National

Today in History: April 26

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Reverend Robert Dunlop, controversial billboards and the LucianVillage. See what events took place on this day in history.

Published

3 years ago

April 26, 2023

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, as far back as 1891, Reverend Robert Dunlop of Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Kirk in Nassau died.

His memorial in the Kirk reads that he fell ill while conducting services Sunday morning and died later that evening.

Fast forward to 2012 when at the height of election campaigning arose a controversy over political billboards by the Progressive Liberal Party.

The party cried foul after numerous PLP billboards were ripped down and thrown away.

The billboard which became most controversial read: under the FNM 490+ murders. Some decried the move to display such messages in tourists areas. With one visitor saying at the time it was a scary first impression.

Then on this day in 2017 – Lou Adams died at the age of 94. Admas was a legendary figure whose contributions to Bahamian music and cultural development are indelible.

In a statement on his passing, then Progressive Liberal Party Chairman Bradley Roberts said “with his death, comes the end of an era in Bahamian music and cultural development.”

He continued saying Adams will be sorely missed as his body of work lives on in the hearts and minds of many devoted fans for generations to come.”

And finally, on this day in 2019 – a groundbreaking ceremony was held on New Providence at the Clifton Heritage National Park, for the creation of a Lucayan Village.

A Lucayan Village billboard was also unveiled.

The ceremony marked the first in a series of events intended to revitalize the heritage, history and culture of Lucayan, European, and African ancestors.