The dollar ( sign : $ ; code : BSD ) has been the currency of The Bahamas since 1966. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $ , or alternatively B$ to distinguish it from other dollar -denominated currencies. It is divided into 100 cents .
64-571: The governor-general of The Bahamas is the representative of the Bahamian monarch , currently King Charles III , in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas . The governor-general is appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister of The Bahamas . The functions of the governor-general include appointing ministers , judges, and ambassadors; giving royal assent to legislation passed by parliament ; issuing writs for election . In general,
128-532: A few duties which are specifically performed by the monarch, such as appointing the governor-general. The governor-general, to maintain the stability of the Bahamian government, appoints as prime minister the individual most likely to maintain the support of the Bahamian House of Assembly . The governor-general additionally appoints a Cabinet, at the direction of the prime minister, at least eight other ministers of
192-513: A shared and a separate character and the sovereign's role as monarch of the Bahamas is distinct to his or her position as monarch of any other realm, including the United Kingdom. The monarchy thus ceased to be an exclusively British institution and in the Bahamas became a Bahamian, or "domesticated" establishment. This division is illustrated in a number of ways: The sovereign, for example, holds
256-537: A trial. The exercise of the 'Prerogative of mercy' to grant a pardon and the commutation of prison sentences is described in section 90 of the Constitution. The Bahamian monarch sends congratulatory messages to Bahamian citizens celebrating their 100th birthday, and to married couples on their 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries. Within the Commonwealth realms, the monarch is deemed the fount of honour . Similarly,
320-458: A unique Bahamian title and, when he is acting in public specifically as a representative of the Bahamas, he uses, where possible, Bahamian symbols, including the country's national flag , unique royal symbols , and the like. Only Bahamian government ministers can advise the sovereign on matters of the Bahamian state. In the Bahamas, the legal personality of the State is referred to as "His Majesty
384-502: Is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is the sovereign and head of state of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas . The current Bahamian monarch and head of state, since 8 September 2022, is King Charles III . As sovereign, he is the personal embodiment of the Bahamian Crown. Although the person of the sovereign is equally shared with 14 other independent countries within the Commonwealth of Nations, each country's monarchy
448-512: Is important to note that the Royal Prerogative belongs to the Crown and not to any of the ministers, though it might have sometimes appeared that way, and the constitution allows the governor-general to unilaterally use these powers in relation to the dismissal of a prime minister, dissolution of parliament, and removal of a judge in exceptional, constitutional crisis situations. There are also
512-485: Is responsible for dissolving parliament and issues writs for new elections. After an election, the governor-general formally requests the leader of the political party which gains the support of a majority in parliament to form a government. The governor-general commissions the prime minister and appoints other ministers after the election. The governor-general, on the Sovereign's behalf, gives royal assent to laws passed by
576-512: Is separate and legally distinct. As a result, the current monarch is officially titled King of the Bahamas and, in this capacity, he and other members of the royal family undertake public and private functions domestically and abroad as representatives of the Bahamian state. However, the King is the only member of the Royal Family with any constitutional role. All executive authority is vested in
640-405: Is the official residence of the governor-general of The Bahamas. It was built between 1803 and 1806 and has served as the official residence and office of all Bahamian governors-general since independence in 1973. Following is a list of people who have served as governor-general of The Bahamas since independence in 1973. Symbols Monarchy of The Bahamas The monarchy of the Bahamas
704-685: The $ 1 shows Sir Lynden Pindling and on the back the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band; the $ 3 has a young Queen Elizabeth II and on the back shows a Family Island Regatta with native sloops; the $ 5 – Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield and the back shows a Junkanoo group 'rushing' in the Junkanoo parade; the $ 10 – an older Queen Elizabeth II (replacing Sir Stafford Sands ) and the back shows the Hope Town Lighthouse and settlement in Abaco,
