National Development Plan of the Bahamas

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

National Development Plan of the Bahamas 2nd Working Draft 2nd WORKING DRAFT OF THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF THE BAHAMAS Artwork: Students of the Salinas Point Primary School in Salinas Point, Acklins and the Centreville Primary School, New Providence. In the final, professionally designed version of this document, all artwork submitted by the students will be used throughout the document. The Secretariat thanks the parents and teachers for their cooperation in this project. b 2nd WORKING DRAFT OF THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF THE BAHAMAS “A Nation Moving Forward, Upward, Onward Together. A Nation Becoming Smarter, Faster, Stronger Together” The National Development Plan For more information please visit WWW.VISION2040BAHAMAS.ORG You may also contact the NDP Secretariat at: (242) 702-5500 [email protected] FACEBOOK .COM/VISION2040BAHAMAS @VISION2040BAHAMAS TWITTER.COM/VISION2040BAH 15th May, 2017 3 2nd WORKING DRAFT OF THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF THE BAHAMAS Contents Report of the Chairman of the National Development Plan Steering Committee ........... F The National Development Plan Steering Committee .............................................................. G Message from the National Development Plan Secretariat ......................................................J Acknowledgement of Contributors to the National Development Plan............................ M What Do Others Think of the National Development Plan? ................................................... U Quotes from the People of The Bahamas ..................................................................................... W Part A: Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 The Organisation of the National Development Plan ............................................................ 2 What is the National Development Plan? ............................................................................... 3 The Logical Framework of the Plan ........................................................................................ 4 Part B: The National Development Plan and Other National Initiatives .......................... 8 The National Development Plan and the State of the Nation Report ................................... 9 A Review of the State of the Nation ..................................................................................... 9 Summary of the Strengths Identified in the State of the Nation Report ........................ 11 Summary of the Challenges Identified in the State of the Nation Report ...................... 12 The Sustainable Development Goals and the National Development Plan ........................ 13 Gender Mainstreaming in the National Development Plan ................................................ 17 The National Development Plan and the SMART Bahamas Master Plan ........................ 18 Part C: The National Development Plan ..................................................................................... 20 The National Priorities - VISION 2040 ................................................................................. 23 The National Priorities ............................................................................................................ 24 The Plan at a Glance ............................................................................................................... 26 Accelerators ............................................................................................................................. 36 GOVERNANCE ........................................................................................................................................ 47 Goal 1: Modern Open Accountable Government ............................................................. 51 Strategy 1.1: Decision Making Processes ...................................................................... 51 Strategy 1.2: Skilled, Responsive Public Service ......................................................... 56 Strategy 1.3: Transparency .............................................................................................. 60 Strategy 1.4: Government Accountability ..................................................................... 68 Strategy 1.5: One Window Approach for Government ............................................... 73 A 2nd WORKING DRAFT OF THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF THE BAHAMAS Goal 2: Well Governed Public Institutions ....................................................................... 76 Strategy 2.1: Strengthen Corporate Governance ......................................................... 76 Strategy 2.2: Strengthen Public Utilities ....................................................................... 78 Strategy 2.3: Transparent and Accountable Operations ........................................... 80 Strategy 2.4: Effective Local Government ..................................................................... 82 Strategy 2.5: Special Zones .............................................................................................. 84 Strategy 2.6: Civic Engagement ....................................................................................... 86 Goal 3: Respect for the Rule of Law .................................................................................... 