pratt Foundation, a work that has existed for more than four decades.  The foundation’s chief objective is to restore abused women with addiction to a place of self-worth and independence.  This is why the foundation now seeks to establish a safe village for the recovery and development of abused women. 

“Mother” has come face-to-face with women who lack the resources to care for their children.  Many may think that onboarding four foster children at once would be financially unbearable for a humble-income family, but Mother and her devoted late husband, Joe, did it gracefully.  As a philanthropist and proponent of national development, Dame Cynthia “Mother” Pratt provides essential survival needs such as: food, shelter and clothing for the underprivileged.  She organizes networks for the provision of scholarships at the secondary and post-secondary levels.  For more than two decades, she provided a personalized prison ministry, which was geared toward the restoration of incarcerated young men.  Fittingly, she was proclaimed a Zonta Club ‘Living Legend.’ 

Health Care Professional:

In the year 1963, Dame Cynthia began a new career as a trained Nurse at the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), Nassau, The Bahamas.  For fourteen years, she gave unparalleled quality service in the operating theatre of PMH.  She cared for the patients the way she would for her own family.  Back then as it is now, many patients were without families and friends to care for them. She would package clothing, food and personal effects for the patients in need.  She showed compassion by providing whatever she could.   

Servant Politician:

Dame Cynthia was elected to serve for three consecutive terms as a Member of Parliament and Representative for the St. Cecilia Constituency, 1997 - 2012.  During her term in office, Dame Cynthia undertook leadership roles such as Minister of National Security, 2002 – 2007; Deputy Prime Minister, 2002 – 2007; and in 2005, Dame Cynthia served as the first female Acting Prime Minister during the administration of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP); and the first female to present the national budget to Parliament.  During this era of public life, Dame Cynthia was key in enforcing new security legislation, advocacy for women’s rights, and reform for the habilitation of convicts.  As in the sports arena, Mrs. Pratt’s ‘servant’ approach in politics resulted in a deeper claim to rights for the title: “Mother.” 

 Unsung Author:

Books written by Dame Cynthia, the first (1^st) book was “No Equal to God’s Chosen. When Dame Cynthia’s biography, the second (2^nd)  book, “An Ordinary Woman from the Heart of the Inner City, was published and spun into circulation, renowned movie makers, directors and producers, along with Producer/Director Vernon Lynch, engaged in discussions to write and produce a movie on the life and times of Cynthia “Mother” Pratt.  And the third (3^rd) book is “From the Pit to the Palace”.

In addition, to footage portraying Dame Cynthia as Philanthropist and Community Developer, Educator, Health Care Professional, Athlete and Author, the movie will show her as Servant Politician, Evangelist and Pastor, Wife, Mother and Matriarch. 

Evangelist and Pastor:

For Her Excellency Dame Cynthia, nation building extended beyond the walls of Parliament and the wider community.  Amidst all of various hats she wore, Dame Cynthia championed the humble offices of Sunday Superintendent Church Administrator, and Assistant Pastor at the Prayer & Praise Assembly, where she currently serves as Senior Pastor.  Under her pastorship, many souls have been saved, many men and women became liberated, and numerous convicts were reformed to become progressive and productive citizens, making significant contribution to social and economic development.   

 Wife, Mother and Matriarch:

Mother’s marriage to the Late Joseph B. Pratt, produced six children. 

She is not recognized as Matriarch because she was the first female to hold the post of Minister of National Security for The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, or because she was the first female Acting Prime Minister of The Bahamas, or the first female Deputy Prime Minister of The Bahamas, and surely not because she was the first female to deliver the Budget to Parliament.  The honour of ‘Matriarch’ is bestowed upon her because she demonstrates love and compassion for her family, and for the nation. 

Who is this woman?  She is “Mother”: an honouree par excellence, a humble servant.  This is a life and legacy of faith, grace, love and charity – ‘Mother.