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#1732859195992768-404: The $ 20 – Sir Milo Butler ; the $ 50 – Sir Roland Symonette ; the $ 100 – an older Queen Elizabeth II and the back shows a jumping blue marlin , the national fish of The Bahamas. For this reason, the Bahamian $ 100 bill is often referred to by locals as "a blue marlin". Since 2016, a new series called CRISP Evolution has been progressively introduced, maintaining the subjects and motifs of
832-557: The Act of Settlement 1701 , and the Bill of Rights 1689 . This legislation limits the succession to the natural (i.e. non- adopted ), legitimate descendants of Sophia, Electress of Hanover , and stipulates that the monarch cannot be a Roman Catholic , and must be in communion with the Church of England upon ascending the throne. Though these constitutional laws, as they apply to the Bahamas, still lie within
896-457: The Commonwealth of Nations , with the monarch's relationship with the Bahamas completely independent from his position as monarch of any other realm. Despite sharing the same person as their respective monarch, each of the Commonwealth realms – including the Bahamas – is sovereign and independent of the others. The Bahamian monarch is represented by a viceroy —the governor-general of the Bahamas—in
960-608: The Royal prerogative . Parliamentary approval is not required for the exercise of the Royal Prerogative; moreover, the consent of the Crown is must before either of the houses of parliament may even debate a bill affecting the sovereign's prerogatives or interests. One of the main duties of the Crown is to appoint a prime minister , who thereafter heads the Bahamian cabinet and advises the monarch or governor-general on how to execute their executive powers over all aspects of government operations and foreign affairs. The monarch's, and thereby
1024-608: The Sand Dollar as an alternative to the traditional Bahamian dollar. The Bahamian dollar is pegged to the US dollar on a one-to-one basis. The Central Bank of The Bahamas states that it uses reserve requirements , changes in the Bank discount rate and selective credit controls , supplemented by moral suasion , as main instruments of monetary policy. The Central Bank's objective is to keep stable conditions, including credit, in order to maintain
1088-441: The 5, 10, and 15 cent in cupronickel , the 25 cent in nickel, and the 50 cent and 1 dollar in silver. The 10 cent was scallop shaped, whilst the 15 cent was square. Silver coins were not issued for circulation after 1966. Bronze replaced nickel-brass in the 1 cent in 1970, followed by brass in 1974 and copper-plated zinc in 1985. In 1989, cupro-nickel 50 cent and 1 dollar coins were issued for circulation, although they did not replace
1152-420: The Bahamas a parliamentary system of government under a constitutional monarchy, wherein the role of the monarch and governor-general is both legal and practical, but not political. The Crown is regarded as a corporation, in which several parts share the authority of the whole, with the sovereign as the person at the centre of the constitutional construct, meaning all powers of state are constitutionally reposed in
1216-565: The Bahamas is: "I, (name) , do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles the Third, His Heirs and Successors, according to law. So help me God." Like some realms, the Bahamas defers to United Kingdom law to determine the line of succession. Succession is by absolute primogeniture governed by the provisions of the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 , as well as
1280-481: The Bahamian monarch. The government of the Bahamas is also thus formally referred to as His Majesty's Government . Most of the monarch's domestic duties are performed by the governor-general, appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister of the Bahamas . All institutions of government act under the sovereign's authority; the vast powers that belong to the Bahamian Crown are collectively known as
1344-498: The Bahamian realm. I recall with great fondness my visit to The Bahamas in 1973 to attend the National Independence celebrations. Since that time, I have followed with particular interest and affection as The Bahamas have grown in strength and responded to a multitude of challenges with resilience and fortitude. Charles III of the Bahamas , 2023 Since Bahamian independence in 1973, the pan-national Crown has had both
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#17328591959921408-595: The Chancellor of all these orders. The governor-general receives an annual salary of 75,000 BSD . The governor-general uses a personal flag, which features a lion passant atop a St. Edward's royal crown with "Commonwealth of The Bahamas" written on a scroll underneath, all on a blue background. It is flown on buildings and other locations in The Bahamas to mark the governor-general's presence. Government House in Nassau