90 Strategy 3.1: Law Abiding Society .................................................................................. 90 Strategy 3.2: Youth at Risk ............................................................................................... 93 Strategy 3.3: Community Participation ......................................................................... 97 Goal 4: Administration of Justice ...................................................................................... 103 Strategy 4.1 Enforcement of the Law ........................................................................... 103 Strategy 4.2: “Zero Tolerance” ...................................................................................... 111 Strategy 4.3: Enhance Service Delivery at the AG’s Office ....................................... 115 Strategy: 4.4: Enhance Service Delivery of the Courts ............................................. 120 Strategy 4.5: Strengthen the Independence and Impartiality of the Courts ........ 128 Strategy: 4.6 Prison System ........................................................................................... 132 HUMAN CAPITAL .............................................................................................................................. 137 Strategy 5.1: Universal Access ....................................................................................... 145 Strategy 5.2 Sustainable Funding ................................................................................. 155 Strategy 5.3: Integrated People-Centered Health Care ........................................... 158 Strategy 5.4 Health and Wellness ................................................................................. 165 Strategy 5.5: Health Care Administration (Linked to the Governance Pillar) .... 173 Strategy 5.6: Reproductive and Sexual Health........................................................... 176 Strategy 5.7 Mental Health............................................................................................. 180 Goal 6: Education ................................................................................................................. 188 Strategy 6.1: Funding for education ............................................................................. 188 Strategy 6:2: Teacher training and Quality Assurance ............................................ 191 Strategy 6.3: Education Infrastructure ........................................................................ 196 Strategy 6. 4: Universal Preschool Education ............................................................ 199 Strategy 6.5: Improve Basic Education ........................................................................ 201 Strategy 6.6: Promote STEM Education ....................................................................... 206 Strategy 6.7: Special Education ..................................................................................... 208 B 2nd WORKING DRAFT OF THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF THE BAHAMAS Strategy 6.8: Higher Education ..................................................................................... 211 Strategy 6.9: Technical and Vocational Education .................................................... 213 Strategy 6.10: Work Readiness ..................................................................................... 216 Strategy 6.11: Close learning gaps between Boys and Girls .................................... 218 Goal 7- Poverty and Discrimination ................................................................................ 223 Strategy 7.1: Achieve Food Security and End Hunger .............................................. 223 Strategy 7.2: Full Participation of Poor and Vulnerable Groups in Economic Opportunities ................................................................................................................... 232 Strategy 7.3: Level Playing Field For Youth to Realise their Fullest Potential ... 243 Strategy 7.4: Participatory Governance and Community Engagement ................ 252 Strategy 7.5: Social Entrepreneurship .......................................................................
Recommended publications
  • World Bank Document
    ReportNo. 6442-CRG CaribbeanRegion CurrentSituation, Issues and Prospects Public Disclosure Authorized Otober 17,1986 LatinAmerica and the CaribbeanRegional Office FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Public Disclosure Authorized U Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Documentof the Ubrld Bank Thisdocument has a restricteddistribution and may be usedby recipients onlyin the performanceof theirofficial duties. Its contents may not otherwise bedisclosed without World Bank atithorization. FOR OMCIL UseONLY PREFACE This Reporthas been preparedfor the CaribbeanGroup for Cooperationand EconomicDevelopment (CGCED). Its prime objectiveis to focus attentionon the performance,problems, prospects and the needs of the Caribbeancountries. Part I, Overviewof the CaribbeanEconomies, provides a synopsis of the prcgressand the outlookof the 15 economiesin the region. While the Bank's updatingecononic reports prepared for the CGCED have essentiallya countryfocus, this sectionof the Reportaims at providinga regionalperspective on selectedeconomic policy and sectorissues, particularlyissues in the traditionalexport sectors, in employment, public finance,exchange rate policy,foreign debt, privatesector and state enterprises. Part II examinesthe externalfinancing requirements for each countryin 1986-88. Three points are noteworthy. First,on a per capita basis, these requirementsare quite substantial.Second, in nearlyall countriesthere is now a need for balanceof paymentsor budgetarysupport in additionto externalfinancing of publicsector investment.And
