A retirement farewell ceremony and luncheon was held to celebrate the professional career of Permanent Secretary to the Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Archie Nairn who is set to demit office tomorrow.

Prime Minister Perry Christie officially thanked Mr. Nairn on behalf of the country for his years of contribution to the development of The Bahamas.

He added that his life is an inspiration to Bahamians and youth in particular and noted that Mr. Nairn came from humble beginnings and never attended college but yet became successful.

“I’ve come really because it gives me an opportunity to point out to young Bahamians that yours is a life that can cause them to recalibrate their own aspirations and dreams, could cause them in the moment of despair where they have had hopes dashed, where they haven’t gotten the jobs they wanted, where their parents expressed disappointment in their results and exams to know that there are examples of people like you, me and others who have to work hard, who can show in life that it pays off to do those things,” Mr. Christie said.

Mr. Nairn has worked in the public system for 43 years.

Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson also thanked Mr. Nairn for his years of service.

“The permanent secretary has been everything in the system, he has been a teacher, educator, family island commissioner, an administrator, he has served well in local government,” she said.

“We take local government for granted but some of us must remember when we didn’t have local government elections he was there at the time when it all came on stream and organising it. He has come up through the ranks with the same kind of dedicated, patriotic noble service.”

She added that Mr. Nairn led in a number of areas to advance the country.

“When we look at how we’re organising our registry, which is small compared to organising a whole country’s drivers licence system from paper to a card,” she said.

“All we do is go down there now and take a picture and you have a driver’s license for three years. He was the permanent secretary of (The Ministry of) Transport when that was done.”

Mr. Nairn who offered remarks said that his life work was focused on building Bahamians and offering the very best in service.

“I was appointed to the public service at time when productivity and efficiency were the watch words. I was appointed at a time when the yard stick was all about the end goal, it was at a time when efficiency and quality service meant so much to our people,” he said.

“So we had a passion for what we did and that passion came from the heart, in my years in the public service I believe that I have been fair to many people.”

He added that his philosophy is grounded in helping others and he encouraged Bahamians to build each other.