1472-513: The Commonwealth . Since the accession of Charles III, the monarch's title is: Charles the Third, by the Grace of God King of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth . This style communicates the Bahamas's status as an independent monarchy, highlighting the Monarch's role specifically as Sovereign of the Bahamas, as well as the shared aspect of
1536-441: The Crown . The monarch is informed by his viceroy of the acceptance of the resignation of a prime minister and the swearing-in of a new prime minister and other members of the ministry, and he remains fully briefed through regular communications from his Bahamian ministers. Members of various executive agencies and other officials are appointed by the Crown. The appointment of senators , and Supreme Court justices also falls under
1600-482: The Crown throughout the realms. Typically, the Sovereign is styled "King of the Bahamas," and is addressed as such when in the Bahamas, or performing duties on behalf of the Bahamas abroad. As the embodiment of the state, the monarch is the locus of oaths of Allegiance. This is done in reciprocation to the sovereign's Coronation Oath, wherein they promise to govern the peoples of their realms, "according to their respective laws and customs". The oath of allegiance in
1664-567: The Government and people of The Bahamas on their long and unbroken history of parliamentary government and for maintaining so high a standard of order and stability in the midst of rapid change. Elizabeth II of the Bahamas , 1979 The sovereign, along with the Senate and the House of Assembly, is one of the three components of the Bahamian parliament . The monarch does not, however, participate in
1728-656: The King in Right of The Bahamas". Shortly after independence, Elizabeth II, at the request of the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, adopted separate and distinct style and titles in her role as Queen of the Bahamas. Per a proclamation on 10 August 1973, the Queen's style and titles in relation to the Bahamas became: Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, Queen of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of
1792-707: The Parliament of The Bahamas. The governor-general acts on the advice of the prime minister, to issue regulations, proclamations under existing laws, to appoint state judges, ambassadors and high commissioners to overseas countries, and other senior government officials. The governor-general is also responsible for issuing Royal Commissions of Inquiry, and other matters, as required by particular legislation; and authorises many other executive decisions by ministers such as approving treaties with foreign governments. The governor-general may, in certain circumstances, exercise without—or contrary to—ministerial advice. These are known as
1856-490: The Queen, said: I remember in those days I was young enough to be able to attend three - not one - but three, Independence Balls in the same night! That was quite an undertaking and I have never forgotten dancing with Mrs Pindling , who was the wife of the then Prime Minister of the Bahamas, and a whole lot of other remarkable ladies in The Bahamas. The Bahamas is one of fifteen independent nations, known as Commonwealth realms, which shares its sovereign with other monarchies in
1920-529: The Royal Prerogative. The Royal Prerogative further extends to foreign affairs: the governor-general ratifies treaties, alliances, and international agreements. As with other uses of the Royal Prerogative, no parliamentary approval is required. However, a treaty cannot alter the domestic laws of the Bahamas; an Act of Parliament is necessary in such cases. The governor-general, on behalf of the monarch, also accredits Bahamian High Commissioners and ambassadors and receives diplomats from foreign states. In addition,
1984-425: The Third, His Heirs and Successors, in the office of ________ and will do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of the Bahamas without fear or favour, affection or ill will. So help me God." The governor-general, on behalf of the Bahamian monarch, can also grant immunity from prosecution, exercise the royal prerogative of mercy , and pardon offences against the Crown, either before, during, or after
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2048-495: The United Kingdom as a sovereign state and an independent constitutional monarchy. Since then, 12 individuals have served as governor-general. The governor-general is formally appointed by the monarch of the Bahamas. When a new governor-general is to be appointed, the prime minister recommends a name to the monarch, who by convention accepts that recommendation. At the installation ceremony, the new governor-general takes oaths of allegiance and of office. These oaths are administered by
