What Philip Galanis and George Smith had in common
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Philip Galanis and George Smith shared the same goal: keep the Progressive Liberal Party as the government of the Bahamas. The two strategists before resigning from frontline politics, rose to the top, and after leaving, were involved in high-level decision-making within their party, plotting to gain advantage over the Free National Movement and win the hearts of the electorate.
Galanis, 70, and the founder of HLB Bahamas, an accounting firm, died unexpectedly at his residence on Friday, October 11. He suffered a cardiac arrest.
Smith, 82, one of the signatories to the Bahamas constitution, died unexpectedly last year on Friday, May 26. He too died at his residence when he suffered a heart attack.
Their hearts were intertwined, calling themselves ‘brothers’ and often spent time together. Their last outing was two days before Smith’s death, and Galanis expected to see Smith on that fateful Friday.
Just one week before Galanis died, reports are he spoke of his missing for Smith.
“It was heartbreaking for Phil, an incredible loss,” a Nassau Guardian article read.
When Smith died, Galanis said, “I really valued our friendship and deeply admired and respected his intellect and his commitment to the ideals for which he fought all his life.
“George was a progressive and a liberal in the classical sense, and frequently expressed his genuine concern about the plight of the poor and disadvantaged in our society. George was the personification of patriotism. He loved this country, his Exuma (where he served as a longtime member of parliament), and the Bahamian people throughout the length and breadth of the land.
“His sudden loss has created an unfathomable void that will take an immeasurably long time to fill.”
Galanis and Smith were outspoken. But their friend Raynard Rigby, former national chairman of the PLP said the men differ in expressions. “George would say his words and Phil would just smile and disagree.”
Galanis spoke his mind in a Nassau Guardian’s weekly column, “Consider This” and Smith was a regular pundit on national issues.
Prime Minister Philip Davis loved them both.
He appointed Smith as a non-resident high commissioner to Singapore and as an advisor to the planning committee for the country’s 50th Independence, just months before he died.
Galanis was appointed chairman of the Bahamas Trade Commission and acted as the country’s chief negotiator to the World Health Organization.
