PRINCE Charles enjoyed the Bahamas’ last day as a British colony, hosting a formal reception at Government House for dignitaries from 52 countries overseeing the end of over 300 years of British sovereignty.
He laid the cornerstone of the Central Bank on July 9, 1973. On the evening of July 9, a musical and cultural display entitled ‘Pages from Bahamian History’ was held at Clifford Park.
It portrayed Bahamian heritage through dance and music. The show was co-ordinated and directed by Winston Saunders and Clement Bethel was its artistic and musical director.
The police force held a display and flag raising ceremony at the park. Members of the force marched and did routines with music. Musical Director was Supt. Dennis Morgan.
At one minute to midnight on July 9, 1973, the Union Jack was lowered for the last time as the official flag of The Bahamas.
One minute after midnight on July 10 a crowd of 50,000 saw the black, turquoise and gold flag of the Bahamas being raised instead of the Union Jack.
The ceremony was replicated on all of the inhabited Bahamian islands. As the Queen’s representative, Prince Charles read a personal message from Her Majesty.
All civic, cultural and labour organisations within the Bahamas marched in a parade on July 10.
Bahamian independence came after the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) won the election on that platform in September 1972. The final agreement for independence for the archipelago was made in London in December 1972.
In December 1972 The Government headed by Prime Minister the Lynden Pindling and the Opposition headed by Sir Kendal Isaacs led a delegation to London to discuss the Independence Constitution.
The surviving framers of the Constitution of the Bahamas are: Sir Arthur Foulkes, Arthur D. Hanna, Sir Orville Turnquest, A. Loftus Roker, George A. Smith and Philip M. Bethel.
Deceased signatories included Sir Lynden Pindling, Sir Milo Butler, Paul L. Adderley Sir Clement Maynard, Carlton E. Francis, Sir Kendal Isaacs, Cadwell C. Armbrister, Henry J. Bowen and Norman S. Solomon.
On April 2, 1973, the Minister of Home Affairs, the R.F. Anthony Roberts, had announced in the House of Assembly that the Bahamas had a new flag. ‘March On, Bahamaland,’ the National Anthem was composed by Timothy Gibson and adopted in 1973.
The Police Band’s album titled ‘March on Bahamaland’ contains the first recording ever of the Bahamas National Anthem. This album was produced in 1973 at the Ace recording Studios in Miami, Florida.
God Bless Our Sunny Clime is the national song of the Bahamas. It was written by Rev Dr Phillip Rahming and composed by the late Timothy Gibson and the late Clement Bethel.
The Pledge of Allegiance was written by Rev Dr Phillip Rahming. There was a national competition to produce the motto for the coat of arms, and the competition was won by two 11-year-old schoolchildren – Vivian F. Moultrie of Inagua Public School and Melvern B. Bowe of the Government High School in Nassau. Bahamian artist Hervis Bain prepared the preliminary design of the coat of arms.
On June 20, 1973, Carlton E. Francis Minister of Development, signed an order establishing the Industrial Park. Bahamasair began operations on June 7, 1973.
The Bahamas Independence Secretariat was responsible for the Independence celebrations of 1973. The government spent some $2,000,000 on celebrations.
From July 8 to 14 a National Arts and Crafts Exhibition was held at Jumbey Village. James Rolle served as the Chairman and Hervis Bain was the Co-Chairman of this event. Following this ‘Jumbey 73’, a National Festival of arts was also held at the Village.
The Valley Boys were the winners of the $1,000 top prize in the Independence Day Junkanoo Parade. This was one of the highest ever first prize purses given for this traditional Bahamian event. The theme of their costume was “Beautiful Things of the Bahamas”. Their banner read “A Nation is born.”
The Independence Fashion Show held on July 14, 1973 was the first evening function of the Independence celebrations.
Delta Airlines presented a monument as a gift to the Bahamas. The Monument was placed at the entrance to the newly opened Nassau Botanical Gardens. It is constructed of granite, weighs 4,300 pounds and bears the Bahamas Coat of Arms and Motto.
Sir Milo B. Butler became the first Bahamian Governor General on August 1, 1973.
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