2112-441: The accession of her heir is both a constitutional and institutional moment of transition. Prime Minister Philip Davis on the death of Elizabeth II , Queen of the Bahamas, 2022 Upon a demise of the Crown (the death or abdication of a sovereign), it is customary for the accession of the new monarch to be publicly proclaimed by the governor-general in the capital, Nassau, after the accession. Regardless of any proclamations,
2176-439: The chief justice of the Bahamas. The oath for the due execution of the office of governor-general is: "I, (name) , do swear that I will well and truly serve His Majesty King Charles III in the office of Governor-General. So help me God." The Bahamas shares the person of the sovereign equally with 14 other countries in the Commonwealth of Nations . As the sovereign works and resides predominantly outside of Bahamian borders,
2240-413: The coins show objects from Bahamian culture with the value of the coins in words. The 1 cent has three starfish , the 5 cent a pineapple , the 10 cent two bonefish , the 15 cent a hibiscus , and the 25 cent a native sloop . One-cent coins were last issued on January 31, 2020 and demonetised at the end of 2020. All cash transactions in the Bahamas are now rounded to the nearest five cents. In 1966,
2304-497: The colony with his wife Wallis, Duchess of Windsor . The Duke was praised at the time for his efforts to combat poverty on the islands. In May 1963, a conference was held in London to consider a new constitution for the islands. The islands were granted full internal self-government, with the governor retaining reserved powers only for foreign affairs, defense, and internal security. On 10 July 1973, Charles, Prince of Wales delivered
2368-612: The common law holds that the sovereign "can do no wrong"; the monarch cannot be prosecuted in his or her own courts for criminal offences. All justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the governor-general. On taking office, all Bahamian judges are required to swear an oath to the monarch. Under the Official Oaths Act , the Judicial Oath is: "I, (name) , do swear that I will well and truly serve His Majesty King Charles
2432-499: The community, acting as patron of many charitable, service, sporting and cultural organisations, and attending functions throughout the country. The governor-general also encourages, articulates and represents those things that unite Bahamians together. In this role, the governor-general: Through the passage of the National Honours Act 2016 , The Bahamas established seven national orders in 2016. The governor-general, serves as
2496-460: The control of the British parliament , both the United Kingdom and the Bahamas cannot change the rules of succession without the unanimous consent of the other realms, unless explicitly leaving the shared monarchy relationship; a situation that applies identically in all the other realms, and which has been likened to a treaty amongst these countries. Here in The Bahamas, the death of our monarch, and
2560-467: The convenience of American tourists. The dollar replaced the pound at a rate of 1 dollar = 7 shillings (US$ 0.98) in 1966, 7 years before independence. This rate allowed the establishment of parity with the US dollar, due to the sterling/dollar rate then being fixed at £1 = $ 2.80, after a slight revaluation of 2%. To aid in decimalisation , three-dollar bills and fifteen-cent coins were created, as three dollars
2624-510: The corresponding banknotes. The now-obsolete 1 cent coin is about the size of a US dime, and the 5 and 25 cent coins are about the same size as their US counterparts but with different metal compositions. The 15 cent coins are still produced by the Central Bank. All coins now bear the Bahamian Coat of Arms on one side with the words "Commonwealth of The Bahamas" and the date. The reverses of
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2688-479: The distinctive watermark. Until 1992, all notes displayed a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II (Head of State) but notes began to display portraits of prominent deceased Bahamian politicians. This policy is now being reversed, with the return of the Queen's portrait to the $ 10 note. The $ 1 ⁄ 2 shows an older Queen Elizabeth II and the back shows a picture of Sister Sarah in the Nassau Straw Market;
2752-563: The foresayd continent". Charles Towne was settled in 1660 and named for King Charles II, but its name was changed to Nassau after William III came to the throne; the German region Nassau was a holding of William's family. The Bahamas became a British crown colony in 1718, when the British clamped down on piracy . In August 1940, the Duke of Windsor was appointed Governor of the Bahamas . He arrived in
