Clifford Darling

Sir Clifford Darling GCVO (born February 6, 1922 on Acklins , † December 27, 2011 in Nassau , New Providence ) was a Bahamian politician ( Progressive Liberal Party ).

Life

Before his political career, Darling worked as a taxi driver. He was also General Secretary of the Bahamas Taxicab Union for eight years and its President for 10 years. As union president, he campaigned for the hotels to treat taxi drivers better. In 1957 he had the Bahamas airport blocked or closed. A general strike followed in January 1958.

Darling was a member of the Senate from January 1964 to January 1967. After that he was a member of the House of Assembly from January 1967 . As Minister of Labor and National Insurance , he introduced the National Insurance program on October 7, 1974 . In 1977 he was elected Chairman ( Speaker ) of the House of Assembly. In the same year he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II . On November 13, 1991, he resigned as Chairman of the House of Assembly. The current Governor General of the Bahamas, Henry Milton Taylor , was planning to retire after January 1, 1992. Darling was to be his successor. On January 2, 1992, he took his oath of office. He held this office until January 2, 1995.

Darling was married twice and had seven children. He died on December 27, 2011 at Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau after a long illness.

Web links

• Prime Minister Ingraham on the Passing of Sir Clifford Darling , December 27, 2011, The Bahamas Weekly
• 'Nation Builder' Sir Clifford Dies , December 28, 2011, The Tribune
• Former GG, Sir Clifford dies at 89 , December 28, 2011, The Nassau Guardian