Today in History: August 23

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THE BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, 23rd August 1991 – Alfred Étienne Jérôme Dupuch died in Nassau. Dupuch was a journalist, politician and newspaper editor.

According to the Guinness Book of World records, he was the longest serving newspaper editor, having served as editor and publisher of the tribune for 54 years.

A year later in 1992 – Hurricane Andrew made landfall in The Bahamas.

Andrew made landfall in Eleuthera as a category five hurricane and moved west affecting New Providence, Berry Islands, Bimini and Andros.

There were four fatalities three directly related to the storm while the other person died due to heart failure.

Damages were estimated at $250 million.

Then in 2005 – the tropical depression that later grew into Hurricane Katrina formed over The Bahamas.

After an interaction between a tropical wave and the remnants of tropical depression ten the storm intensified into one of the strongest and most devastating storms in history.

In 2009 – The Bahamas played host to the Miss Universe was held at the imperial ballroom of the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island.

Eighty-four contestants competed in the pageant won by Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela.

Kiara Sherman represented The Bahamas.

2018 – former Prime Ministers Perry Christie and Hubert Ingraham rejected a national honor after the Minnis administration established the system.

The men were to receive the order of the nation award which is bestowed upon all people who have served as governor general or prime minister and carries with it a title of “most honourable”.

Christie said the national honors were birthed by his administration, but said because of the Minnis administration’s ‘witchhunt’ against three former members of his administration, he refused the honor.

Mr. Ingraham was tightlipped.

Finally in 2020 – a day after the highest single day record of COVID-19 deaths officials confirmed two more for a total of 29. At the time there were 1765 total cases, more than 1500 active and over a 1,000 of them on New Providence.