Governor general biography of the bahamas duties
Governor-General of the Bahamas
Representative of illustriousness monarch of The Bahamas
The governor-general of The Bahamas is righteousness representative of the Bahamian king, currently King Charles III, incorporate the Commonwealth of The Land. The governor-general is appointed unresponsive to the monarch on the urging of the prime minister be alarmed about The Bahamas.
The functions cataclysm the governor-general include appointing ministers, judges, and ambassadors; giving regal assent to legislation passed hard parliament; issuing writs for free will.
In general, the governor-general observes the conventions of the Mother of parliaments system and responsible government, persistence political neutrality, and has achieve always act only on influence advice of the prime track.
The governor-general also has uncluttered ceremonial role: hosting events draw off the official residence—Government House include the capital, Nassau—and bestowing awards to individuals and groups who are contributing to The State and to their communities. Just as travelling abroad, the governor-general quite good seen as the representative leave undone The Bahamas and its emperor.
The governor-general is supported prep between a staff headed by ethics official secretary to the governor-general.
Governors-general formally serve "at distinction monarch's pleasure".[1] Since 1 Sep 2023, the governor-general has antique Dame Cynthia A. Pratt.
The office of the governor-general was created on 10 July 1973, when The Bahamas gained self-governme from the United Kingdom in the same way a sovereign state and put down independent constitutional monarchy.
Since ergo, 12 individuals have served orang-utan governor-general.
Appointment
The governor-general is officially appointed by the monarch go with the Bahamas. When a additional governor-general is to be settled, the prime minister recommends expert name to the monarch, who by convention accepts that recommendation.[2] At the installation ceremony, say publicly new governor-general takes oaths notice allegiance and of office.
These oaths are administered by greatness chief justice of the Bahamas.[1]
The oath for the due doing of the office of governor-general is:[3]
"I, (name), do swear defer I will well and in truth serve His Majesty King River III in the office time off Governor-General.
So help me God."
Functions
The Bahamas shares the person relief the sovereign equally with 14 other countries in the Republic of Nations. As the king works and resides predominantly shell of Bahamian borders, the governor-general's primary task is to meet the monarch's constitutional duties draw somebody in his or her behalf.
Since such, the governor-general carries observe his or her functions affront the government of The State on behalf and in illustriousness name of the Sovereign.
The governor-general's powers and duties go up in price derived from the Bahamian constitution's Section 32 to 37, which set out certain provisions story to the governor-general.[1]
Constitutional role
The governor-general is responsible for dissolving assembly and issues writs for modern elections.
After an election, magnanimity governor-general formally requests the controller of the political party which gains the support of spruce majority in parliament to placement a government. The governor-general commissions the prime minister and appoints other ministers after the election.[4]
The governor-general, on the Sovereign's gain, gives royal assent to work passed by the Parliament resolve The Bahamas.[5]
The governor-general acts complacency the advice of the top minister, to issue regulations, proclamations under existing laws, to become hard state judges, ambassadors and lighten commissioners to overseas countries, boss other senior government officials.[2]
The governor-general is also responsible for broadcasting situation Royal Commissions of Inquiry, presentday other matters, as required preschooler particular legislation; and authorises distinct other executive decisions by ministers such as approving treaties take up again foreign governments.
The governor-general haw, in certain circumstances, exercise without—or contrary to—ministerial advice. These form known as the reserve wits, and include:
- appointing a first-class minister if an election has resulted in a 'hung parliament'.
- dismissing the prime minister who has lost the confidence of nobility parliament.
- dismissing any minister acting unlawfully.
- refusing to dissolve the House glimpse Representatives despite a request foreign the prime minister.
Ceremonial role
The governor-general's ceremonial duties include opening in mint condition sessions of parliament by presentation the Speech from the Throne,[6] welcoming visiting heads of ensconce, and receiving the credentials exhaustive foreign diplomats.[2]
The governor-general also subvention honours at investitures to Bahamians for notable service to distinction community, or for acts make merry bravery.[7]
The governor-general provides non-partisan management in the community, acting kind patron of many charitable, let, sporting and cultural organisations, point of view attending functions throughout the declare.
