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Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas
Flag of the Prime Minister of the Bahamas.svg
Flag of the prime minister
Seal of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas.svg
Seal of the prime minister of the Bahamas
Prime Minister Philip Davis in 2022.jpg
Incumbent
Philip Davis

since 17 September 2021
Government
Cabinet
Style The Most Honourable
Abbreviation PM
Seat Nassau
Appointer Governor-General
Term length At the governor-general's pleasure (normally 5 years)
Precursor Premier of the Bahamas Islands
Inaugural holder Sir Lynden Pindling
Formation 10 May 1969
Deputy Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas
Salary 86,000 BSD annually
Website bahamas.gov.bs


The prime minister of The Bahamas is the head of government of The Bahamas. The prime minister is formally appointed into office by the Governor-General of The Bahamas, who represents Charles III, the King of The Bahamas (the Bahamian head of state).

The following article contains a list of prime ministers of The Bahamas, from the establishment of the position of chief minister of the Bahamas Islands in 1955 to the present day.

Constitutional basis

Under section 72 of the Constitution of The Bahamas, the Governor-General of The Bahamas must appoint "the member of the House of Assembly who is the leader of the party which commands the support of the majority of the members of that House". In the event of a hung parliament, the governor-general should appoint the member who is "most likely to command the support of the majority of members of that House".

Official oath of office

I, _________________________, being appointed Prime Minister, do swear that I will to the best of my judgment, at all times when so required, freely give my counsel and advice to the Governor-General (or any other person for the time being lawfully performing the functions of that office) for the good management of the public affairs of the Bahamas, and I do further swear that I will not on any account, at any time whatsoever, disclose the counsel, advice, opinion or vote of any particular Minister or Parliamentary Secretary and that I will not, except with the authority of the Cabinet and to such extent as may be required for the good management of the affairs of the Bahamas, directly or indirectly reveal the business or proceedings of the Cabinet or the nature or contents of any documents communicated to me as Prime Minister or any matter coming to my knowledge in my capacity as such, and that in all things I will be a true and faithful Prime Minister. So help me God.

Office of the Prime Minister

The prime minister of the Bahamas is the head of the government of The Bahamas. The duties of the prime minister include:

  • Office of the Prime Minister
  • Department of Lands and Surveys
  • Government Printing Department
  • Department of Statistics
  • Bahamas Information Services
  • National Economic Council
  • Promotion and facilitation of investment
  • Development in the Family Islands

Agencies under the prime minister include:

  • Department of Lands and Surveys
  • Lands and Surveying
  • Acquiring Land
  • Department of Local Government
  • Relations with Local Government Agencies
  • Local improvement associations

List of heads of government of the Bahamas (1955–present)

Chief minister of the Bahamas Islands (1955–1964)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Election Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Emblem of the Bahamas (1904-1953).svg Sir Roland Symonette
(1898–1980)
1962 1955 7 January 1964 9 years United Bahamian Party

Premiers of the Bahamas Islands (1964–1969)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Election Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
(1) Emblem of the Bahamas (1964-1973).svg Sir Roland Symonette
(1898–1980)
7 January 1964 16 January 1967 3 years, 9 days United Bahamian Party
2 Lynden Pindling 1977.jpg Lynden Pindling
(1930–2000)
1967
1968
16 January 1967 10 May 1969 2 years, 114 days Progressive Liberal Party

Prime minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Islands (1969–1973)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Election Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Lynden Pindling 1977.jpg Lynden Pindling
(1930–2000)
1972 10 May 1969 10 July 1973 4 years, 61 days Progressive Liberal Party

Prime ministers of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas (1973–present)

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Election Term of office Political party
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Lynden Pindling 1977.jpg Lynden Pindling
(1930–2000)
1977
1982
1987
10 July 1973 21 August 1992 19 years, 42 days Progressive Liberal Party
2 Hubert Ingraham.jpg Hubert Ingraham
(born 1947)
1992
1997
21 August 1992 3 May 2002 9 years, 255 days Free National Movement
3 Perry Christie 2013 (cropped).jpg Perry Christie
(born 1943)
2002 3 May 2002 4 May 2007 5 years, 1 day Progressive Liberal Party
(2) Hubert Ingraham.jpg Hubert Ingraham
(born 1947)
2007 4 May 2007 8 May 2012 5 years, 4 days Free National Movement
(3) Perry Christie 2013 (cropped).jpg Perry Christie
(born 1943)
2012 8 May 2012 11 May 2017 5 years, 3 days Progressive Liberal Party
4 Hubert Minnis 2016.jpg Hubert Minnis
(born 1954)
2017 11 May 2017 17 September 2021 4 years, 128 days Free National Movement
5 Prime Minister Philip Davis in 2022.jpg Philip Davis
(born 1951)
2021 17 September 2021 Incumbent 3 years, 99 days Progressive Liberal Party

Deputy prime ministers

  • Arthur Dion "A.D" Hanna 1967–1984
  • Clement T. Maynard 1985–1992
  • Orville Turnquest 1992–1995
  • Frank Watson 1995–2002
  • Cynthia A. Pratt 2002–2007
  • Brent Symonette 2007–2012
  • Philip Davis 2012–2017
  • Peter Turnquest 2017–2020
  • Desmond Bannister 2020–2021
  • Chester Cooper 2021–present

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Primer ministro de las Bahamas para niños

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