2816-507: The government introduced notes in denominations of 1 ⁄ 2 , 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars. The Bahamas Monetary Authority took over the issuance of paper money in 1968, issuing the same denominations. The Central Bank of the Bahamas was established on 1 June 1974 and took over note issuance from that point forward. Its first issue of notes did not include the 1 ⁄ 2 and 3 dollar denominations but these were reintroduced in 1984. The dollar has undergone several revisions in
2880-438: The governor-general is seen as the representative of The Bahamas and its monarch. The governor-general is supported by a staff headed by the official secretary to the governor-general. Governors-general formally serve " at the monarch's pleasure ". Since 1 September 2023, the governor-general has been Dame Cynthia A. Pratt . The office of the governor-general was created on 10 July 1973, when The Bahamas gained independence from
2944-520: The governor-general observes the conventions of the Westminster system and responsible government , maintaining political neutrality, and has to always act only on the advice of the prime minister. The governor-general also has a ceremonial role: hosting events at the official residence—Government House in the capital, Nassau —and bestowing honours to individuals and groups who are contributing to The Bahamas and to their communities. When travelling abroad,
3008-443: The governor-general's primary task is to perform the monarch's constitutional duties on his or her behalf. As such, the governor-general carries out his or her functions in the government of The Bahamas on behalf and in the name of the Sovereign. The governor-general's powers and duties are derived from the Bahamian constitution's Section 32 to 37, which set out certain provisions relating to the governor-general. The governor-general
3072-509: The governor-general, with the Public Seal of the Bahamas. Within the Commonwealth realms, the sovereign is responsible for rendering justice for all his subjects, and is thus traditionally deemed the fount of justice . In the Bahamas, criminal offences are legally deemed to be offences against the sovereign and proceedings for indictable offences are brought in the sovereign's name in the form of The King [or Queen] versus [Name] . Hence,
3136-419: The issuance of passports falls under the Royal Prerogative and, as such, all Bahamian passports are issued in the governor-general's name, the monarch's representative in the Bahamas. You have achieved independence; social and political advance has kept pace with economic change; and the firm resolution of the Bahamian people has guided your country along a natural and peaceful path of progress. I congratulate
3200-452: The last twenty years, one of the more notable being an extremely colourful redesign in celebration of the quincentennial of the landing of Christopher Columbus on a Bahamian island he named San Salvador . All banknotes other than the fifty cent note have been undergoing design changes to foil forgery in recent years, although the notes implemented more stringent security long before the US's recent redesign of their notes. All banknotes are
3264-409: The late sovereign's heir immediately and automatically succeeds, without any need for confirmation or further ceremony. An appropriate period of mourning also follows, during which flags across the country are flown at half-mast to honour the late monarch. The day of the funeral is likely to be a public holiday. The Bahamian constitution is made up of a variety of statutes and conventions which gives
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#17328591959923328-647: The latter, the writs for a general election are usually signed by the governor-general at Government House, Nassau . The new parliamentary session is marked by the Opening of Parliament, during which the monarch or the governor-general reads the Speech from the Throne . All laws in the Bahamas are enacted only with the viceroy's granting of royal assent in the monarch's name. The royal assent, and proclamation, are required for all acts of parliament, usually granted or withheld by
3392-452: The legislative process; the viceroy does, though only in the granting of royal assent . Further, the constitution outlines that the governor-general alone is responsible for appointing senators. The viceroy must make nine senatorial appointments on the advice of the prime minister, four on the advice of leader of the opposition , and three on the advice of both. The viceroy additionally summons, prorogues , and dissolves parliament; after
