The Bahamas

Keyfacts

POPULATION (Census 2010): 353,658
AREA: 13,943 sq km
CAPITAL: Nassau
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION TO GDP: -
CURRENCY: Bahamian dollar (BSD)
HEAD OF STATE: HM Queen Elizabeth II
GOVERNOR-GENERAL: Sir Arthur Foulkes
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT: Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: constitutional monarchy
PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM: bicameral
STATE STRUCTURE: unitary
LANGUAGES: English (official)
NATIONAL ELECTIONS: last: 2007; turnout: - next: 2012
LOCAL ELECTIONS: last: 2008; turnout: - next: 2011

Summary

The Bahamas is a constitutional monarchy with two spheres of government, central and local. There is no constitutional provision for local government and the main empowering legislation is the Local Government Act 1996. Local government policy is overseen by the
Department of Lands and Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister. There are a total
of 32 local government districts: 13 two tier districts, which are further sub-divided into town
areas, and 19 unitary districts. Local government is not empowered to raise revenue itself and
funding for all local government expenditure is provided through transfers from central
government. Town committees’ are responsible for general health and sanitation whilst district
councils are responsible for hospitals and clinics, supply of public potable water by standpipes and
the upkeep of public school buildings and other government-owned buildings.