Today In History: November 21

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in 1878, Bishop Cramer Roberts, his wife and two children arrived in Nassau to take up his post as Bishop of Nassau. Although he achieved much in consolidating the work of the church, it was also a period of sadness. It is said that his first wife and all their children died here. When his second wife became ill in May 1885, Bishop Cramer-Roberts resigned and returned to England.

In 1921 – Gerald Augustus Bartlett was born in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama. Bartlett served as Commissioner of The Royal Bahamas Police Force from 1981 – 1987. His career on the force spanned 41 years.

Following his retirement on his 66th birthday in 1987, Bernard Kenneth Bonamy became the third Bahamian Commissioner appointed in an independent Bahamas.

Commissioner Bonamy who enlisted into the force in 1963 was noted for transitioning the force into the digital age of technology with the introduction of computerization in 1989 and his zero tolerance stance on narcotics trafficking.

Then on November 21, 2001, Paul H. Farquharson succeeded Bonamy becoming the 4th Bahamian commissioner.

Farquharson, who held the top position for eight years, is noted for his community policing initiatives, improving the image of the force, and transforming the force into an intelligence led policing organization.

Situated on the corner of Market and McPherson Streets – the People’s Penny Savings Bank opened on this day in 1952.

A few important facts about the bank reprinted from the program created for its opening include the idea for the bank, which was first conceived by a group of ten men on the 14th of September, 1951.

The men met weekly and deposited small amounts regularly. The bank’s chief object was to inculcate in the minds of the Bahamian people the virtue of thrift until it became a habit and to provide the people with a quick, easy and safe means of saving for a rainy day.

The plans for the bank building were drawn by Mr. Percy Hanna, the assistant secretary, while Mr. George Hepburn was the person responsible for the construction, the foundation of which was poured by charter members four months prior to its opening.

And, finally in world history, on this day in 2017, Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe resigned, ending four decades of rule. Mugabe was given full diplomatic status.

He was permitted to keep the business interests and other wealth which he had amassed while in power, and received an additional payment of about ten million dollars. Mugabe died in 2019.

To some, he was a liberation hero who stood by his principles. Others say he rigged elections, destroyed the economy of what was once Africa’s breadbasket and terrorized his people for decades.