National

Today in History: May 3

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A first term for a former prime minister, the IAAF World Relays and the COVID-19 curfew. See what events took place on this day in history.

Published

12 months ago

May 3, 2023

Our News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, in 2002, after his party won the majority of seats in the general election the day before, Perry Christie was sworn in as Prime Minister.

It would be his first term serving as the country’s leader, although he lost the election to the Free National Movement’s Hubert Ingraham. Five years later Christie secured his second and final term before leaving front line politics.

Then in 2015, the second IAAF World Relays that was held in Nassau at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium came to an end.

Then on May 3rd, 2020, then Prime Minister Hubert Minnis made a national address saying at the time the country was making progress in its fight against the COVID-19 virus.

He announced a 24-hour curfew from Monday 5AM to Friday 9PM would continue as would the lockdowns from Friday at 9PM to Monday 5AM.

There were 83 confirmed cases of the virus at the time including 67 in New Providence, seven in Grand Bahama, eight in Bimini and one in Cat Cay.

And finally, on this day in 2021, retired Supreme Court Justice Keith Thompson was sworn in as information commissioner. At the time he said he was committed to operating the Freedom of Information Commission free from political influence.