National

Today In History: November 4

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, on the 4th November 1861 by Royal Order, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom declared Christ Church on New Providence a cathedral making Nassau a city.

Published

1 year ago

November 4, 2024

Jasmin Brown

The city was named in honor of William III, King of Great Britain from 1689 to 1702. Also known as William of Orange-Nassau, he was a Dutch prince born in the Netherlands on 4th November 1650.

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Then in 1889, Saint Francis School became the first Catholic school to open in The Bahamas.

Established by the Sisters of charity from the convent of Mount St. Vincent-On-Hudson in New York, the school opened with fifteen students on the church’s grounds on West Street in New Providence.

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Fast forward to 2020, Baha Mar announced it’s phased re-opening.

The multi-million resort development closed in March of that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The phased reopening date was announced as December 17th and Baha Mar president Graeme Davis said at the time, the resort will bring back 1,500 associates for the first phase its reopening.

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Then in 2021, then housing and Transport Minister Jobeth Coleby-Davis revealed in Parliament that the government was spending just over $820,000 annually to lease the Town Centre Mall to house the General Post Office.

In October 2018, Parliament passed a resolution for the government to enter into a lease agreement with the landlords of the mall for the relocation of the Post Office.

The mall is owned by former St. Anne’s MP Brent Symonette and his brother. Symonette resigned from Cabinet in 2019 for reasons he said were unconnected to the matter.