    [Show full text]
  • AFTER the STORM: WHY ART STILL MATTERS Amanda Coulson Executive Director, NAGB
    Refuge. Contents An open call exhibition of Bahamian art following Hurricane Dorian. Publication Design: Ivanna Gaitor Photography: Jackson Petit Copyright: The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) 8. Director’s Foreword by Amanda Coulson © 2020 The National Art Gallery of The Bahamas 16. Curator’s Note by Holly Bynoe West and West Hill Streets Nassau, N.P. 23. Writers: Essays/Poems The Bahamas Tel: (242) 328-5800 75. Artists: Works/Plates Email: [email protected] Website: nagb.org.bs 216. Acknowledgements ISBN: 978-976-8221-16-2 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas. Cover: Mystery in da Mangroves, 2019 (New Providence) Lemero Wright Acrylic on canvas 48” x 60” Collection of the artist Pages 6–7: Visitor viewing the artwork “Specimen” by Cydne Coleby. 6 7 AFTER THE STORM: WHY ART STILL MATTERS Amanda Coulson Executive Director, NAGB Like everybody on New Providence and across the other islands of our archipelago, all of the there, who watched and imagined their own future within these new climatic landscapes. team members at the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas (NAGB) watched and waited with a rock in their bellies and their hearts already broken, as the storm ground slowly past the islands In addition to conceiving this particular show “Refuge,” in order to create space for artists to of Abaco and Grand Bahama.
    [Show full text]
  • National Investment Policy Page 1 of 5
    Bahamas National Investment Policy Page 1 of 5 Introduction to The Bahamas Starting 60 miles off the coast of South Florida and stretching as far south as Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, The Bahamas is a coral archipelago of 700 islands, 29 of which are inhabited, and over 2,000 rocks and cays. With a population of some 284,000 people, most of who live on the major islands (New Providence, Grand Bahama, Eleuthera, Abaco, Exuma, Long Island, Inagua, Cat Island, Bimini and Andros), and with an adult literacy rate of 95%, The Bahamas has a capable and adaptable work force. The Bahamas, an English speaking country which gained its independence from Britain on July 10, 1973, is one of the most politically stable countries; a parliamentary democracy has operated without interruption for 275 years. The Bahamas has comprehensive and modern infrastructure, particularly on the two major islands, New Providence and Grand Bahama, where most of the population live. Electricity and water are in abundant supply. Telecommunications services and facilities in The Bahamas are state-of -the-art, with direct international links provided through a 100% digital switching system. The economy of The Bahamas is driven by tourism and international banking and other financial services. Retail and wholesale distributive trades, manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries are the other major sectors of the economy. The Gross Domestic Product (CDP) of The Bahamas exceeds $3 billion, 60% of which comes from tourism related activities. The per capita income of the country is $11,000. The Bahamas is an independent monetary entity. The Bahamian dollar is on par with the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • The American Loyalists in the Bahama Islands: Who They Were
    Florida Historical Quarterly Volume 40 Number 3 Florida Historical Quarterly, Vol 40, Article 3 Issue 3 1961 The American Loyalists in the Bahama Islands: Who They Were Thelma Peters Part of the American Studies Commons, and the United States History Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/fhq University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Article is brought to you for free and open access by STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Florida Historical Quarterly by an authorized editor of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Recommended Citation Peters, Thelma (1961) "The American Loyalists in the Bahama Islands: Who They Were," Florida Historical Quarterly: Vol. 40 : No. 3 , Article 3. Available at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/fhq/vol40/iss3/3 Peters: The American Loyalists in the Bahama Islands: Who They Were THE AMERICAN LOYALISTS IN THE BAHAMA ISLANDS: WHO THEY WERE by THELMA PETERS HE AMERICAN LOYALISTS who moved to the Bahama Islands T at the close of the American Revolution were from many places and many walks of life so that classification of them is not easy. Still, some patterns do emerge and suggest a prototype with the following characteristics: a man, either first or second gen- eration from Scotland or England, Presbyterian or Anglican, well- educated, and “bred to accounting.” He was living in the South at the time of the American Revolution, either as a merchant, the employee of a merchant, or as a slave-owning planter. When the war came he served in one of the volunteer provincial armies of the British, usually as an officer.
