Great Granddaughter Lifts Up The Legacy of Theophilus Farquharson of Inagua
In a history class led by Ms. Sharon Poitier,University of The Bahamas student, Tanae Hanna,along with classmates Lashanda McKinney, Melisha Higgins, Rashard Ritchie, and Dashlyn Gordon, explored the life and legacy of Tanae’s great-grandfather, the late Theophilus Farquharson, born on June 11, 1891, in Inagua. A well-educated and noble Bahamian, he married Inez Farquharson in 1931 and fathered nine children.
Honored last week at the university’s forum as one of the nation’s freedom fighters, Mr. Farquharson was the founder and president of The West India Improvement Association and among the first Bahamians to establish a registered union.
In 1936, when the Erickson brothers from America revived Inagua’s salt industry and hired many workers from the nearby Turks and Caicos Islands, local residents felt discriminated against, believing outsiders were favored for jobs. This discontent led to the formation of The West India Improvement Association, with Mr. Farquharson serving as its only president. The union was short-lived, however,as fear of job-related retaliation and widespread unemployment discouraged attendance at meetings.
Alongside other members, Mr. Farquharson fought hard to end the truck and credit system, which manipulated laborers’ wages for merchants’ gain.The unfair system sparked riots and strikes across Inagua.Ultimately, his efforts helped pave the way for the creation of the Bahamas Industrial, Manufacturing& Allied Workers Union.Acknowledgment is extended to the students mentioned above for their contribution.
