AS the 40th Anniversary of Independence nears, Mount Tabor Full Gospel Baptist Church, in conjunction with the National 40th Independence Celebration Committee, is hosting a banquet to honour its own list of ‘40 Fathers’ at the Sheraton Beach Resort on Cable Beach on Friday, June 14.

Dubbed a celebration of the ‘Fabulous Forty,’ the banquet seeks to highlight fatherhood in The Bahamas by honouring successful fathers who come from islands around the country.

The Tribune is publishing Mount Tabor’s ‘Fabulous Forty’ in the run-up to July 10, starting with Anthony Robinson, Basil Dean, Deanza Cunningham and Basil Sands.

We know there are thousands of ‘Fabulous Mothers’ in the islands too - please contact our newsroom if you would like to suggest one.

• Anthony 
Robinson

A native of Grand Bahama, Anthony Armstrong Robinson joined Focol Holdings Ltd in 1991 and has been directly involved in all aspects of the business as President and CEO.

Prior to joining the company, Mr Robinson held various managerial and supervisory positions with Shell Bahamas Limited, Franklin Chemicals and Syntex

Corporation.

Mr Robinson obtained a B.Sc. Degree in chemistry and a minor in economics from Jacksonville University, Florida in 1984.

In 2005, Mr Robinson played a pivotal role in the acquisition of Shell Bahamas Limited and relocated to Nassau to integrate the operations into the Focol Group of Companies, a publicly traded company since 1999.

In addition, Mr Robinson serves on the Board of FINCO Finance Corporation of Bahamas Ltd, Old Fort

Bay Property Owners Association and St Paul Parish Council.

Mr Robinson is married to Christine Robinson, his wife of 27 years. They are the proud parents of three children - Anthony Jr., Tonya and Tara Robinson.

• Basil Dean

Basil Andrew Dean is a father of two sons. He is a graduate of Queens College, Nassau, The Institute of Meteorology Training and Research, Nairobi Kenya and the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Barbados.

Mr Dean holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology and Mathematics.

He is Deputy Director in the Bahamas Department of Meteorology and also serves as Chief Meteorologist for the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas Evening News programme.

Mr Dean is the father of two sons, Jhamal and Dominick Dean, and he enjoys reading, travelling and golf.

• Dr Deanza 
Cunningham

Senior Pastor at Christ Community Church, Dr Cunningham spends his days sharing the good news of the gospel with counselling, mentoring and meeting the practical needs of others at the church and in the wider community.

Edris, his wife of almost three decades, enthusiastically serves alongside him as the Administrator and Director of Worship at the church where their two adult sons – Dion and Dominic – are actively involved in ministry.

Born at Cabbage Hill, Crooked Island, The Bahamas in 1957 to the late Stafford and Cinderella Cunningham, Dr Cunningham’s formative years were spent on that island where a strong spiritual and academic foundation was established; he transferred, on government scholarship, to St Augustine’s College in the capital, Nassau, for high school where he excelled academically and athletically. It was at St Augustine’s where he had a divine encounter – becoming “born again” during a prayer meeting on May 20, 1974 – just weeks before graduation. Shortly thereafter he was baptized, entering fellowship at East Street Gospel Chapel.

Dr Cunningham is exceptionally well-educated with formal academic and theological training extending beyond high school through to post graduate professional studies. An alumnus of the College of The Bahamas; University of Miami; Commonwealth Bible College; Covington Theological Seminary; and Master’s School of Divinity, he holds a Teachers Certificate in Secondary Education; and multiple degrees, including, a Bachelor of Education in Social Studies; a Master of Science in Education (with a concentration on Educational Administration); a Master of Theology; and a Doctor of Biblical Studies in Biblical Literature. He has attended the University of Sussex (England); Teleios Theological Institute; and the Urban Alternative Church Development Conference Continuing Education Unit earning professional certificates in Public Administration; Human Resources Management; Manpower Planning and Counselling.

Dr Cunningham worked with The Bahamas government for 26 years as a teacher, principal and public service administrator functioning in various capacities throughout the public service on New Providence and Andros islands.

Dr Cunningham plays the guitar; his wife Edris is a pianist, soloist and music teacher; their older son Dion is a world-class pianist; and the other son Dominic is a drummer and soloist.

• Basil Sands

Basil Lascelles Sands was born in Clarence Town, Long Island in August 1929, to the late Ronald George and Nora Leonie Sands. He attended the Eastern Junior and Senior schools.

Basil served in the Public Service as a Teacher and a Customs Officer. He joined The Nassau Guardian in 1952 as a reporter and journalist. In 1958, he joined the firm of Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons (Bahamas) Ltd., where he became the accountant after being admitted as a member of the Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA) of the United Kingdom in 1965. He became a fellow (FCCA) in 1974.

In 1970 he organized his own firm, Pannell Fitzpatrick & Co., (now PKF). He was founding President of the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1971.

He married Roberta “Bobbie” Turnquest in 1953, and they are the proud parents of 5 children: Robert (Hotelier, Executive Vice-President of Administration & External Affairs with Bahamar); Diane (Attorney-at-law, Partner in McKinney, Bancroft & Hughes); Basil Jr.(Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, proprietor of Central Animal Hospital), Ren�e (Chartered Accountant, Partner in PKF); and Duane Ernest (Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon). He is also the grandfather of sixteen, and great-grand father of one.

He served as Honorary Consul of Japan to the Bahamas for 26 years, and was awarded Japan’s “Order of the Sacred Treasure” in 1993.

A member of St George’s Parish, he served as Treasurer of the Anglican Diocese for more than two decades, and now serves as Treasurer Emeritus. In 2007, he was awarded the Companion of the Most Excellent Order of St Michael & St George (CMG) for his dedicated service to the community.

An active member of the masonic fraternity, he is presently the Lieutenant Grand Commander of the United Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, Northern Jurisdiction.

His hobbies include travelling and golfing.