Yesterday, The Bahamas mourned the passing of the Rt. Hon. J. Henry Bostwick, O.B. a man whose calm strength, sharp intellect, and principled leadership helped guide our nation through some of its most important democratic chapters.
For over half a century, Mr. Bostwick served with quiet distinction not seeking recognition, but earning it through the consistency of his character and the depth of his public service.
He was educated at the University of Exeter, and upon returning home, he built a respected legal career as a barrister and partner at Bostwick and Bostwick. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1994 and led the Bahamas Bar Association from 1991 to 1995. Colleagues knew him to be firm, fair, and deeply committed to upholding the rule of law.
In politics, he moved with the same integrity. He was a member of both the House of Assembly and the Senate, served twice as Leader of the Opposition, and held the office of President of the Senate from 1992 to 2002 a tenure that remains unmatched in its length and influence. Across every role, Mr. Bostwick demonstrated that you could be strong without being loud, and principled without being divisive.
His political journey was never about rigid loyalty to party. It was about loyalty to country. He stood for what he believed was right, even when it required going against the grain. That courage that independence of mind is what made him such a respected figure across the political spectrum.
In 2020, he was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Bahamas, one of the nation’s highest honours. With it, he was formally entitled to be styled the Right Honourable J. Henry Bostwick, O.B. That title did not elevate him it simply reflected what so many Bahamians already knew.
To his wife, the Honourable Janet Bostwick a pioneering leader in her own right and to their children and family, Ann and I offer our deepest condolences. We hope they take comfort in knowing that his legacy is secure. His voice may be gone, but his example endures steady, principled, and always in service to others.
We give thanks for his life. May he rest in peace.