Districts of the Bahamas
Encyclopedia
Local government
in the Bahamas exists in two forms, namely second-schedule and third-schedule district councils. There are a total of 32 local government districts: 13 second-schedule districts, which are further sub-divided into town areas
, and 19 third-schedule districts, which are all unitary authorities. The second and third schedules together make up the first schedule . Local government policy is formulated and administered by the Department of Lands and Local Government through the Office of the Prime Minister
. The day-to-day policy handling of the portfolio falls to the Minister of Local Government who also is empowered to create new local government areas from time to time based on demographics
. The administrative and financial management is overseen by the ministry’s permanent secretary
.:
through that islands' Commissioner
. The modern system of local government that is in use today was implemented on 8th March 1996. The Out Islands
of the country could now enjoy a somewhat greater degree of autonomy, but New Providence Island, in which the capital city Nassau
is located, was to be directly governed by the central government. The act that implemented local government had described all districts as either being Second-Schedule or Third-Schedule districts.
All districts councils are classed as first-schedule councils. The first-schedule is further sub-divided into two types of councils: two tier second-schedule district councils that have town committees within their jurisdiction, and unitary
third-tier district councils. .Second-schedule districts have the following statutory boards and committees:
Town committees are sub-structures of the second-schedule district councils, but are also corporate bodies themselves. They share responsibility with second-schedule district councils for a number of the schedule local government functions. They also have statutory responsibility for local regulation and licensing within their jurisdiction..Third-schedule districts councils are unique within the Bahamas because they combine the responsibilities of the second-schedule districts and of the town committees. It should
be noted that both second- and third-schedule district councils carry out a building control function...
system. Both councillors of third-schedule district councils and members of town committees are directly elected, while members of second-schedule councils are indirectly elected from town committees. Third schedule district councils have between five and nine members, whereas the size of councils in both second-schedule councils and town committees varies according to population size. Bye elections are held whenever the need arises. A councillor is deemed to have resigned if they are absent for three consecutive meetings.
For both types of district councils the Chief Councillors
and their deputies are indirectly elected from amongst the elected officials. They serve for the lifetime of the council and the Minister of Local Government determines their stipend
. Second-schedule district councils' statutory boards also elect chairpersons and their deputies from amongst their members .
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
in the Bahamas exists in two forms, namely second-schedule and third-schedule district councils. There are a total of 32 local government districts: 13 second-schedule districts, which are further sub-divided into town areas
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
, and 19 third-schedule districts, which are all unitary authorities. The second and third schedules together make up the first schedule . Local government policy is formulated and administered by the Department of Lands and Local Government through the Office of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the Bahamas
This is a list of Prime Ministers and other Heads of Government of the Bahamas.- Office of the Prime Minister :The Prime Minister of the Bahamas is the head of the government of the Bahamas. He is also the Minister of Finance and the Member of Parliament for New Providence and North Abaco...
. The day-to-day policy handling of the portfolio falls to the Minister of Local Government who also is empowered to create new local government areas from time to time based on demographics
Demographics
Demographics are the most recent statistical characteristics of a population. These types of data are used widely in sociology , public policy, and marketing. Commonly examined demographics include gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, and even location...
. The administrative and financial management is overseen by the ministry’s permanent secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
.:
History
Local government previously existed in the Bahamas in the form of appointed "Board of Works". Here towns and villages held their influence over these Board of Works, but almost all final decisions were made by the central governmentCentral government
A central government also known as a national government, union government and in federal states, the federal government, is the government at the level of the nation-state. The structure of central governments varies from institution to institution...
through that islands' Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
. The modern system of local government that is in use today was implemented on 8th March 1996. The Out Islands
Out Islands
The Out Islands is a name given to the islands that make up the Bahamas with the exception of New Providence Island and Grand Bahama Island. There are more than 700 islands in the archipelago that make up The Bahamas, but only 14 of the Out Islands are considered inhabited...
of the country could now enjoy a somewhat greater degree of autonomy, but New Providence Island, in which the capital city Nassau
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
is located, was to be directly governed by the central government. The act that implemented local government had described all districts as either being Second-Schedule or Third-Schedule districts.
