Today In History: January 2nd

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THE BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian History,  in 1792 Governor John Murray, the 4th Earl of Dunmore, issued a proclamation offering amnesty to all runaway slaves in the colony. The condition for this amnesty was their surrender before February 15, 1792.

Fast forward to 1938, Arlington Griffith Butler, a prominent figure in Bahamian history, was born in Nassau. A lawyer, politician, and former Head of the Bahamas Olympic Committee,

Butler’s political journey began in 1967. He served as Speaker Of The House from 1972 to 1977. 

Despite political shifts, he held key ministerial positions in the FNM Government from 1992 to 1997.

With a lasting impact on sports, Butler, who passed away on November 9, 2017, at the age of 79, left behind a legacy celebrated with a state funeral on November 24, 2017, at Christ Church Cathedral in New Providence.

Then in 1992, Clifford Darling was sworn in as Governor-general of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

Darling was the fourth person to serve as Governor-general. He succeeded Henry Milton Taylor, who resigned the previous day. He served from 2nd January 1992 – 2nd January 1995.

And in  2009, Jett Travolta died in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas at the age of 16.

Jett Travolta was the son of American actors John Travolta and Kelly Preston. He was vacationing with his family on the island when he suffered a seizure and died as a result.

In the coming weeks and months there would be media speculation as to the cause of his death as well as a criminal case against then Senator Pleasant Bridgewater and ambulance driver Tarino Lightbourne. 

Travolta alleged that Bridgewater and Lightbourne attempted to extort $25 million from him in order to keep details about the death of his son private.

Charges against Bridgewater and Lightbourne were dropped on 6th September 2010 after Travolta’s lawyer motioned to stop the case.