Today in History: August 8

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history – In 1826, ‘Poor Black Kate’ who was an enslaved girl of the Moss plantation on Crooked Island was released this day.

The Historical Society notes, she was placed in the stocks as punishment for theft, insubordination, and insolence by Henry and Helen Moss.

She was kept in the stocks for 17 days and was only let out to be whipped.

As further punishment, she was sent to work in the cotton fields before she had fully recovered.

She collapsed that morning after being beaten again for being unable to work and died a few hours later.

Kate’s owners were charged with five months in prison and a 300-pound fine, however then Governor Grant tried to have it all remitted.

Then in 1995, Troy Kemp won the gold medal in the men’s high jump at the 5th World Championships in athletics.

The track and field competition was held in Gothenburg, Sweden by the International Association of Athletics Federations.

Kemp won with a jump of 7 feet 9 inches, edging out Cuba’s Javier Sotomayor by having fewer misses at that height.

The gold medal was The Bahamas’ first ever won at the IAAF World Championships.

Then finally in 2016, Renward Wells became the leader of opposition business for the FNM in the House of Assembly.

The promotion came just days after Central Grand Bahama Member of Parliament Neko Grant stepped down.

Grant gave up his position as he and six other FNM members openly criticized then-FNM Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis.

Wells who was then MP for Bamboo Town joined the FNM after leaving the PLP amid a $600 million controversy with a Letter of intent with Stellar Waste to Energy.