Types of Councils
Every district in the Bahamas has a districts council. A district council is a corporate body with perpetual succession; capable of entering into contracts, of suing and being sued, of acquiring, holdings, leasing and disposing of property of any description, and of doing all such things and entering into such transactions that are within the scope of the Local Government Act. District Councillors are elected by the population of that district in accordance with Local Government Act. As stated in The Bahamas Local Government Act 1996, Districts councillors shall within two weeks of their election, elect from among themselves a Chief Councillor. The Chief Councillor shall be the representative of a Districts Council for all affairs. He or she is to preside over all meetings and also themselves co-ordinate these meetings..All districts councils are classed as first-schedule councils. The first-schedule is further sub-divided into two types of councils: two tier second-schedule district councils that have town committees within their jurisdiction, and unitary
Unitary
Unitary may refer to:* Unitary construction, in automotive design, another common term for a unibody or monocoque construction**Unitary as chemical weapons opposite of Binary...
third-tier district councils. .Second-schedule districts have the following statutory boards and committees:
- Road Traffic Licensing Authority
- Port and Harbour Authority
- Hotel Licensing Board
- Liquor and Shop Licensing
- Town Planning Committee
Town committees are sub-structures of the second-schedule district councils, but are also corporate bodies themselves. They share responsibility with second-schedule district councils for a number of the schedule local government functions. They also have statutory responsibility for local regulation and licensing within their jurisdiction..Third-schedule districts councils are unique within the Bahamas because they combine the responsibilities of the second-schedule districts and of the town committees. It should
be noted that both second- and third-schedule district councils carry out a building control function...
| Island | 2nd tier | 3rd tier | Town | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Providence New Providence New Providence is the most populous island in the Bahamas, containing more than 70% of the total population. It also houses the national capital city, Nassau.The island was originally under Spanish control following Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World, but the Spanish government showed... |
0 | 0 | 248,948 | |
| Abaco islands | 3 | 3 | 16,692 | |
| Acklins Acklins Acklins is an island and district of the Bahamas.It is one of a group of islands arranged along a large, shallow lagoon called the Bight of Acklins, of which the largest are Crooked Island in the north and Acklins in the southeast, and the smaller are Long Cay [ 8sq mi] in the northwest, and... |
1 | 0 | 560 | |
| Andros island Andros, Bahamas Andros Island is an archipelago within the archipelago-nation of the Bahamas, the largest of the 26 inhabited Bahamian Islands. Geo-politically considered a single island, Andros has an area greater than all the other 700 Bahamian islands combined... |
1 | 3 | 7,386 | |
| Berry Islands Berry Islands The Berry Islands are a chain of islands and a district of the Bahamas, covering about thirty square miles of the north western part of the Out Islands... |
1 | 0 | 798 | |
| Bimini Bimini Bimini is the westernmost district of the Bahamas composed of a chain of islands located about 53 miles due east of Miami, Florida. Bimini is the closest point in the Bahamas to the mainland United States and approximately 137 miles west-northwest of Nassau... |
1 | 0 | 2,008 | |
| Cat Island | 0 | 1 | 1,503 | |
| Crooked Island | 1 | 0 | 323 | |
| Grand Bahama Grand Bahama Grand Bahama is one of the northernmost of the islands of the Bahamas, and the closest major island to the United States, lying off the state of Florida. Grand Bahama is the fifth largest island in the Bahamas island chain of approximately 700 islands and 2,400 cays... |
1 | 2 | 51,756 | |
| Harbour Island Harbour Island Harbour Island is an island and administrative district in the Bahamas and is located off the northeast coast of Eleuthera Island. The only town on the island is Dunmore Town, named after the governor of the Bahamas from 1786 to 1798, John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore, who had a summer residence on... |
1 | 0 | 1,702 | |