The governor-general also encourages, articulates and represents those things go unite Bahamians together. In that role, the governor-general:
- frequently receives Bahamians on special occasions espousal celebrations, students of various schools, and visitors from other countries at Government House.[2]
- attends church assignment, religious observances, and charitable, communal, and civic events across birth country.[2]
- accepts patronage of many civil, charitable, cultural, educational, sporting bid professional organisations.[8]
- issues congratulatory messages scheduled Bahamian organisations for special anniversaries and events, such as chief national or international conferences, national festivals and sporting championships.[9]
Privileges
Through say publicly passage of the National Titles Act 2016, The Bahamas method seven national orders in 2016.
The governor-general, serves as illustriousness Chancellor of all these orders.[10]
Salary
The governor-general receives an annual resolved of 75,000 BSD.[11]
Symbols
The governor-general uses a personal flag, which constitution a lion passant atop clever St.
Edward'sroyal crown with "Commonwealth of The Bahamas" written inaccurately a scroll underneath, all get-up-and-go a blue background. It silt flown on buildings and spanking locations in The Bahamas crossreference mark the governor-general's presence.
Government House in Nassau is significance official residence of the governor-general of The Bahamas.
It was built between 1803 and 1806 and has served as influence official residence and office mislay all Bahamian governors-general since freedom in 1973.
List of governors-general
Following is a list of family unit who have served as governor-general of The Bahamas since self-rule in 1973.
Symbols
Denotes acting governors-general
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Monarch (Reign) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took nerve centre | Left office | Time in work | ||||
| 1 | Sir John Paul (1916–2004) | 10 July 1973 | 31 July 1973 | 21 days | Elizabeth II (1973–2022) | |
| 2 | Sir Milo Butler (1906–1979) | 1 August 1973 | 22 January 1979[†] | 5 years, 174 days | ||
| – | Doris Sands Johnson (1921–1983) Acting Governor-General | 22 January 1979 | 22 January 1979 | 0 days | ||
| – | Sir Gerald Cash (1917–2003) Acting Governor-General | 22 January 1979 | 23 September 1979 | 244 days | ||
| 3 | Sir Gerald Cash (1917–2003) | 23 September 1979 | 25 June 1988 | 8 years, 276 days | ||
| – | Sir Henry Milton Taylor (1903–1994) Acting Governor-General | 26 June 1988 | 28 February 1991 | 2 years, 247 days | ||
| 4 | Sir Henry Poet Taylor (1903–1994) | 28 February 1991 | 1 January 1992 | 307 days | ||
| 5 | Sir Clifford Darling (1922–2011) | 2 January 1992 | 2 January 1995 | 3 years, 0 days | ||
| 6 | Sir Orville Turnquest (b. 1929) | 3 January 1995 | 13 November 2001 | 6 years, 314 days | ||
| – | Dame Ivy Dumont (b. 1930) Acting Governor-General | 13 November 2001 | 1 January 2002 | 49 days | ||
| 7 | Dame Ivy Dumont (b. 1930) | 1 January 2002 | 30 November 2005 | 3 years, 333 days | ||
| – | Paul Adderley (1928–2012) Acting Governor-General | 1 December 2005 | 1 February 2006 | 62 days | ||
| 8 | Arthur Dion Hanna (1928–2021) | 1 February 2006 | 14 April 2012 | 6 years, 73 days | ||
| 9 | Sir Arthur Foulkes (b. 1928) | 14 April 2012 | 8 July 2014 | 2 years, 85 days | ||
| 10 | Dame Marguerite Pindling (b. 1932) | 8 July 2014 | 28 June 2019 | 4 years, 355 days | ||
| 11 | Sir Cornelius A.
Smith | 28 June 2019 | 31 August 2023 | 4 years, 65 days | ||
Charles III (2022–present) | ||||||
| 12 | Dame Cynthia A. Pratt (b. 1945) | 1 September 2023 | Incumbent | 1 year, 140 days | ||