National

Today in History: May 22

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history in 2012 – Bahamasair introduced three female pilots; Gwendolyn Ricthie, Gail Saunders and Frances Smith.

Published

11 months ago

May 22, 2023

Kendeno Knowles

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history in 2012 – Bahamasair introduced three female pilots. Gwendolyn Ricthie, Gail Saunders and Frances Smith, had each been promoted to dash 8 aircraft captains.

It was 28 years since the company hired it first female captain Patrice Clarke-Washington, in 1984.

The three were introduced at a special ceremony at Lynden Pindling International Airport.

Then May 22nd, 2014 brought news of a massive $900,000 dollar drug bust.

The early morning bust happened in southern New Providence around 6am when officers swopped in on a white van registered to Miya Bahamas – which signed a contract with government to revamp New Providene underground water system.

Authorities believed the suspects were transporting 37 packages of marijuana to another location when they were busted on Faith Avenue and Cowpen Road.

Then on May 22nd, 2017, Desmond Bannister was sworn in as Minister of Works along with a group of Free National Movement Senators who received their instruments of appointment at Government House.

On May 22nd, 2019 , at least 300 NIB workers staged a sickout. This as others used their tea break to gather on the front lawn of the board’s Baillou Hill Road Headquarters to express their grievances.

At the center of the issue was an outstanding industrial agreement and what union leaders called a slow claims system.

A year later in 2020 – an eight-month long emotional ordeal finally came to an end when 55 unidentified hurricane victims were laid to rest. However, many families were still upset at the timem at the lack of answers over identification and the handling of the bodies.

The mass burial took place in a public cemetery in Central Pines, Abaco, although many victims of the killer storm still remain unaccounted for.

And finally in 2022 – 68 kilos of cocaine was seized at The Nassau Container Port.

A total of 21 Chinese nationals were taken into custody for the 1.3 million dollar drug bust joint operation between police U.S. DEA Homeland Security and Customs.