| Eleuthera Eleuthera Eleuthera is an island in The Bahamas, lying 50 miles east of Nassau. It is very long and thin—110 miles long and in places little more than a mile wide. According to the 2000 Census, the population of Eleuthera is approximately 8,000... |
1 | 2 | 7,826 | |
| Exuma and Cays Exuma Exuma is a district of the Bahamas, consisting of over 360 islands . The largest of the cays is Great Exuma, which is 37 mi in length and joined to another island, Little Exuma by a small bridge. The capital and largest city in the district is George Town , founded 1793 and located on Great... |
1 | 1 | 7,314 | |
| Inagua Inagua Inagua is the southernmost district of the Bahamas comprising the islands of Great Inagua and Little Inagua.Great Inagua is the third largest island in The Bahamas at 596 sq mi and lies about 55 miles from the eastern tip of Cuba. The island is about 55 x 19 miles in extent, the highest point... |
1 | 0 | 911 | |
| Long Island Long Island, Bahamas Long Island is an island in the Bahamas that is split by the Tropic of Cancer. Its capital is Clarence Town. Long Island is one of the Districts of the Bahamas and is known as the most scenic island in the Bahamas. The population is roughly 4,000 inhabitants.-Geography:Long Island is about 130... |
0 | 1 | 3,024 | |
| Mayaguana Mayaguana Mayaguana is the most easterly island and district of the Bahamas. It is one of only a few Bahamian islands which retain their Lucayan names. The population of Mayaguana in the 2000 census was 259, amounting to an estimate 312 in 2010... |
1 | 0 | 271 | |
| Ragged island | 1 | 0 | 70 | |
| Rum Cay Rum Cay Rum Cay is an island and district of the Bahamas. Lat.: N23 42' 30" - Long.: W 74 50' 00" - Size: 30 Sq. mlsRum Cay is 20 miles southwest of San Salvador Island, has many rolling hills that rises to about 120 feet . Christopher Columbus called it Santa Maria de la Concepción. The island is... |
1 | 0 | 99 | |
| San Salvador San Salvador Island San Salvador Island, also known as Watlings Island, is an island and district of the Bahamas. Until 1986, when the National Geographic Society suggested Samana Cay, it was widely believed that during his first expedition to the New World, San Salvador Island was the first land sighted and visited... |
1 | 0 | 930 | |
| Spanish Wells Spanish Wells Spanish Wells is one of the districts of the Bahamas.Spanish Wells is a small island located approximately one mile off the northern tip of Eleuthera island. It has a population of approximately 1,500 residents. It is so small that many residents get around the island using golf carts instead of... |
1 | 0 | 1,537 | |
| TOTAL | 18 | 13 | 353,658 | |
| Largest Council | 31,478 | 6,014 | ||
| Smallest Council | 72 | 1,548 | ||
Elections
Local government elections take place once every three years in the Bahamas with the most recent elections taking place in June of 2011 in which 391 positions were contested .The voting system used in local government elections is the first-past-the-postFirst-past-the-post
First-past-the-post voting refers to an election won by the candidate with the most votes. The winning potato candidate does not necessarily receive an absolute majority of all votes cast.-Overview:...
system. Both councillors of third-schedule district councils and members of town committees are directly elected, while members of second-schedule councils are indirectly elected from town committees. Third schedule district councils have between five and nine members, whereas the size of councils in both second-schedule councils and town committees varies according to population size. Bye elections are held whenever the need arises. A councillor is deemed to have resigned if they are absent for three consecutive meetings.
For both types of district councils the Chief Councillors
Chief Councillor
A Chief Councilor is the highest position within a District Council of the Bahamas. As provided within the Bahamas Local Government Act, the Chief Councillor is the representative of the council for all purposes...
and their deputies are indirectly elected from amongst the elected officials. They serve for the lifetime of the council and the Minister of Local Government determines their stipend
Stipend
A stipend is a form of salary, such as for an internship or apprenticeship. It is often distinct from a wage or a salary because it does not necessarily represent payment for work performed, instead it represents a payment that enables somebody to be exempt partly or wholly from waged or salaried...
