Page 53 - The British Big Four
P. 53
ir Milo Butler was appointed the first ter after consultation with the Leader of the he Bahamas uses left hand drive traffic
Opposition. The House of Assembly carries
S Governor-General of the Bahamas (the out all major legislative functions. As under T rules throughout the Commonwealth.
the Westminster system, the Prime Minister
official representative of Queen Elizabeth may dissolve Parliament and call a general The colors embodied in the design of the
II) shortly after independence. The Bahamas election at any time within a five-year term. Bahamian flag symbolize the image and as-
is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy The Prime Minister is the head of govern- pirations of the people of The Bahamas; the
headed by Queen Elizabeth II in her role as ment and is the leader of the party with the design reflects aspects of the natural envi-
Queen of the Bahamas. Political and legal most seats in the House of Assembly. Execu- ronment (sun, sand, and sea) and the eco-
traditions closely follow those of the Unit- tive power is exercised by the Cabinet, se- nomic and social development. The flag is a
ed Kingdom and the Westminster system. lected by the Prime Minister and drawn from black equilateral triangle against the mast,
The two main parties are the Free National his supporters in the House of Assembly. superimposed on a horizontal background
Movement and the Progressive Liberal Par- Constitutional safeguards include freedom made up of two colors on three equal stripes
ty. The Bahamas is a member of the Com- of speech, press, worship, movement, and of aquamarine, gold and aquamarine. The
monwealth of Nations as a Commonwealth association. The judiciary is independent of symbolism of the flag is as follows: Black, a
realm, retaining the Queen as head of state the executive and the legislature. Jurispru- strong color, represents the vigor and force
(represented by a Governor-General). dence is based on English law. The districts of a united people, the triangle pointing to-
of the Bahamas provide a system of local wards the body of the flag represents the
L egislative power is vested in a bicam- government everywhere except New Provi- enterprise and determination of The Baha-
eral parliament, which consists of a dence (which holds 70% of the national pop- mian people to develop and possess the
38-member House of Assembly (the lower ulation), whose affairs are handled directly rich resources of sun and sea symbolized by
house), with members elected from single- by the central government. gold and aquamarine respectively. In refer-
member districts, and a 16-member Senate, ence to the representation of the people
with members appointed by the Governor- with the color black, some white Bahamians
General, including nine on the advice of the have joked that they are represented in the
Prime Minister, four on the advice of the thread which “holds it all together.”
Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition,
and three on the advice of the Prime Minis-
