National

Today In History: June 7

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, in 1494 – the Treaty of Tordesillas was signed in Castile.

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3 years ago

June 7, 2023

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, in 1494 – the Treaty of Tordesillas was signed in Castile.

The treaty was drafted to settle a dispute between the Kindgoms of Castile (later Spain) and Portugal as to who had the rights to colonize and trade in the new lands Columbus reached after his first voyage.

The two countries asked pope alexander vi to mediate who made a division along the meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands.

The lands to the east would belong to Portugal and the lands to the west to castile. The ratification of this document put The Bahamas in the sphere of influence of the kingdom of castile (later the kingdom of Spain).

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Fast forward to 1951 when Philip Edward ‘Brave’ Davis was born in Nassau.

Davis is an attorney, politician, member of parliament, former deputy prime minister and current leader. Davis won the 2021 General Election defeating incumbent FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis.

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Then June 7th,1973 – the national flag carrier Bahamasair began operations acquiring the routes of Flamingo Airlines as well as the operations and routes of Out Island Airways. Its inaugural flight went to andros followed by Freeport, Grand Bahama.

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Then 41 years later in 2014 – the Christie-led administration responded to reports that the united states national security agency was allegedly spying on the mobile phone calls of Bahamians.

Then Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell confirming that government had filed a federal disclosure document through United States lawyers Hogan and Laval in light of the claims.

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Then in 2016 the government held a Constitutional Referendum. On the ballot were four questions about citizenship and discrimination. All four questions were rejected.

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And finally on this day in 2021 – then Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis extended a lockdown imposed on Cat Island. This as health officials reported that cases of the COVID-19 virus the month prior topped April’s count at 232.