Former Minister of National Security Dr. Bernard J. Nottage died yesterday at the age of 71 after suffering from several ailments.

Last Thursday, Dr. Nottage was transferred by air ambulance to Florida to receive medical treatment.

The former Cabinet minister who was “gravely ill,” was taken to Florida after members of his family made the decision to exhaust every medical facility for his treatment.

Dr. Nottage suffered from prostate cancer and kidney failure, among other ailments.

Following the announcement of Dr. Nottage’s death, condolences from his parliamentary colleagues poured in.

Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis said he is saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Nottage, who is also his medical colleague.

“Dr. Nottage was an outstanding medical doctor and political leader. But he was first and foremost a Bahamian patriot and native son, who at his core, was deeply committed to the development of The Bahamas and the Caribbean,” Dr. Minnis said yesterday.

“BJ, as he was affectionately known to us all, was born into a sporting family and so it was no surprise that he went on to become an outstanding athlete and sports organizer.  He nurtured generations of aspiring athletes in The Bahamas as well as in the region.”

The prime minister noted that Dr. Nottage was one of the persons responsible for bringing the Carifta Games to The Bahamas and remained a committed patron of sports.

“Dr. Nottage earned the trust and affection of many patients who found in him a fine medical practitioner who demonstrated an ethic of care and compassion,” Dr. Minnis added.

Another parliamentary colleague, who is also saddened by Dr. Nottage’s death, is Senator Fred Mitchell, who reminisced on his friendship with the former minister in his tribute yesterday.

“Each year, with our mutual friend Dr. Franklin Walkine, we gathered at Christmas Day for breakfast with our friends. The gathering in the last few years was only three. We toasted last year not knowing, but also realizing that one or other or all might not return this year. It is now only two,” Mr. Mitchell said.

“He (Dr. Nottage) was the consummate perfectionist. He was a patriot. He loved The Bahamas. He loved the people of Bain and Grants Town and Kennedy where he served as MP.”

Mr. Mitchell added that his former constituents are grateful for Dr. Nottage’s work in completing the Fox Hill Community Centre as part of the Citizen Security Initiative.

Dr. Nottage recently ran unsuccessfully in the May 10 general election against the Free National Movement’s newcomer Travis Robinson for the Bain and Grants Town constituency, which he represented for a number of years.

He was a Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) member of parliament from the early 80s.

He held the PLP Kennedy seat prior to leaving to form the Coalition for Democratic Reform (CDR).

Having lost to the PLP in 2002, Dr. Nottage returned as minister of health in 2006 under the Christie administration and ran in Bain and Grants Town in 2007 successfully.

He retained that seat until Robinson unseated him on May 10, 2017.

Additionally, he was also the leader of government business in the House of Assembly during the tenure of the former administration.

Dr. Nottage also ran unsuccessfully against former Prime Minister Perry Christie for the leadership of the PLP in 1997 and 2009.

As the former Bain and Grants Town MP wears many hats, he is also a former track and field star who has represented The Bahamas on the world stage.