Prime Minister of the Bahamas

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Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Seal of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas.svg
Seal of the prime minister of the Bahamas
Flag of the Prime Minister of the Bahamas.svg
Prime Minister Philip Davis in 2022.jpg
Incumbent
Philip Davis
since 17 September 2021
Government
Cabinet
Style The Most Honourable
Type Head of government
AbbreviationPM
Seat Nassau
Appointer Governor-General
Term length At the governor-general's pleasure (normally 5 years)
PrecursorPremier of the Bahamas Islands
Inaugural holder Sir Lynden Pindling
Formation10 May 1969
DeputyDeputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas
Salary86,000 BSD annually [1]
Website bahamas.gov.bs

The prime minister of the Bahamas is the head of government of the Bahamas. The prime minister is formally appointed into office by the governor-general of the Bahamas, who represents Charles III, the King of the Bahamas (the Bahamian head of state).

Contents

The following article contains a list of prime ministers of the Bahamas, from the establishment of the position of chief minister of the Bahamas Islands in 1955 to the present day.

Constitutional basis

Under section 72 of the Constitution of the Bahamas, the Governor-General of the Bahamas must appoint "the member of the House of Assembly who is the leader of the party which commands the support of the majority of the members of that House". In the event of a hung parliament, the governor-general should appoint the member who is "most likely to command the support of the majority of members of that House". [2]

Official oath of office

I, _________________________, being appointed Prime Minister, do swear that I will to the best of my judgment, at all times when so required, freely give my counsel and advice to the Governor-General (or any other person for the time being lawfully performing the functions of that office) for the good management of the public affairs of the Bahamas, and I do further swear that I will not on any account, at any time whatsoever, disclose the counsel, advice, opinion or vote of any particular Minister or Parliamentary Secretary and that I will not, except with the authority of the Cabinet and to such extent as may be required for the good management of the affairs of the Bahamas, directly or indirectly reveal the business or proceedings of the Cabinet or the nature or contents of any documents communicated to me as Prime Minister or any matter coming to my knowledge in my capacity as such, and that in all things I will be a true and faithful Prime Minister. So help me God.

Office of the Prime Minister

The prime minister of the Bahamas is the head of the government of the Bahamas. The duties of the prime minister include:

Agencies under the prime minister include:

List of heads of government of the Bahamas (1955–present)

Political parties
   United Bahamian Party (UBP)
   Progressive Liberal Party (PLP)
   Free National Movement (FNM)

Chief minister of the Bahamas Islands (1955–1964)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ElectionTerm of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Emblem of the Bahamas (1904-1953).svg Sir Roland Symonette
(1898–1980)
1962 19557 January 19649 years UBP

Premiers of the Bahamas Islands (1964–1969)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ElectionTerm of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
(1) Emblem of the Bahamas (1964-1973).svg Sir Roland Symonette
(1898–1980)
7 January 196416 January 19673 years, 9 days UBP
2 Lynden Pindling 1977.jpg Lynden Pindling
(1930–2000)
1967
1968
16 January 196710 May 19692 years, 114 days PLP

Prime minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Islands (1969–1973)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ElectionTerm of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Lynden Pindling 1977.jpg Lynden Pindling
(1930–1992)
1972 10 May 196910 July 19734 years, 61 days PLP

Prime ministers of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas (1973–present)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ElectionTerm of officePolitical party
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Lynden Pindling 1977.jpg Lynden Pindling
(1930–2000)
1977
1982
1987
10 July 197321 August 199219 years, 42 days PLP
2 Hubert Ingraham.jpg Hubert Ingraham
(born 1947)
1992
1997
21 August 19923 May 20029 years, 255 days FNM
3 Perry Christie 2013 (cropped).jpg Perry Christie
(born 1943)
2002 3 May 20024 May 20075 years, 1 day PLP
(2) Hubert Ingraham.jpg Hubert Ingraham
(born 1947)
2007 4 May 20078 May 20125 years, 4 days FNM
(3) Perry Christie 2013 (cropped).jpg Perry Christie
(born 1943)
2012 8 May 201211 May 20175 years, 3 days PLP
4 Hubert Minnis 2016.jpg Hubert Minnis
(born 1954)
2017 11 May 201717 September 20214 years, 128 days FNM
5 Prime Minister Philip Davis in 2022.jpg Philip Davis
(born 1951)
2021 17 September 2021Incumbent3 years, 151 days PLP

Timeline

This is a graphical lifespan timeline of prime ministers of the Bahamas. They are listed in order of office (Ingraham and Christie are shown in order of their first premierships).

Philip Davis (Bahamian politician)Hubert MinnisPerry ChristieHubert IngrahamLynden PindlingRoland Theodore SymonettePrime Minister of the Bahamas

Deputy prime ministers

The position was formally established on 20 February 1968. [3]

See also

References

  1. Parliamentarians (Salaries and Allowances) Act (PDF) via laws.bahamas.gov.bs.
  2. "Constitution of The Bahamas" (PDF). Constitute Project. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  3. Bahamianologist, The (15 December 2023). "Deputy Prime Minister post created by Pindling to help save Majority Rule - 20th February 1968 · Bahamianology". Bahamianology.