J4394-2011 Actions

• May 8, 2012: ADOPTED
• May 8, 2012: REPORTED TO CALENDAR FOR CONSIDERATION
• May 2, 2012: REFERRED TO FINANCE

J4394-2011 Text

 ATIVE  RESOLUTION  commemorating the 39th Anniversary of the Inde-
 ce of the Bahamas

 S, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize  and  pay
 tribute  to  the  cultural  heritage  of  the  ethnic groups which
 se and contribute to the richness and diversity of  the  community
  State of New York; and
 EAS,  Attendant  to such concern, and in keeping with its time-ho-
 traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body  to  commem-
 the 39th Anniversary of the Independence of the Bahamas; and
 EAS,  The  people  of  this great State and nation and the Bahamas
 a deep and abiding relationship rooted in kinship and culture; and
 EAS, Like many areas in the Caribbean, the hundreds of islands and
 hat make up the Bahamas were "discovered" and claimed by  European
 ers in the late 1400s; the history of the Bahamas between the time
 he islands were settled and the centuries that passed before inde-
 ce  explains  why  the  culture and people of the Bahamas are rich
 ative Caribbean, European and African influences; and
 EAS, The first settlers on many of  the  islands,  thought  to  be
 inantly  the  Arawak  speaking  Lucayan  or Taino people, but also
 ed the Ciboney and the Carib people, arrived  from  South  America
 me in the 9th Century; and
 EAS,  For  hundreds  of  years  the indigenous culture thrived and
  from island to island; Christopher Columbus arrived at San Salva-
 d claimed the Caribbean islands for the Spanish on his first jour-
  the Americas in 1492; the word Bahamas is thought  to  come  from
 rawak  name  for the islands, but some historians believe it comes
 he Spanish, "Baja Mar," which means "shallow sea"; and
 EAS, During the time Spain controlled the islands, African  slaves
 brought  to  work  in the plantation fields or in the homes of the
 tion owners, government officials  and  other  wealthy  Spaniards;
 of  the  original  population  was  destroyed through fighting and
 es brought to the islands by the new African and Spanish  inhabit-
 and
 EAS,  The Dutch gained control of the islands of the Bahamas for a
 time, but lost them to the English; the islands  were  claimed  by
 nglish in 1670, and the Bahamas remained mainly under British rule
 e next 300 years; and
 EAS, Then, a brief one year return to Spanish rule  came  in  1782
 ded with the Bahamas once again as British colonies; and
 EAS, Slavery was officially abolished in the Bahamas in 1838; many
   slaves  remained  on  the land and eventually became land owners
 lves and although all residents of  the  Bahamas  were  free,  the
 s remained a colony of the United Kingdom; and
 EAS,  The House of Assembly was established in 1729 and meant that
 f the government of the country was actually based in the Bahamas;
 istorical creation was a major factor  which  led  to  a  peaceful
 ation for Bahamian Independence; and
 EAS, In 1964, after decades of debate and legal maneuvering, Great
 n  granted The Islands Of The Bahamas limited self-government; the
 s became a British Commonwealth in 1969 ending the colonial  rule,
 t the British effect of the islands; and
 EAS,  The  islands  became a nation on July 10, 1973, which is the
 al date celebrated as Bahamian Independence Day; and
 EAS, The 39th Anniversary of the Bahamas Independence provides  an
 unity  to recognize the significance of their contributions to the
 y and character of life, and, through events and  activities,  for

 ople to gain a greater appreciation of Bahamian history and tradi-
  and of the role Bahamians have played, and will continue to play,
  society; and
 EAS,  This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity to
 ize such events of significance  which  foster  ethnic  pride  and
 ify  the  cultural  diversity  that represents and strengthens the
  of the people and the State of New York; now, therefore, be it
 LVED, That this Legislative Body pause  in  its  deliberations  to
 orate the 39th Anniversary of the Independence of the Bahamas.