Today In History: May 15

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history in 1973 – The Bahamas Independence Bill was read for a second time in the British House of Commons.

That day, then British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Robert Lindsay moved the bill be read a second time.

In introducing the bill, Lindsay pointed to the historical connection Britain has with The Bahamas and the constitutional developments which resulted in The Bahamas request for independence. 

Before the bill was read in the House of Commons, the Bahamian House of Assembly and the Senate passed a resolution on November 2nd, 1972 requesting Independence. 

At the same time they also passed a resolution making clear the country should remain a monarchy within the Commonwealth.

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And in 2012, former radio talk show host Christina “Chrissy Love” Thompson spoke out about her dramatic exit from the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas after she was informed her services were no longer needed.

Something she said shocked and perturbed her. Thompson also saying there was nothing mutual about her dismissal.

The veteran broadcaster accused the Progressive Liberal Party of victimization and sexism, after her termination. The former hostess of “Immediate Response” told the press her termination highlights that freedom of speech is dead in The Bahamas.

In a press release from the BCB, the corporation said the separation was “mutual”.

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And finally in 2019, a row erupted in the House of Assembly as then Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis and then Opposition Leader Philip Davis went head-to-head over the decision to place eight senior members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force on leave.

The two locked horns during Davis’ contribution to debate on a proposed amendment to the Police Staff Association act as he accused the Minnis administration of politicizing the police force.

The officers were asked to take their many weeks of accumulated vacation that year but Dr. Minnis insisted the police force was too top heavy and placed the blame on the former Christie Davis administration.