The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Harbour Island, Bahamas

Would greatly appreciate you publishing the following:

Dunmore Town, is the capital of Harbour Island; Spanish Wells, is the capital of St George’s Cay; and, Governors Harbour, is the capital of Eleuthera.

Traditionally, the political divide, comprised, Eleuthera: Gregory Town, in the North, to Bannerman Town, in the South. The North, comprised: Harbour Island, St George’s Cay, Current Island, and on Eleuthera mainland: The Current,The Bluff, Lower Bogue and Upper Bogue.

Two Brilanders: Sir George W K Roberts, and the Venerable Trevor Kelly, represented Gregory Town to Bannerman Town. Sir George’s birthplace still stands at Bay and Princes Streets; and, we are informed that Mr Kelly’s birthplace was on the northern jib of land - on which Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, is erected.

The purpose of this article, is to “call-down” any and all who write and announce: ”Harbour Island, Eleuthera.” This is wrong. Would they write to: Wendell Barry, P O Box...., Dunmore Town, Harbour Island, Eleuthera, Bahamas? No.

From 1957 to December, 1969, I have never received any form of mail, addressed other than: My name, Harbour Island, Bahamas; or, Dunmore Town, Harbour Island, Bahamas.

Historical Account: Abstract from the Commonage Grant, issued in 1783, by Charles Rogers Nesbitt, Lieutenant Governor: “He displays courage best who looks in the face of failure and does the best he can.” “This describes the condition when Colonel Andrew Deveaux, followed by officers and men of the Loyal South Carolina Militia, and a number of other men, attacked the Spaniards, and drove them from Nassau, in the year 1783.”

Further abstract: “In consideration of the services rendered by the gallant band from Harbour Island, they and their heirs and assigns forever, were granted 6,000 acres of land on the North Eastern end of Eleuthera.” This document was prepared July 1st, 1842. It provides for the families of: The Mall-at-Marathon, City Lumber Yard, Kelly’s Lumber Yard, Betty-K Shipping, Nassau Dunbrick, Standard Plumbing, Pioneer Shipping, Sea Floor Aquarium and Turtle-shell Industry, Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola, Village Store and Nassau Glass, and others, to register and occupy said commonage land which, two hundred and eight pounds, six shillings and eight pence, was paid by ’Brilanders, to lay private claim.

Further abstract: The 6,000 acres is bounded: on the East by the Harbour of Dunmore Town, and a line commencing at the footpath leading from Bottom Harbour to Cotton Hole, running South 23 East to the sea and measuring 105 chains; on the South by the sea: on the West by land reserved for the use of the inhabitants of the Current, Bluff and Spanish Wells: on the North by the Harbour of Dunmore Town and the sea, was made to certain inhabitants of the “Parish of Saint John,” within the Bahama Islands. Noticeably, Lower Bogue, Upper Bogue and Current Island, are not mentioned.

It is evident, then, that North Eleuthera, political define was: “The Parish of Saint John” by an Act of Parliament, 1768. This results from the Mission of St John’s Anglican Church, in Harbour Island, in 1737. The area was changed to: The Harbour Island District. Then ministerial government in 1964, changed it to: The Harbour Island Constituency, then St John’s Constituency; then, in 1968 - to secure parliamentary tenure for Mr Alvin R Braynen, St John’s Constituency, included: The Bluff, Lower Bogue, Upper Bogue, The Current and Current Island. St George and Dunmore Constituency, included:

Spanish Wells, St George’s Cay and Dunmore Town, Harbour Island. During the past three general elections, Gregory Town, Hatchet Bay and James Cistern, were added to the original St John’s Constituency.

The ad appearing in The Nassau Guardian, Business 10, dated Monday, August 23, 2010, is a serious affront to the afore-mentioned, Historical Account. Please! No more Harbour Island, Eleuthera.

WENDELL L BARRY

Harbour Island,

June 6, 2016.