Baroness Jennifer Chapman and British High Commissioner Thomas Hartley give archival gifts to Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis and Education Minister Glenys Hanna Martin at the Ivy Dumont Lobby yesterday. Photo: Chappell Whyms Jr
By JADE RUSSELL
Tribune Staff Reporter
jrussell@tribunemedia.net
THE British government handed over 10,000 pages of historical documents chronicling this country’s path to independence to The Bahamas National Archives yesterday, a moment Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said reflected the broader need for reparations for Caribbean people.
Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis described the documents as the “repatriation” of Bahamian culture for future generations.
Baroness Jennifer Chapman of Darlington, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Latin America and the Caribbean, said that much of The Bahamas’ pre-independence history is preserved in the UK’s National Archives due to the United Kingdom’s colonial role. She said after the prime minister visited the UK’s archives last year, a selection of documents was digitised as part of The Bahamas’ 50th anniversary of independence celebrations.
During a ceremony at the Ministry of Education yesterday, Baroness Chapman presented five boxes containing over 60 documents, totalling more than 10,000 pages, to The Bahamas National Archives.
These records detail the country’s political journey to independence, including Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling’s lobbying efforts with the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Abaco Independence Movement. One of the boxes also contains handwritten notes by UK officials and ministers on drafts of The Bahamas’ Constitution.
Mr Davis described the handover as repatriating records integral to Bahamian culture. He highlighted a personal favourite, the story of a black slave named “Black Dick” Deveaux, who lived on the Hunters Estate on Cat Island. Deveaux stood up to his slave master but was later hanged.
“For too long, the voices of people like him have been hidden, their stories untold, but today, we have the opportunity to ensure that his story and the stories of so many others are given respect they deserve,” he said. “This moment also brings to mind a broader issue of reparations for the Caribbean people.
“While we cannot undo the past, we can work toward acknowledging the harm done and seeking meaningful redress. A call for reparations isn’t simply about financial compensation. Let me be clear about that. It’s about recognising the enduring impact of centuries of exploitation and ensuring that the legacy of slavery is addressed with honesty and integrity.”
Copies of the documents are expected to be made available online soon and will also be used in the country’s education curriculum.
Minister of Education Glenys Hanna-Martin thanked British High Commissioner Thomas Hartley for facilitating the handover. Ms Hanna-Martin said students will now have access to these records, allowing them to better understand their heritage for future generations.
In March 2014, The Bahamas Cabinet established the Bahamas National Reparations Committee, led by Alfred Sears and Philip Smith and later Professor Chris Curry, who served as chair from 2017 to 2018.
The “Report on Reparations for Transatlantic Chattel Slavery in the Americas and the Caribbean” calculated that the United Kingdom would likely owe £18.8tn for its slavery involvement in 14 countries.
Comments
hrysippus 48 minutes ago
What hugely complex subject in a country like The Bahamas where thousands of the citizens are descended from enslaved people being transported to South or North America but whose ship was intercepted by the British Royal Navy and the slaves freed and put ashore on New Providence; Adelade and t least one other settlement were founded for this resettlement. Then we have so many Bahamians of mixed races, slave and non slave, including at least one former prime minister. And lastly we have the Bahamian families descended from slave owners. Who will get the money. because ultimately it is all about the money?
IslandWarrior 8 minutes ago
We must ensure that these documents, chronicling our nation’s path to independence, become a publicly accessible digital archive—not another collection stored away on the shelves of officials, destined to be forgotten or discarded over time. The preservation of our history cannot afford to fall victim to poor storage, neglect, or environmental degradation.
The return of these 10,000 pages from the British government marks a symbolic repatriation of Bahamian heritage, as described by Prime Minister Davis. These records, including handwritten notes from UK officials and pivotal moments like Sir Lynden Pindling’s efforts for independence and the Abaco Independence Movement, are integral to understanding who we are as a people. They offer an opportunity to restore the voices of those silenced by history, such as 'Black Dick' Deveaux, whose courage and sacrifice must now be honoured through proper historical preservation.
Let this handover not merely be a ceremonial moment but a commitment to safeguard our cultural legacy. The digitalization and public availability of these records will allow future generations to engage with our history firsthand, ensuring it remains alive and relevant. This initiative must reflect a broader commitment to acknowledge the legacies of colonialism and slavery with honesty and integrity. As Prime Minister Davis highlighted, reparations go beyond financial compensation—they encompass the recognition and preservation of our shared history.
We now have an obligation to ensure these records are not buried but made accessible to all Bahamians, integrated into our educational curriculum, and honoured as a living memory of our journey as a nation. Only through open access and careful stewardship will these documents serve their purpose, empowering the next generation to understand their heritage, learn from the past, and build a stronger, more informed future.
Sign in to comment
OpenID