the express wishes of Parliament. Since 1717 there has been a continuous line of Royal Governors. The islands were surrendered to a fleet of the American rebels in 1776 and again to the Spaniards in 1781, but they had been re-taken by a British force under Colonel Deveaux before the conclusion of the war in 1783, when British possession was confirmed. A significant event in Bahamian history was the influx of Loyalists who had asked to remain under British rule after the Treaty of Versailles. In 1783-84, when the islands' population was 4,058, the Loyalists started to arrive with their families and slaves. By 1789 the population had risen to more than 11,000. The names of some 630 Loyalist families are to be found widely distributed throughout all sections of the community today. The Loyalists received substantial assistance from England, and on the 19th March 1787 the Lords Proprietors surrendered all their proprietary rights to the King for the sum of £12,000, provided by Parliament. The final abolition of slavery in 1838 caused an economic and social change in the Bahamas. The outbreak of civil war in the United States led to a period of considerable prosperity: between the years 1861 and 1865 they became a depot for vessels running the blockade imposed against the Confederate States. However, the boom years were followed by a period of slump during which occurred one of the worst hurricanes in the islands' history. The hurricane struck New Providence on 1st October 1866, causing widespread damage. In the latter part of the nineteenth century efforts were made to exploit a number of commercial products, such as sisal, conch shells for cameo brooch-making, and pineapples. The sponge industry was also established and at its height in 1901 employed nearly 6,000 men or roughly one-third of the available labour force. The early 1900s were nonetheless lean years and it was not until 1920, when Nassau became an entrepôt for the American bootlegging trade that some degree of prosperity returned, and remained until the end of the prohibition era. In 1939 the sponge industry collapsed as the result of a fungus disease and the islands' fortunes again appeared to be on a downward trend but since World War II the Bahama Islands have experienced phenomenal growth, based almost entirely on the success of the tourist industry. Taxation advantages, economic and political stability have encouraged foreign investments; and millions of pounds have poured into the Bahamas during the last two decades. Up to January 1964, representative but not responsible government existed in the Bahamas. The executive government was in the hands of a Governor, appointed by the Crown, who had the power of veto and was advised by an Executive Council of not more than nine members of whom six were unofficials. Various executive powers and the right to enact certain subsidiary legislation were vested by law in the Governor in Council. A Legislative Council was created as a separate Council by Royal Letters Patent in 1841; and in 1963 it consisted of eleven members nominated by the Crown, of whom nine were unofficials. The Turks and Caicos Islands (q.v.) which are a geographical part of the Bahamas chain and which had often in their early history been claimed both by Bermuda and the Bahamas, were separated from the Bahamas in 1848. CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT At the Bahamas Constitutional Conference held in London in May 1963, constitutional changes were agreed. These were embodied in a new constitution which came into effect on 7th January 1964, giving the territory internal selfgovernment. The bi-cameral Legislature was reconstituted to consist of an Upper House called the Senate and a Lower House called the House of Assembly. The Senate then consisted of fifteen members of whom eight were appointed by the Governor after consultation with the Premier and such other persons as he may in his discretion have decided to consult, five by the Governor on the advice of the Premier, and two by the Governor on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition. Following the general election of 10th January 1967 the House of Assembly consisted of 38 members elected under universal adult franchise, 21 representing Out-Island constituencies and 17 from New Providence. The Cabinet consists of a Premier and not less than eight other Ministers. The Governor appoints as Premier the person who appears to him to be best able to command a majority in the House of Assembly. The remaining Ministers are appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Premier. On 20th December 1967 a seven-man committee was appointed to make recommendations for constitutional advance