Governor-General of the Bahamas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Governor-General of The Bahamas
Flag of the governor-general
Coat of arms of The Bahamas
Incumbent Dame Cynthia A. Pratt since 1 September 2023
Viceroy
Style	The Most Honourable
Residence	Government House, Nassau
Appointer	Monarch of The Bahamas on the advice of the prime minister
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure
Constituting instrument	Constitution of The Bahamas
Formation	10 July 1973
First holder	Sir John Paul
Deputy	Ruby Ann Darling
Salary	37,000 BSD annually

The governor-general of The Bahamas is a very important person. They represent the Bahamian monarch, who is currently King Charles III. The governor-general is chosen by the King or Queen based on what the prime minister suggests.

This role involves many duties. The governor-general helps appoint ministers, judges, and ambassadors. They also approve new laws passed by parliament. Another key job is to start the process for elections.

The governor-general usually follows the rules of the Westminster system. This means they stay politically neutral. They always act on the advice of the prime minister. The governor-general also has a special ceremonial role. They host events at their official home, Government House, in Nassau. They also give awards to people who have helped The Bahamas. When traveling, the governor-general represents The Bahamas and its monarch. A team of staff helps the governor-general with their work.

Governors-general serve for as long as the monarch wishes. Since September 1, 2023, Dame Cynthia A. Pratt has been the governor-general.

The position of governor-general started on July 10, 1973. This was when The Bahamas became an independent country. Since then, 12 people have held this important office.

How a Governor-General is Chosen

The monarch of The Bahamas officially appoints the governor-general. When a new governor-general is needed, the prime minister suggests a name to the monarch. The monarch usually agrees with this suggestion.

During a special ceremony, the new governor-general takes two important promises. They promise to be loyal and to do their job well. The chief justice of The Bahamas leads these promises.

The promise for the governor-general's job 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."

What the Governor-General Does

The Bahamas is one of 15 countries that share the same monarch, King Charles III. Since the King lives mostly outside The Bahamas, the governor-general does his constitutional duties for him. This means the governor-general carries out their tasks on behalf of the King.

The Bahamian constitution, in Sections 32 to 37, explains the governor-general's powers and duties.

Helping with Government and Laws

The governor-general is in charge of ending parliament sessions. They also start the process for new elections. After an election, the governor-general asks the leader of the winning party to form a government. They officially appoint the prime minister and other ministers.

The governor-general also gives official approval to new laws. These laws have been passed by the Parliament of The Bahamas. This approval is called royal assent.

The governor-general follows the prime minister's advice for many actions. These include making rules and announcements under existing laws. They also appoint judges, ambassadors, and other high-ranking government officials.

The governor-general can also start special investigations called Royal Commissions of Inquiry. They approve many other government decisions, like signing agreements with other countries.

Sometimes, the governor-general can make decisions without or against the prime minister's advice. These are called "reserve powers." They include:

• Choosing a prime minister if no party clearly wins an election.
• Removing a prime minister who has lost the support of parliament.
• Removing any minister who is breaking the law.
• Refusing to end the House of Representatives if the prime minister asks.

Ceremonial Duties

Governor-General Marguerite Pindling speaking at a US Embassy Memorial Day wreath laying ceremony in The Bahamas, 2017

The governor-general has many formal duties. They open new parliament sessions with a special speech. They welcome leaders from other countries. They also accept official documents from foreign diplomats.

The governor-general also gives out awards to Bahamians. These awards recognize people who have done great things for their community or shown bravery.

Community Involvement

The governor-general is a leader in the community who does not take sides in politics. They support many charities, sports groups, and cultural organizations. They attend events all over the country.

They also help bring Bahamians together. In this role, the governor-general:

• Welcomes Bahamians, students, and visitors to Government House.
• Attends church services and other religious events.
• Supports many national, charitable, and professional groups.
• Sends congratulatory messages for special events and anniversaries.

Special Privileges

In 2016, The Bahamas created seven national awards. The governor-general is the head of all these awards.

Salary

The governor-general earns a yearly salary of 75,000 Bahamian dollars (BSD).

Symbols of Office

Flag of the governor-general of The Bahamas

The governor-general has a special flag. It shows a lion and a royal crown on a blue background. The words "Commonwealth of The Bahamas" are also on the flag. This flag is flown to show when the governor-general is present.

Official Home

Government House, Nassau

Government House in Nassau is where the governor-general lives and works.

This building was built between 1803 and 1806. It has been the official home and office for all Bahamian governors-general since the country became independent in 1973.

List of Governors-General

Here is a list of the people who have served as governor-general of The Bahamas since 1973.

Symbols

Died in office.

     Denotes acting governors-general

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Monarch (Reign)
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
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 Milton 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 (b. 1937)	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, 284 days

See also

• List of governors of The Bahamas
• List of prime ministers of The Bahamas