National

Today in History: January 17

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – In 1976, Olympic gold medalist Tonique Williams-Darling was born in Nassau. The retired multi-medal winning track athlete specialized in the 400 meters.

Published

2 years ago

January 17, 2023

Kendeno Knowles

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, in 1883, singer, songwriter, musician and businessman, Charles Leonard Lofthouse was born in Nassau.

Known as one of the pioneers of Goombay music, he wrote songs including: Bahama Mama, Mama Don’t Want No Peas or Rice, Moonlight Nights in Nassau and Goombay Drum.

One article reads: “Now it’s the Goombay! And it may be goodbye rhumba, hello Goombay. Blame the tourists!”

He and his brother co-founded the Lofthouse Agency and Record Company.

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In 1976, Olympic gold medalist Tonique Williams-Darling was born in Nassau. The retired multi-medal winning track athlete specialized in the 400 meters.

The best years of her sprinting career spanned the 2004 and 2005 seasons. In July 2004 at the IAAF Diamond League in Rome, she broke Mexican Ana Guevara’s 400-meter win streak in a time of 49.78.

A month later, at the 2004 summer Olympic games in Athens, she won the 400 meters in a time of 49.41.

For her gold medal accomplishment, the street formerly known as Harold Road, was renamed Tonique Williams-Darling Highway in her honor.

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In 2018 tragedy struck the Andros community when an Aztec Piper aircraft carrying six people crashed shortly after take-off from the San Andros Airport.

Among the victims: 49-year-old mother of two Margaret Adderley, Desiree Russell and her young daughter Destinique Wilson, local store owner Carter Campbell, Valentino Knowles and captain Darren Clarke.

Two days later officials announced they had ended their search and rescue for those on board.

An investigation by the Air Accident Investigation Department concluded that pilot error was the cause of the crash

Then Member of Parliament for North Andros and Berry Islands Carlton Bowleg overwhelmed with grief.