3456-612: The monarch, and royal assent is required for the Bahamian Parliament to enact laws and for letters patent and Orders in Council to have legal effect. Most of the powers are exercised by the elected members of parliament, the ministers of the Crown generally drawn from amongst them, and the judges and justices of the peace. Other powers vested in the monarch, such as dismissal of a prime minister, are significant but are treated only as reserve powers and as an important security part of
3520-436: The monarch, as Sovereign of the Bahamas, confers awards and honours in the Bahamas in his name. Most of them are often awarded on the advice of "His Majesty's Bahamas Ministers". Through the passage of the National Honours Act 2016 , the Bahamas established seven national orders on 27 January 2016. The monarch's vice-regal representative, the governor-general, serves as the Chancellor of all these orders. The Crown sits at
3584-434: The official documents to Prime Minister Lynden Pindling , officially declaring the Bahamas a fully independent nation, within the Commonwealth of Nations . Shortly after independence, Sir John Paul was appointed the first governor-general of the Bahamas , the vice-regal representative of Elizabeth II , Queen of the Bahamas. In 2013, Charles, while reminiscing about officiating at Independence celebrations on behalf of
3648-413: The parity between the US dollar and the Bahamian dollar while allowing economic development to proceed. Although the US dollar (as any other foreign currency) is subject to exchange control laws in The Bahamas, the parity between Bahamian dollars and US dollars means that any business will accept either US or Bahamian currency and many of the businesses that serve tourists have extra US dollars on hand for
3712-572: The pinnacle of the Bahamian Defence Force. It is reflected in the Bahamas' naval vessels, which bear the prefix HMBS , i.e., His Majesty's Bahamian Ship . The Defence Force of the Bahamas is known as " The Royal Bahamas Defence Force ". The monarch is the Head of the RBDF . Bahamian dollar On 20 October 2020, the Bahamas became the first country to have a legal digital currency , introducing
3776-416: The previous banknotes while updating the security features and color schemes. The series began with the $ 10 on 28 September 2016 and includes the $ 1 from 27 September 2017, the $ 20 from September 2018, the $ 1 ⁄ 2 from 24 January 2019, the $ 3 note from 28 March 2019, the $ 50 note from 3 October 2019, the $ 5 note from 23 September 2020 and the $ 100 note on 6 October 2021. Due to
3840-444: The reserve powers, and include: The governor-general's ceremonial duties include opening new sessions of parliament by delivering the Speech from the Throne , welcoming visiting heads of state, and receiving the credentials of foreign diplomats. The governor-general also presents honours at investitures to Bahamians for notable service to the community, or for acts of bravery. The governor-general provides non-partisan leadership in
3904-597: The role of the monarchy. The Crown today primarily functions as a guarantor of continuous and stable governance and a nonpartisan safeguard against the abuse of power . While some powers are exercisable only by the sovereign, most of the monarch's operational and ceremonial duties are exercised by his representative, the governor-general of the Bahamas . In 1629, King Charles I granted Robert Heath, attorney general of England, territories in America including "Bahama and all other Isles and Islands lying southerly there or neare upon
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#17328591959923968-459: The same physical size, like the US dollar but unlike the euro . The latest counterfeit-proof formula is the "Counterfeit Resistant Integrated Security Product", or CRISP. The new $ 10 banknote was released on 5 August 2005, while the $ 20 banknote was released on 6 September 2006. In October 2005, someone counterfeited one of the new CRISP $ 10 bills, serial number A161315. Bahamian authorities warned merchants to look for banknotes that lacked
4032-592: The viceroy's role is almost entirely symbolic and cultural, acting as a symbol of the legal authority under which all governments and agencies operate, while the Cabinet directs the use of the Royal Prerogative, which includes the privilege to declare war, maintain the King's peace , and direct the actions of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force , as well as to summon and prorogue parliament and call elections. However, it
4096-414: Was roughly equivalent to one pound, and fifteen cents to a shilling, at the time of transition. On 20 October 2020, the Bahamas became the first country to have a legal digital currency, introducing the Sand Dollar as an alternative to the traditional Bahamian dollar. In 1966, coins were introduced in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50 cents, 1 and 2 dollars. The 1 cent was struck in nickel-brass,
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