Bahamian historian Gail Saunders dead at 79

many boards, including the National Art Gallery.

Archives from 1971 to 2004. She was president of the Bahamas Historical Society from 1989 to 1999. She authored or co-authored several books. Volume one and two of her books, “Islanders in the Stream: A History of the Bahamian People,” have been required readings among high school and college history students for years.

In 1968, she married Winston Saunders, a prominent educator, lawyer and playwright.

Former Attorney General Sean McWeeney said Ms Saunders left behind a rich legacy, especially with her work on slavery.

“Her ground-breaking academic research and writings about slavery in The Bahamas form an especially important part of her legacy,” he said. “This was a subject which had been glossed over, even trivialised in some cases, by historians who came before her.

“Dr Saunders changed all that. She put slavery front and centre, correctly treating it as the most defining experience in our development as a people.

“Of no less importance to her legacy was her pioneering work in putting the Department of Archives on a modern, professional footing, then guiding its growth for decades as executive director.”

Another former attorney general, Allyson Maynard Gibson, noted that Dr Saunders led the formation and opening of the Pompey Museum and served on

“Gail grew up in an apartheid-like Bahamas and attended Queen’s College at a time when it was making every effort to shed its racial discrimination shackles,” she said. “She could have easily decided to remain abroad after tertiary education in the United Kingdom. Her love of The Bahamas and being a member of families dedicated to public service, the Isaacs and North families, led her to return to The Bahamas, where she gave a lifetime of public service.

The University of The Bahamas praised Dr Saunders’ intellectual acumen and dignity.

“Throughout the years of our growth, Dr Saunders was a trusted resource and supporter, giving us the benefit of her expansive knowledge and wisdom,” UB said.

“In her last formal role with the university, she served as Scholar-in-Residence. At that time, she was conducting research on race and class relations, and in 2017, she published ‘Race and Class in the Colonial Bahamas 1880-1960’. She later continued her research work until Fall 2018.”

Ms Saunders was appointed a Member of the Order of Distinction in the 2019 National Honours for her exemplary service to The Bahamas.

• See PAGE 10,11 for Gail Saunders Insight

OperatiOn pOtcake returns with Objective tO spay Or neuter 3,200 cats and dOgs

OPERATION Potcake, an effort to spay or neuter dogs and cats around New Providence, will return in January for the first time in ten years.

The project will last 11 days, from January 17 to 28, and the objective will be to spay or neuter 3,200 animals.

Kim Aranha, president of the Bahamas Humane Society, sent The Tribune a press release announcing that Operation Potcake 2024 will feature an alliance among the Bahamas Humane Society, Baark and Animal Balance, with support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources, Veterinary Medical Association of the Bahamas and the Ministry of Tourism.

“Operation Potcake is back to help get a handle on the vast numbers of unwanted dogs and cats being born yearly, overpopulating the island of New Providence and causing so much suffering,” the statement said.

“Operation Potcake is an intensive spay and neuter programme taking place right here on New Providence. There will be four large clinics set up in the hot spots of the island where the most roaming dog population is located. It has been proven over and over again that spay and neuter is the only reliable method to reduce the animal population in a lasting manner.

“Animal Balance is the organisation that assisted in the first Operation Potcake in 2013. They specialise in spay and neuter clinics for island nations. With their assistance, we will welcome medical teams who will come to The Bahamas to assist us in getting the numbers we need to in order to make a difference. com and together we can decide what is best suited to your time and skills.

“There will be many ways that the general public can assist and help to make OP a success. We will need volunteers to help us with providing refreshments for all four teams, transportation of people and animals to and from clinics, help in the clinics, laundry, publicity, registrations, and many other tasks.

“If you are interested in being part of the solution and wish to help Operation Potcake, please contact operationpotcake242@gmail.

“January will be upon us in no time, and we want to make sure everybody who wants to participate and is able to, can sign up with us.”