Conventional Long Form Name of Country: Commonwealth of the Bahamas
Capital City(ies): Nassau
Type of Government: Constitutional Parliamentary Democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Date of Independence: July 10, 1973 (from the UK)
National Holiday(s): Independence Day, July 10
Chief of State: Queen Elizabeth II (since Feb 6 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Arthur A. FOULKES (since April 14, 2010)
Capital City(ies): Nassau
Type of Government: Constitutional Parliamentary Democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Date of Independence: July 10, 1973 (from the UK)
National Holiday(s): Independence Day, July 10
Chief of State: Queen Elizabeth II (since Feb 6 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Arthur A. FOULKES (since April 14, 2010)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since May 8 2012)
Description of Executive Branch/Powers: Monarchy is hereditary, governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister.
Description of Legislative Branch/Powers: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16 seats; members appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader to serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (38 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms); the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time.
Description of Judicial Branch/Powers: The highest court is the Bahamas Court of Appeal. Consists of court president and 4 justices. Subordinate courts: Supreme Court, Industrial Tribunal, Stipendiary and Magistrates Courts; Family Island Administrators
Suffrage: 18 universal
THEIR ambassador to the US: Ambassador Dr. Eugene Glenwood Newry
THEIR embassy in the US: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
THEIR location of consulates in the US: Atlanta, Miami, New York
US Ambassador to THEM: Charge d' Affaires John Dinkelman
Location of US embassy THERE: 42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence
Location(s) of US consulate(s) THERE: N/A
THEIR representative to UN: Dr. Eugene Newry
Description of Legislative Branch/Powers: bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16 seats; members appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader to serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (38 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms); the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time.
Description of Judicial Branch/Powers: The highest court is the Bahamas Court of Appeal. Consists of court president and 4 justices. Subordinate courts: Supreme Court, Industrial Tribunal, Stipendiary and Magistrates Courts; Family Island Administrators
Suffrage: 18 universal
THEIR ambassador to the US: Ambassador Dr. Eugene Glenwood Newry
THEIR embassy in the US: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
THEIR location of consulates in the US: Atlanta, Miami, New York
US Ambassador to THEM: Charge d' Affaires John Dinkelman
Location of US embassy THERE: 42 Queen Street, Nassau, New Providence
Location(s) of US consulate(s) THERE: N/A
THEIR representative to UN: Dr. Eugene Newry
Flag Symbolism: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine, gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the side; the band colors represent the golden beaches of the islands surrounded by the aquamarine sea; black represents the vigor and force of a united people, while the pointing triangle indicates the enterprise and determination of the Bahamian people to develop the rich resources of land and sea
National Symbol(s): blue marlin; flamingo
International Disputes: disagrees with the US on the alignment of the northern axis of a potential maritime boundary
Quantity of refugees inside country and country of origin of refugees: Haitians
Quantity of Internationally Displaced Persons: N/A
Quantity of Stateless Persons: N/A
Current human trafficking issues: N/A
Illicit drug/trafficking use: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center
International Disputes: disagrees with the US on the alignment of the northern axis of a potential maritime boundary
Quantity of refugees inside country and country of origin of refugees: Haitians
Quantity of Internationally Displaced Persons: N/A
Quantity of Stateless Persons: N/A
Current human trafficking issues: N/A
Illicit drug/trafficking use: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center