Today In History: September 7

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BAHAMAS – On this day in Bahamian history, in 1960 – Hurricane Donna made landfall in the southeastern Bahamas as a category 3 storm.

The center of Donna passed over Mayaguana, Acklins, Ragged Island and Fortune Island. 

Abraham’s Bay on Mayaguana was destroyed due to strong winds. No deaths were reported.

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Seven years later in1967 – Zhivargo Laing was born in Nassau. Laing is an economic consultant, radio host, author and former cabinet minister and member of parliament.

In his political career Laing has served as an investment officer in the prime minister’s office. He was also a diplomatic officer in the embassy of The Bahamas in Washington D.C.

In the 1997 general election he ran as a member of the Free National Movement and won the seat of Fort Charlotte. In 2002 he won the constituency seat of Marco City. 

As a cabinet minister he has served at various times minister of state in youth, sports and culture, minister of state in education and minister of economic development.

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Then in 2012 – education officials sounded the alarm over overcrowding with then director of education Lionel Sands saying the problem had gotten worse. This as an additional 400 plus students were placed into the system. 

He said most of the overcrowding was happening in schools in southwest New Providence. 

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In 2013 – our very own Jasmin Bonimy, now Jasmin Brown got engaged. 

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In 2017 – The Bahamas was under a hurricane warning as Irma made its approach. NEMA activated its emergency operation center. Hundreds of people refused to evacuate.

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September 7th 2018 – Chief Justice Stephen Issacs who passed away days before was laid to rest after a state funeral at Christ Church Cathedral. His legal career spanned 36 years. Then prime minister Dr. Hubert Minnis paid tribute. 

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And finally in 2019 – Dr. Minnis advised the official death toll in Hurricane Dorian reached 43 as hundreds were still evacuating Grand Bahama and Abaco – 35 of those deaths recorded in Abaco and eight in Grand Bahama.  He said in a statement at the time the toll was expected to increase significantly