Today in History: December 20th

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history: In 1972, the constitutional talks which began in London on December 12th ended at Marlborough House in London.

It was on this date that Her Majesty’s government indicated that it would be prepared to recommend to parliament the passage of the necessary legislation that would make The Bahamas an independent nation on July 10th 1973.

A delegation of Bahamians comprising members of both government and the opposition went to London to debate and finalize the proposed constitution and address questions relevant to statehood and citizenship.

Members of the governing Progressive Liberal Party were headed by Lynden Pindling and the opposition Free National Movement was led by Kendal Issacs.

Then on December 20th, 2016, Sharlene Linette Cartwright-Robinson was sworn in as Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

She was born on September 4th, 1971 to Turks and Caicos islander parents who were working in the country. At the time she was a Bahamian born citizen.

Following changes to the Turks and Caicos Islands constitution, she gave up her Bahamian citizenship in order to run for public office.

On December 15th, 2016, general elections were held in the territory and her party, the People’s Democratic Movement, won the majority of seats in the House of Assembly.

She became the first democratically elected leader in Turks and Caicos Islands.