to full internal self-government. A majority report recommended that the Premier should in future be consulted about the selection of a new Governor; that the Senate should consist of 15 members, 10 appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Premier and five on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition; that the functions of the Advisory Committee on the prerogative of mercy should be transferred to the Cabinet; that in the conduct of Bahamian external affairs and defence matters the Government of the Bahamas should be consulted in advance; and that there should be single member constituencies. At a General Election held on 10th April 1968, the Progressive Liberal Party won 29 seats in the House of Assembly and the United Bahamian Party won seven seats. One representative of the Labour Party and one Independent (the Speaker of the House) were returned as before. The formal proposals of the Bahamas Government and the comments of the Opposition parties were received in London in August 1968, and these were the basic working documents for a Constitutional Conference held in London in September 1968 when the following constitutional changes were formulated. It was agreed that the territory should in future be known as "The Commonwealth of the Bahama Islands', and the Premier should be called the 'Prime Minister.' The British Government retained the ultimate responsibility for appointing the Governor but would consult the Government of the Bahamas informally to ensure that the needs of the territory were fully, fairly and satisfactorily met. The conference also agreed that there should be a new post of Deputy Governor, the holder of which would act for the Governor whenever necessary and assist him in the exercise of special responsibilities. It was agreed that the Senate should in future be composed of 16 members, of whom 9 would be appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Prime Minister, 4 on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, and 3 after consultation with the Prime Minister and such other persons as the Governor in his discretion may decide to consult. The period for which the Senate might delay non-money bills and taxation bills would be reduced from 15 to 9 months. The Governor retains ultimate responsibility for the Royal Bahamas Police Force and for internal security, but as soon as the new constitution came into force, he would entrust immediate responsibility for these matters to a minister designated on the advice of the Prime Minister. This Minister would keep the Governor and the Security Council informed on all important matters of policy within the field of entrusted responsibility. A Security Council would be set up. This would consist of the Governor, the Prime Minister, another Minister, and such other persons as the Governor might appoint after consulting the Prime Minister. The Council would discuss matters of policy relating to external affairs, defence, the police and internal security, consider matters relating to the police and internal security, and advise the Governor on the discharge of his ultimate responsibility for the police and internal security. In the discharge of the responsibility he would not be obliged to accept the advice of the Council, and might, at his discretion act on his own account and give to the Commissioner of Police such instructions as he might think fit. The Governor would retain his present special responsibility for defence and external affairs but would be required to consult Bahamas Ministers through the Security Council on matters which might involve the political, economic or financial interests of the territory. The British Government would delegate to the Government of the Bahamas authority to negotiate and conclude trade agreements with other countries concerning the treatment of goods, or agreements with Commonwealth countries or the United States of purely local concern, or relating to technical assistance or emigration. The new constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahama Islands came into force on 10th May, 1969, and the Legislature sat for the first time under the new Constitution on 28th May 1969. LAND POLICY The Status of Aliens Act 1950 empowers an alien to acquire and hold property within the Colony. GOVERNMENT Prime Minister: The Hon. Lynden O. Pindling, MHA Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs: The Hon. Arthur D. Hanna, мHA Minister of Education and Culture: The Hon. Cecil V. Wallace Whitfield, MHA Minister of Tourism and Telecommunications: The Hon. Clement T. Maynard, MHA SENATE President: The Hon. L. J. Knowles, CBE HOUSE OF Assembly Speaker: The Hon. A. R. Braynen, MHA Deputy