Today In History: June 30

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, in 1962 the bill giving all Bahamian women the right to vote came into effect. It was passed in the House of Assembly in February 1961.

Against the dramatic backdrop of the Burma Road Riot and the general strike, the Women’s Suffrage Movement fought against political, economic and racial inequities. 

During 1959 and 1960 the movement gained traction in petitioning and demonstrating publicly for women’s right to vote.

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Then in 2018 … Tragedy struck in waters off the coast of Exuma as an explosion on board the Four Seas Adventure killed one person and left eleven people injured.

The boat’s engine reportedly exploded leaving a severely charred wreckage.

Three Americans and one Bahamian had to be airlifted to the capital for further medical attention. 

The remaining tourists were airlifted to a hospital in Fort Lauderdale where one person had her legs amputated. 

Some three years after the incident the tour boat company owner and his captain were acquitted of causing the deadly boat explosion by negligence.

A boating expert claimed the vessel had multiple faults, which all could have caused the explosion.

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And finally, in 2019 Brent Symonette resigned as Minister of Finance with effect from July 1st that year. He was succeeded by Elsworth Johnson. The reason for Symonette’s resignation is still unknown.