(EDITOR’S NOTE: I absolutely had to share this well-written “historical gem” by Dr. Harris Evans of Creative Writers Inc. that he posted on his Facebook page for readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE and to include in my archives. The “Bahama Mama,” Patricia Thomas, that he refers to in this article attended after-school classes in the 1950s with my Aunt Maria Elliott-Forbes during her teenage years when our family lived through Paul Meeres Corner (now Fleming Street). M y first-cousin Alphonso “Boogaloo” Elliott and I both had a huge “crush” on her, and she can no doubt recall reams of stories of how we interfered with her attempts to concentrate on what Aunt Maria was teaching her. Thank you Dr. Harris for this very pleasant journey down “memory lane.”)
GUEST COMMENTARY BY DR. HARRIS EVANS
NASSAU, Bahamas, November 24, 2020 – ROYAL PRESENCE: Currency in every country all have one thing in common: there are pictures of their heroes, who have impacted their nation. Originally there were kings, queens, presidents and national leaders, and on the flip side are national symbols.
Before Independence, Bahamian bank notes all bore the visage of Elizabeth Mountbatten. Even after, she is still ensconced on the one hundred dollar note. After independence, the Central bank began designing our bank notes with a local flair, incorporating scenes from our everyday life.
In 1974, the fifty-cent piece emerged with the British Queen on the front and a Bahamian Queen on the back. A young lady, beautiful and svelte, beamed from the photograph on the back, seated among a plethora of neatly designed straw items. The straw industry in The Bahamas has been one of the pillars of our economy.
This lovely “Bahama Mama,” Patricia Thomas, has graced the fifty cent piece for decades and for good reason. She possesses a smile that easily lights up any room; she is friendly, very knowledgeable and has a keen sense of humour.
Thomas has been an ambassador for The Bahamas for all these years because the half-dollar piece is in demand by collectors , the world over. The sad irony of this situation is that Patricia Thomas was placed on the back of the mundane fifty-cent piece, but she has a million dollar smile. In my opinion, she outshines the woman placed on the front of that bank note.
(c) Dr. Harris Evans,24/11/2020 Creative Writers Inc. All Rights Reserved.