Speaker: The Hon. Arlington Butler, MHA and 36 other elected members CIVIL ESTABLISHMENT Governor and Commander-in-Chief: The Hon. Sir Francis Cumming-Bruce, KCMG A.D.C.: Col. J. Chapman, CVO, OBE Secretary to the Cabinet: Sir Foley Newns, KCMG, CVO Establishment Secretary: I. D. Fraser, OBE, DSC Permanent Secretary, Ministry of External Permanent Secretary, Local Government Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agricul- Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Develop- Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism Thompson E. Director of Agriculture: C. W. Lynn, CBE A. Director of Lands and Surveys: R. E. A. Director of Education: (vacant) Director of Immigration: (vacant) Cabinet Information and Liaison Officer: Chief Industrial Officer: M. E. Johnston Attorney-General: (vacant) Solicitor-General: G. D. M. Collett Chief Medical Officer: Dr W. J. Wilson Pathologists (one vacant): Dr J. Read Chief Out-Island Commissioner: V. A. Port Director: (vacant) of Police (and Provost Marshal): T. E. Clunie Director of Public Works: C. Cooper Controller of Road Traffic: R. V. E. Wood Comptroller of Customs: G. A. Isaacs Manager, Bahamas Money Authority: T. B. Parliamentary Registrar: A. A. Dean Imperial Lighthouse Service Inspector: JUDICIARY Justices of the Court of Appeal: Sir Roland O. Sinclair, KBE; Sir Paget Bourke; Sir Clyde Archer Puisne Judges: H. C. Smith; J. A. Smith, CBE, TD Chief Magistrate: M. J. Thompson READING LIST BRUCE, P. H. Bahamian Interlude. Reprinted from the Memories of Bruce, 1782. London, Culmer, 1949. CARTWRIGHT, W. W. Pocket Guide to Nassau, Nassau, 1951. CRATON, M. A. A. History of the Bahamas. London, Collins, 1962. Dowson, W. A. Mission to the West India Islands: Dawson's Journal for FARQUHARSON, J. A. Relic of Slavery: Farquharson's Journal for 1831-32. HANNAU, H. W. Nassau in the Bahamas. Munich, W. Andermann Verlag, MALCOLM, Harcourt. Historical Documents relating to the Bahama MANWARING, G. E. Woodes Rogers, Privateer and Governor. Nassau, OLDMIXON, J. History of the Isle of Providence. First published in The PEGGS, A. Deans. A Short History of the Bahamas. Nassau, 1959. RICHARDSON, J. Henry. Review of Bahamian Economic Conditions and THOMPSON, T. A. Short Geography of the Bahamas. Nassau, 1944. WAKEFIELD, A. J. Report on Agricultural Development in the Bahamas. Bahamas Handbook and Businessmen's Annual, edited by E. Dupuch and Bahama Islands Report. Government Information Services, 1966-67. T BERMUDA HE Bermudas or Somers Islands derived their names from the Spanish seaman Juan Bermudez, who sighted the group before 1515, but no settlement was made until 1609, when Sir George Somers, who was shipwrecked on his way to Virginia, colonised the islands. Bermuda is situated in the Western Atlantic Ocean about 570 miles east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, 32° 18′ N. latitude, 64° 46′ W. longitude. Until 1940 it had an area of 19.34 square miles. As a result of work done by the United States authorities since 1940 to unite and extend some of the islands with materials dredged from the sea, their total area is now 20·59 square miles, of which 2·30 square miles are leased to the Government of the United States for naval and military bases, leaving 18.29 square miles available to the civil population. The United States bases include a large airfield which is used by both military and commercial traffic. The Bermudas consist of about 150 islands and islets, roughly in the form of a fishhook, along the southern rim of the oval plateau summit, about 22 miles from east to west and 14 miles from north to south, of a steep submarine volcanic mountain which is reputed to be between 14,000 and 15,000 feet in height. The ten principal islands are connected by bridges and form a chain about 22 miles long between its north-east and south-west extremities. These islands vary in width but the main island, which is about 14 miles long, has an average width of about one mile; it contains about 9,000 acres of land, the highest point being only 259-4 feet above the sea. All the other islands and the areas reclaimed for the United States Bases aggregate about 4,240 acres. There are no rivers or lakes. The City of Hamilton, the capital since 1815, with a population estimated at about 2,500, is situated on the main island. The town of St George on the island of St George was formerly the capital. Its population is estimated at about 2,000. The climate is generally mild and humid with a mean annual temperature of 70°F and average annual maximum and minimum temperatures of 90°F and 47°F respectively. The coldest and hottest months are February and August. The average annual rainfall is 58.1 inches. |