The Bahamas is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy headed by Queen Elizabeth II in her role as Queen of the Bahamas. The politics of the Bahamas takes place within a framework of parliamentary democracy,with a Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The Bahamas is an Independent Country and a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. As a former British colony,its political and legal traditions closely follow those of the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state,but executive power is exercised by the cabinet. Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of parliament. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature and jurisprudence is based on English common law. The multi-party system is dominated by the Progressive Liberal Party and the Free National Movement. The constitution protects freedom of speech,press,worship,movement,and association.
Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling, NH,KCMG,PC,JP was a Bahamian politician who is regarded as the "Father of the Nation" of the Bahamas,having led it to majority rule on 10 January 1967 and to independence on 10 July 1973. He served as the first black premier of the Colony of the Bahama Islands from 1967 to 1969 and as Prime Minister of the Bahamas from 1969 to 1992. He was leader of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) from 1956 to 1997 when he resigned from public life under scandal.
Perry Gladstone Christie PC,MP is a Bahamian former politician who served as Prime Minister of the Bahamas from 2002 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2017. He is the second longest-serving Bahamian elected parliamentarian,representing the Centreville constituency from 1977 to 2017. He is also a former athlete. His Progressive Liberal Party is the oldest Bahamian political party,holding solid majorities in the Bahamian Parliament several times in its long history.
The Free National Movement is a political party in The Bahamas formed in the early 1970s,led by Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield. The current leader of the party is Michael Pintard and his deputy Peter Turnquest. It dominated the general election held on 10 May 2017,winning 35 of the 39 seats in the Legislature,but was defeated in 2021,losing 28 seats.
The Progressive Liberal Party is a populist and social liberal party in the Bahamas. Philip Davies is the leader of the party.
Hubert Alexander Ingraham is a Bahamian politician who was Prime Minister of the Bahamas from August 1992 to May 2002 and again from May 2007 to May 2012. He is a member of the Free National Movement Party (FNM). Prior to the 2012 election,he was the FNM's Party Leader and was the Member of Parliament for the North Abaco constituency. He served as Leader of the Opposition in the House of Assembly from 2005 to 2007.
Lesbian,gay,bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the Bahamas may face challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. While same-sex sexual activity is legal in the Bahamas,there are no laws that address discrimination or harassment on the account of sexual orientation or gender identity,nor does it recognize same sex unions in any form,whether it be marriage or partnerships. Households headed by same-sex couples are also not eligible for any of the same rights given to opposite-sex married couples.
Frederick Gottlieb is a former Bahamian politician and currently a Bahamian lawyer. Frederick Gottlieb was born in Pine Ridge,Grand Bahama,Bahamas,to Dr. and Mrs. Ejnar Gottlieb. Dr. Gottlieb was a doctor in Grand Bahama and Abaco who was employed by the Abaco Lumber Company owned by the late Wallace Groves the founder of the Bahamas second city Freeport in Grand Bahama.
General elections were held in the Bahamas on 2 May 2007. The result was an opposition victory,with the Free National Movement,led by former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham,claiming 23 of the 41 seats. Incumbent Prime Minister Perry Christie conceded defeat in a phone call to his rival. Ingraham was sworn into the office of Prime Minister on 4 May.
General elections were held in the Bahamas on 2 May 2002. The opposition Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) won 29 of the 40 seats in the House of Assembly to defeat the governing Free National Movement (FNM). Voter turnout was 90.2%.
Renward Ricardo Wells is a Bahamian politician and retired sprinter who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bamboo Town from 2012 to 2021. In sprinting,he specialized in the 100 metres.
Philip Edward "Brave" Davis QC MP is a Bahamian politician serving as the Prime Minister of the Bahamas since 2021. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Cat Island,Rum Cay &San Salvador since May 2002.
Leo Ryan Pinder is a Bahamian lawyer and Progressive Liberal Party politician who has served in the Bahamas Senate and as Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs since September 2021. He was previously a Member of Parliament (MP) for Elizabeth from 2010 to 2017.
Hubert Alexander Minnis,ON is a Bahamian politician and doctor who served as Prime Minister of the Bahamas from May 2017 to 16 September 2021. Minnis is the leader of the Free National Movement,the former governing party,and the Member of Parliament for the New Providence constituency of Killarney. First elected to the legislature in the 2007 election,he succeeded Hubert Ingraham as party leader following the party's defeat in the 2012 election.
Hon. Sir Clement T. Maynard,,was a former Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas (1985–92),and deputy leader of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). His public career ran the gamut from trade unionist to Senator to Member of Parliament.
Glenys Margaret Elaine Hanna-Martin is a Bahamian Progressive Liberal Party politician and lawyer serving as Minister of Education since 2021. She has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Englerston since 2002,making her the country's longest serving female parliamentarian.
Dame Janet Gwennett Bostwick is a Bahamian lawyer and politician. She entered politics in 1977 with an appointment to the Senate. She was the first woman to serve as acting Prime Minister,first female Attorney General and the first female Member of Parliament in the Bahamas.
General elections were held in the Bahamas on 16 September 2021 to elect all 38 members of the House of Assembly.
JoBeth Lillian Coleby-Davis is a Bahamian Progressive Liberal Party politician and attorney who has been the Bahamian Minister of Housing and Transport since 23 September 2021 and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Elizabeth since 6 October 2021. Coleby-Davis defeated the FNM incumbent Duane Sands in the 2021 general election. She previously served in the Senate from 2017 to 2021.
I. Chester Cooper is a Bahamian Progressive Liberal Party politician serving as Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas to Philip Davis and Minister of Tourism and Aviation since September 2021. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for The Exumas and Ragged Island since 2017.
