2020-01-10 Fri

Majority Rule Day is celebrated with a national holiday in the Bahamas annually on January 10th. Majority Rule Day marks the Bahamas gaining majority rule for the first time on this day in 1967.

The Bahamas became a British Crown colony in 1718 as a result of the British trying to suppress piracy in the region. Following the American war of independence, many British loyalists moved to the Bahamas. Moves toward independence didn't start until after the end of the Second World War, with local political parties only forming in the 1950s.

On January 10th 1967, in Assembly elections, the Progressive Liberal Party led by Lynden Pindling and the ruling United Bahamian Party led by Sir Roland Symonette both won 18 seats. Lynden Pindling became the first black Premier of the Bahamas, becoming Prime Minister in 1969.

Along with the emancipation from slavery in 1836 and independence in 1973, the achievement of Majority Rule is a seen as one of the most important events in the history of the Bahamas. To mark this key event, Majority Rule Day became a public holiday in 2014.

In the year 1992, Bahamas issued a commemorative stamp celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Majority Rule in the Bahamas. The stamp shows the delegates of the legendary election.

Image Courtesy: https://colnect.com