The Tribune

LONG Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner spoke to students during a Majority Rule Day assembly at C C Sweeting High School on Friday, explaining to them the history behind the important day.

She told the students that Majority Rule was a landmark for the country and strengthened our democracy.

“The struggle for Majority Rule was a fight for racial equality, for the equality of women, and for greater equality between people of different economic classes,” she said.

“Fed up with unequal and unjust treatment, many people started to work to change the situation, including my grandfather (Sir Milo Butler); Sir Lynden Pindling; Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield, and many others.

“A small group of wealthy businessmen controlled the politics and the money in the country. They were determined not to allow the black majority to enjoy greater wealth and political power.

“A movement was formed of people of different backgrounds to bring about equality. A major part of this was getting the right to vote for the majority of Bahamians.”

“Back then, you could only vote if you had property. Even worse, you could vote in every constituency in which you owned property. This was called the property vote.”

She explained that when women got the right to vote in 1961, it helped pave the way for Majority Rule.

“Without the women’s vote, we would not have achieved Majority Rule in 1967. On January 10, 1967, Majority Rule became a reality.”

She said that Majority Rule should not be seen as a triumph of one group or race over another.

“Instead, Majority Rule was about making us all equal and making us one Bahamas, in which all Bahamians are free, both black and white, as well as male and female.

“Majority Rule was about making us a more democratic country. It was a victory for democracy, equality and justice, in which all of us are free to pursue our dreams to participate fully as equal citizens.”