Local government in the Bahamas

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Local government in the Bahamas exists at two levels: 32 districts and 41 towns. The boundaries of districts are defined by the First Schedule of The Bahamas Local Government Act 1996 (as amended by law and declarations of the Minister responsible for Family Island Affairs),[1][2] defined with reference to parliamentary constituency boundaries. The Second Schedule lists 13 districts which are divided into town areas. Towns are governed by directly elected town committees.[3] Second Schedule districts are governed by nine-person district councils composed of the chairs of the town committees, and if numerically required, additional people elected by the town committees.[4] The 19 Third Schedule districts are unitary authorities which cannot be divided into towns.[5] They are governed by nine-person district councils which are directly elected by voters.[6] The powers of Second Schedule and Third Schedule councils are slightly different, and the Third Schedule district known as the City of Freeport has a slightly different list of enumerated powers.[7]

At the national level, 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 modify the list and boundaries of districts. Administrative and financial management of local government is overseen by the ministry's permanent secretary.[8]

  1. ^ Chapter 37, Local Government, Statute Law of the Bahamas
  2. ^ "The Local Government System in the Bahamas". Commonwealth Local Government Forum.
  3. ^ Chapter 37, Part III, Statute Law of the Bahamas.
  4. ^ Chapter 37, Part IV, Statute Law of the Bahamas.
  5. ^ Chapter 37, Part III, Statute Law of the Bahamas.
  6. ^ Chapter 37, Part IV, Statute Law of the Bahamas.
  7. ^ Chapter 37, Section 14, Statute Law of the Bahamas.
  8. ^ "The Local Government System in the Bahamas:Ministerial oversight". Commonwealth Local Government Forum.