‘Dr. Munroe was a man of immense charisma and persuasive appeal’ – Bahamas PM

THE leader of Bahamas Faith Ministries Dr. Myles Munroe and his wife Ruth have been killed in a plane crash in Grand Bahama.

The crash took place on Sunday afternoon and killed all nine people on board the private jet. The plane reportedly struck a crane at the Grand Bahama Ship Yard, exploding on impact and crashing into the ground near a junkyard area.

The Department of Civil Aviation reported that the plane was a Lear 36 executive jet which departed the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) for the Grand Bahama International Airport.

The plane left LPIA at 16.07hrs with nine people on board and crashed while making an approach for landing at Grand Bahama International Airport at 17.10hrs, the Department of Civil Aviation said.

A police source on the island previously said two were feared dead. However, police sources later confirmed that all those on board had been killed.
The police source also said it was believed the group was heading to a conference hosted by Pastor Munroe.

The identities of the other people on board have not yet been confirmed.
The statement said while the department was advised of fatalities, it was awaiting confirmation from police on if there were any survivors.

The Grand Bahama Airport Company Crash Fire Rescue Department responded to the incident, and the Police and Bahamas Air Sea Rescue (BASRA) are presently on the scene.

The department said a full scale investigation will start tomorrow morning at daylight, which will include the Department of Civil Aviation Aircraft Accident Investigation Prevention Unit.

Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Mr. Perry Christie said on Sunday night after the crash that he was left “shocked” and “saddened” by the tragic death of Dr. Myles Munroe and others who were on board his ill-fated plane.
His comments came at an impromptu press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister. Free National Movement Leader, Dr. Hubert Minnis and Democratic National Alliance Leader, Branville McCartney also expressed condolences about the tragedy last night in separate statements.

“It is utterly impossible to measure the magnitude of Dr. Munroe’s loss to The Bahamas and to the world,” Mr. Christie said.

“He was indisputably one of the most globally recognisable religious figures our nation has ever produced. His fame as an ambassador for the Christian ministry preceded him wherever in the world he travelled. He was a towering force who earned the respect and admiration not only of Christian adherents but of secular leaders both here at home and around the world.”

The Prime Minister remembered Dr. Munroe as a man of “immense charisma and persuasive appeal.”

He said while he and Dr. Munroe disagreed on things over the years, he saw him as a friend and spiritual mentor.

I leaned on his counsel in a number of important matters, most recently in the consultations with religious leaders on the pending constitutional bills, a process in which he took an enthusiastic and constructive part, helping even to re-draft one of the bills that had met with a great deal of public controversy.”

He lauded Dr. Munroe as a “great Bahamian of universal renown” who leaves the country as a better place because of his work. (www.tribune242.com)