THE Aga Khan has died - a figure who is known the world over, and whose presence has also been felt in the Bahamian arena.

Indeed, his helicopter featured - unhelpfully for those concerned - in the careers of not one but two politicians, one the leader of Canada, and one closer to home. 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau caught some heat internationally for holidaying at Bell Island, the private island in The Bahamas owned by the Aga Khan, and using the private helicopter to travel back and forth from the island to Nassau. 

Questions were raised for Trudeau as to whether there was any breach of official ethics rules. 

But Trudeau was not the first politician to find themselves in a spot of bother because of a helicopter ride courtesy of the Aga Khan. 

Earl Deveaux was even mentioned in the UK’s Daily Mail for the criticism that came his way on radio shows here in The Bahamas after he accepted a ride in the helicopter to a film screening in Abaco. 

At the time, he was Environment Minister - travelling in a manner not terribly conducive to the environment. 

There was speculation at the time that the trip might have an impact on the polls at the election. 

The debate also drew in Hubert Ingraham, then prime minister, who admitted having ridden in the same helicopter. 

It was reported by Tribune sources at the time that the Aga Khan bought Bell Island that he made a donation of $1m to the Bahamas National Trust. 

There had been a considerable dispute between the BNT and the PLP over Bell Island, and controversial dredging that took place in the Exuma Land and Sea Park. 

That dredging had been conducted to accommodate the Aga Khan’s yacht and a marina at Bell Island. 

The dispute came when the PLP was in opposition - and let loose at the BNT for giving its blessing to that dredging. 

Peace finally broke out when the new Christie administration came into power. 

The Aga Khan remained a political talking point, however - even in 2013, Prime Minister Christie was saying: “See Hubert Ingraham could take flights on helicopters and see Aga Khan and he could do all kind of things, but the minute you do it, it’s a different game because he is judged by a different standard.”

At the time, Mr Christie was talking about a row over his dealings with Peter Nygard. That is a dispute that has not aged well given the many criminal charges Nygard is now facing. 

Readers yesterday also shared other memories of the Aga Khan’s time in The Bahamas - including his yachts that sailed in our waters, named after two of the all-time horse racing greats. 

Shergar was famed the world over - a horse that won the Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and more. 

The horse was the centre of one of the great mysteries too - it was stolen and a ransom of $2m demanded. The ransom went unpaid, the horse never seen again.

Zarkava, meanwhile, was a winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. 

Both horses were owned by the Aga Khan, both had yachts named after them, both found anchor in Bahamian waters. 

The Aga Khan became the spiritual leader of the world’s millions of Ismaili Muslims at age 20 as a Harvard undergraduate and poured a material empire built on billions of dollars in tithes into building homes, hospitals and schools in developing countries. 

His real names was Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan being a title, and his son Rahim has been named the Aga Khan V, the 50th hereditary imam of the Shiite Ismaili Muslims.

Over decades, the Aga Khan evolved into a business magnate and a philanthropist, moving between the spiritual and the worldly with ease.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called him “a symbol of peace, tolerance and compassion in our troubled world”. Trudeau, that one time helicopter hitchhiker, called him a very good friend and “an extraordinarily compassionate global leader”.

Condolences poured in online from charity groups he supported, as well as the equestrian world, where he was a well-known figure.

The Aga Khan was given the title of “His Highness” by Queen Elizabeth in July 1957, two weeks after his grandfather the Aga Khan III unexpectedly made him heir to the family’s 1,300-year dynasty as leader of the Ismaili Muslim sect.

The Aga Khan Development Network, his main philanthropic organization, deals mainly with issues of health care, housing, education and rural economic development. It says it works in over 30 countries and has an annual budget of about $1 billion for non-profit development activities.

He left his mark in The Bahamas - not always to the benefit of those who got caught in the spotlight - but he also left many memories, some of which readers have been sharing. 

His passing closes a chapter of political history.