. Second-schedule district councils' statutory boards also elect chairpersons and their deputies from amongst their members .
Major Islands
| |
| Crest | Island's name | Capital (or largest settlement) | Population | Area (km²) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acklins Acklins Acklins is an island and district of the Bahamas.It is one of a group of islands arranged along a large, shallow lagoon called the Bight of Acklins, of which the largest are Crooked Island in the north and Acklins in the southeast, and the smaller are Long Cay [ 8sq mi] in the northwest, and... |
Spring Point | 560 | 492 | |
| Abaco Abaco Islands The Abaco Islands lie in the northern Bahamas and comprise the main islands of Great Abaco and Little Abaco, together with the smaller Wood Cay, Elbow Cay, Lubbers Quarters Cay, Green Turtle Cay, Great Guana Cay, Castaway Cay, Man-o-War Cay, Stranger's Cay, Umbrella Cay, Walker's Cay, Little Grand... |
Marsh Harbour Marsh Harbour Marsh Harbour is a town in Abaco Islands, Bahamas, with a population of 5,314.With more than five thousand residents, Marsh Harbour is the third largest town in The Bahamas, and the main focus of tourism in the Abacos. Marsh Harbour is a shipbuilding center, but tourism accounts for most of its... |
16,692 | 1,681 | |
| Andros | Andros Town Andros Town Andros Town is a town located in North Andros, part of Andros island in The Bahamas. It is the capital of Andros Island.-See also:* List of cities in the Bahamas* Districts of the Bahamas* Islands of the Bahamas... |
7,386 | 5,957 | |
| the Berry Islands Berry Islands The Berry Islands are a chain of islands and a district of the Bahamas, covering about thirty square miles of the north western part of the Out Islands... |
Nicholls Town Nicholls Town Nicholls Town is a town located in North Andros, part of Andros island in the Bahamas.-See also:* Districts of the Bahamas* Islands of the Bahamas* List of cities in the Bahamas... |
798 | 31 | |
| Bimini Bimini Bimini is the westernmost district of the Bahamas composed of a chain of islands located about 53 miles due east of Miami, Florida. Bimini is the closest point in the Bahamas to the mainland United States and approximately 137 miles west-northwest of Nassau... |
Alice Town Alice Town Alice Town is a town in the Bahamas. It is located on North Bimini island. It is the centre of the tourist trade on the island: there are several hotels, bars and restaurants. North of Alice Town is the main settlement called Bailey Town. To the north of Bailey Town is Porgy Bay.... |
2,008 | 23 | |
| Cat Island | Arthur's Town Arthur's Town Arthur's Town is a town in the Bahamas and has a population of 400 . It is located on Cat Island.Arthur's Town Airport is located in the town.... |
1,503 | 23 | |
| Crooked Island Crooked Island (Bahamas) Crooked Island is an island and district, part of a group of Bahamian islands defining a large, shallow lagoon called the Bight of Acklins, of which the largest are Crooked Island in the north and Acklins in the south-east, and the smaller are Long Cay in the north-west, and Castle Island in the... |
Colonel Hill Colonel Hill Colonel Hill is a town in the Bahamas, located on Crooked Island.... |
323 | 241 | |
| Eleuthera Eleuthera Eleuthera is an island in The Bahamas, lying 50 miles east of Nassau. It is very long and thin—110 miles long and in places little more than a mile wide. According to the 2000 Census, the population of Eleuthera is approximately 8,000... |
Governor's Harbour Governor's Harbour Governor's Harbour is a former district of the Bahamas. It corresponds roughly to the current district of Central Eleuthera.... |
9,363 | 518 | |
| Grand Bahama Grand Bahama Grand Bahama is one of the northernmost of the islands of the Bahamas, and the closest major island to the United States, lying off the state of Florida. Grand Bahama is the fifth largest island in the Bahamas island chain of approximately 700 islands and 2,400 cays... |
Freeport City | 51,756 | 1,373 | |
