Today in History: May 4

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, in 1838, group of over one thousand rescued Africans, of mainly the Yoruba and Egbar peoples were brought to New Providence. The historical society notes the Africans were rescued by the British ships Pearl and Sappo after the vessel they were on was intercepted.

Under the abolition of the Slave Trade Act, 1807, the slave trade was outlawed in the British empire and the British navy was given authority to seize ships that were still engaged in the trade.

The enslaved person would then be taken to the nearest British port and set free – many of these ships would be brought to the Bahama Islands.

Although the slave trade was abolished in the British empire the practice the of chattel slavery still exisited in its colonies until emancipation on August 1st 1838.

Fast forward to 1973 when the Bahama competed in the CARIFTA games for the first time. The games were held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and were the second edition of CARIFTA.

The Bahamas snagged one medal at the meet. It was Peter Pratt who took home bronze in the boys U-20 triple jump.

Then May 4th, 2007 – Hubert Ingraham was sworn in as prime minister. General elections were held two days earlier with his party the Free National Movement (FNM) winning the majority of the seats. It marked his third term as head of government.

Five years later in 2012, the Ingraham administration held its last cabinet meeting before the next general election. Then Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham allowed members of the media into the meeting where numerous projects were discussed.

He addressed questions about what would happen to planned developments if his government lost the election.

Then in 2013, a tornado touched down in Green Turtle Cay Roots and Heritage Festival ended abruptly. Attendees fleeing the weather as the watched the water spout moved from the ocean making landfall.

May 4th 2021, the country moved to phase 1B of the then Minnis administration’s COVID-19 re-opening plan.

And, finally in 2022 the Department of Inland Revenue revealed a billion dollars in tax arrears. Officials reporting last month that the numbers had come down slightly.