FROM 2021: The Columbus statue at Government House with an arm and a leg missing after being attacked with a sledgehammer.
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
WORKS Minister Alfred Sears said no decision had been made concerning a defaced statute of Christopher Columbus or the space in front of Government House that it once occupied.
“Well, Columbus is currently at the Ministry of Works,” he told reporters yesterday following a Government House rededication ceremony. “As you know, the statue was damaged, and a determination has not yet been made where the statue will be placed. A decision has not been made in terms of the future location of the statute.”
“As we evolve as a country, there is an ongoing process. This year, we’re looking at various personalities in the history of our country and the history comprised of the Arawaks, the people who harmonise this country and these islands. We also have the Africans who came in ships, we have the Europeans and we have an ongoing inflow of people.
“In this 50th anniversary, the government will soon be announcing persons who have made significant contributions through the various stages of the development and the construction ultimately of our nation-state.
Therefore, it’s not one personality, we’re talking about reflecting the totality of human accomplishments, contribution, and nourishing and informing who we are as a people and who we are as a nation.”
In 2021, a man damaged the Christopher Columbus statue with a sledgehammer. The 37-year-old has denied allegations that he trespassed on Government House’s property and caused $2,000 worth of damage to the statue.
Many advocates called for the statue to be permanently removed from Government House.
Comments
immigrant 10 months ago
That dude needs to worry about the state of the roads in this country. How does he still get paid!?!?
themessenger 10 months ago
The logical place to put Columbus statue after restoration would be in its original place as a tribute to the black Bahamian who gifted it to the Governor in the first place. You can't change history with a sledge hammer, but you can certainly prosecute the lunatic who tried to.
Baha10 10 months ago
Put the Statue back … history is history and if not for Columbus, none of us would be here today, nor Blackbeard, Woods Rogers, Sir Harry Oaks, Pop Symonette, Sir Sidney Poitier, PM Pindling, Sol Kerzner and others no longer here.
TalRussell 10 months ago
...Their good enough of a justification,--- For removing the statue of Christopher Columbus --- Results from --- 'The theft of the natives' land'. ---- After the 41 year old navigator --- Stumbled upon the Bahamas out island --- Known as Guanahani – 'Aye.' 'Nay?
K4C 10 months ago
by K4C
hrysippus 10 months ago
So who paid the man who attacked this innocent statue? Who provided him with a bullet proof vest? No normal citizen has access to acquiring a bullet proof vest, so that narrows the list of perpetuators to a very short list. Does the RBPF care to know? I think not.
sheeprunner12 10 months ago
The PLP wants to put Pindling there ........ Which one would be worst, Columbus or Pindling?????
But, Sears should really be talking about establishing our National Heroes Park, adjacent to Clifford Park.
Dawes 10 months ago
If not this statue which from my understanding was a gift to the then governor general from former slaves (albeit the governor chose who the statue was of), then put a Lucayan on it. Otherwise there will always be too much baggage with whoever they choose. Or maybe just put Blackbeard on to show that we have never really changed.
rosiepi 10 months ago
Columbus’ schemes for mining wealth from the Caribbean wiped out the Arawak, Lucayan and Taino peoples through overwork, torture, starvation, rape, infanticide, the list is endless let’s just call it genocide. Why should he be celebrated as a hero?
themessenger 10 months ago
Let’s not deceive ourselves, Columbus was nothing more than a servant of the Spanish crown carrying out his sponsors bidding however misguided. Nothing has changed, our governments minions continue to carry out the stupidities wished upon the current natives with the same callous disregard. What makes them heroes, the fact that they’re black?
carltonr61 10 months ago
Why aspire to greatness or be a national hero knowing that some day someone will destroy your historical efforts. Be careful of the examples we set. Should governments endorse this statues destruction and removal then no statue will be sacred. Statues, memories and history are fabrics eternal and not a board game. We mist decide whether Sir Pindling's statue should be seen towering over Fort Charlotte to be viewed from North or South.
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