| Inagua Inagua Inagua is the southernmost district of the Bahamas comprising the islands of Great Inagua and Little Inagua.Great Inagua is the third largest island in The Bahamas at 596 sq mi and lies about 55 miles from the eastern tip of Cuba. The island is about 55 x 19 miles in extent, the highest point... |
Matthew Town Matthew Town Matthew Town is the chief and only settlement on Great Inagua Island of the Bahamas. It is located on the southwest corner of the island. It was named after Bahamian Governor George Matthew and first settled during his tenure in office... |
911 | 1,679 | |
| Long Island Long Island, Bahamas Long Island is an island in the Bahamas that is split by the Tropic of Cancer. Its capital is Clarence Town. Long Island is one of the Districts of the Bahamas and is known as the most scenic island in the Bahamas. The population is roughly 4,000 inhabitants.-Geography:Long Island is about 130... |
Clarence Town Clarence Town Clarence Town is a town in the Bahamas. It is located on Long Island.Clarence Town is the capital of Long Island and has a population of approximately 350 people. It has a marina, two restaurants as well as the government dock where the mail boat docks on a weekly basis... |
3,024 | 596 | |
| Mayaguana Mayaguana Mayaguana is the most easterly island and district of the Bahamas. It is one of only a few Bahamian islands which retain their Lucayan names. The population of Mayaguana in the 2000 census was 259, amounting to an estimate 312 in 2010... |
Abraham's Bay Abraham's Bay Abraham's Bay is a town in the Bahamas. It is located on Mayaguana island.... |
271 | 285 | |
| New Providence New Providence New Providence is the most populous island in the Bahamas, containing more than 70% of the total population. It also houses the national capital city, Nassau.The island was originally under Spanish control following Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World, but the Spanish government showed... |
de jure De jure De jure is an expression that means "concerning law", as contrasted with de facto, which means "concerning fact".De jure = 'Legally', De facto = 'In fact'.... : none de facto De facto De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or... : Nassau Nassau, Bahamas Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas... |
248,948 | 207 | |
| Ragged | Duncan Town | 70 | 36 | |
| Rum Cay Rum Cay Rum Cay is an island and district of the Bahamas. Lat.: N23 42' 30" - Long.: W 74 50' 00" - Size: 30 Sq. mlsRum Cay is 20 miles southwest of San Salvador Island, has many rolling hills that rises to about 120 feet . Christopher Columbus called it Santa Maria de la Concepción. The island is... |
Port Nelson | 99 | 78 | |
| San Salvador San Salvador Island San Salvador Island, also known as Watlings Island, is an island and district of the Bahamas. Until 1986, when the National Geographic Society suggested Samana Cay, it was widely believed that during his first expedition to the New World, San Salvador Island was the first land sighted and visited... |
Cockburn Town | 930 | 163 | |
 The BahamasThe Bahamas The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States... |
Nassau Nassau, Bahamas Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas... |
353,658 | 13,943 |
See also
- Chief CouncillorChief CouncillorA Chief Councilor is the highest position within a District Council of the Bahamas. As provided within the Bahamas Local Government Act, the Chief Councillor is the representative of the council for all purposes...
- Hope Town District CouncilHope Town District CouncilThe Hope Town District Council is a Local Government Council in the of the Bahamas. It is a third schedule district council located within the Abaco islands of the Northwest Bahamas....
- ISO 3166-2:BSISO 3166-2:BSISO 3166-2:BS is the entry for the Bahamas in ISO 3166-2, part of the ISO 3166 standard published by the International Organization for Standardization , which defines codes for the names of the principal subdivisions of all countries coded in ISO 3166-1.Currently for the Bahamas, ISO 3166-2 codes...
- List of Caribbean First-level Subdivisions by Total Area
- List of newspapers in the Bahamas