Today in History: January 23

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, Emma Evelyn Carey-Cooper was born in 1923 in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera.

Cooper was a lifelong educator for nearly 40 years, with a career that began as a teacher in January,  1943 at Quarry Mission, Western Junior and Western Senior schools.

Following Cooper’s retirement, she was honored by the Primary Principal’s Association in 1978. In 1984 she was awarded a British Empire Medal for Long Service in the field of education.

The following year the Palmetto Point All Age School was renamed in her honor. Cooper died in August 2013.

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In 1956, late politician and former tribune editor and publisher  Sir Etienne Dupuch tabled a resolution in parliament calling for an end to discrimination in the Bahama Islands based on race and color.

This is said to be one of the key moments in the civil and social movement in the colony. The move by Sir Etienne made it possible for black Bahamians to have free access to all public places.

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On this day in 1981, an article appeared in the New York Times with the headline: Bahamas, Once a Haven, is Land of Fear for Haitians.

The article points to the expiration of a deadline for Haitians to leave the country and that most of the 25,000 illegal Haitian residents in The Bahamas at the time were now subject to arrest and deportation.

The article reads: “Although the Bahamian government cannot expel the Haitians en masse, and apparently will not try, Bahamians see themselves in a struggle for national survival.”

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In 2013, members of the ‘Vote Yes’ campaign marched on parliament to advocate for the legalization of gaming.

Hundreds including webshop owners, workers and campaign supporters crammed the streets to parliament to convince lawmakers to regularize the industry. Webshop gaming was later legalized in July 2014.