    [Show full text]
  • The Bahamas Voluntary National Review on the Sustainable Development Goals to the High Level Political Forum of the United Nations Economic and Social Council
    The Bahamas Voluntary National Review on the Sustainable Development Goals to the High Level Political Forum of the United Nations Economic and Social Council Government of The Bahamas July 2018 Picture 1: Artwork by students of the Salina Point and the Centreville Primary Schools on the topic – My Vision for The Bahamas in 2040 1 1.0 Table of Contents 1.0 Opening Statement ............................................................................................................... 6 2.0 Highlights ............................................................................................................................. 8 Integration of the SDGs into the National Development Plan .................................................... 8 Institutional Arrangements .......................................................................................................... 9 Leaving No-One -Behind ............................................................................................................ 9 Areas where support is needed for finance, capacity-building, technology, partnerships, etc. 10 3.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 11 4.0 Methodology and process for preparation of the review. .................................................. 13 5.0 Policy and Enabling Environment ..................................................................................... 14 Creating Ownership of the Sustainable Development Goals: National Level
    [Show full text]
  • Pub-6027 a World Bank Country Study
    PUB-6027 A WORLD BANK COUNTRY STUDY Public Disclosure Authorized THE BAHAMAS Economic Report Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized H ' .,:'f....( il,.,j } i 1- 11 **f - A WORLD BANK COUNTRY STUDY THE BAHAMAS Economic Report The World Bank Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Copyright ©) 1986 The InternationalBank for Reconstruction and Development/THEWORLD BANK 18I8 H Street, N.W. Washington,D.C. 20433, U.S.A. All rights reserved Manufacturedin the United States of America First printing June I986 World BankCountry Studies are reports originallyprepared for internal use as part of the continuing analysisby the Bank of the economic and related conditions of its developing membercountries and of its dialogueswith the governments. Some of the reports are publishedinformally with the least possibledelay for the use of governments and the academic, business and financial,and development communities.Thus, the typescripthas not been prepared in accordancewith the proceduresappropriate to fornal printed texts, and the World Bankaccepts no responsibilityfor errors. The publication is suppliedat a token charge to defray part of the cost of manufactureand distribution. The designations employed,the presentationof material,and any maps used in this documentare solely for the convenienceof the reader and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoeveron the part of the World Bankor is affiliatesconcerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, area, or of its authorities,or concerning the delimitationof its boundariesor national affiliation. The most recent World Bankpublications are describedin the annual spring and fall lists; the continuing research program is described in the annual Abstractsof Current Studies.The latest edition of each is availablefree of charge from the PublicationsSales Unit, Department T, The World Bank 1818 H Street, N.W, Washington,D.C.
    [Show full text]
  • Proceedings of the Forteenth Symposium on the Natural History Of
    PROCEEDINGS OF THE FORTEENTH SYMPOSIUM ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BAHAMAS Edited by Craig Tepper and Ronald Shaklee Conference Organizer Thomas Rothfus Gerace Research Centre San Salvador Bahamas 2011 Cover photograph – “Iggie the Rock Iguana” courtesy of Ric Schumacher Copyright Gerace Research Centre All Rights Reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or information storage or retrieval system without permission in written form. Printed at the Gerace Research Centre ISBN 0-935909-95-8 The 14th Symposium on the Natural History of the Bahamas TEXT AND CONTEXT: THE SPANISH CONTACT PERIOD IN THE BAHAMA ARCHIPELAGO Perry L. Gnivecki Department of Anthropology 120 Upham Hall Miami University Oxford, Ohio 45056 ABSTRACT dear to him; hence, my contribution to this ses- sion. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to demonstrate that our understanding of INTRODUCTION the Spanish Contact Period in the Bahamas can be amplified by moving beyond the idea that it Writing in De Orbe Novo (1511), about represents a meeting of the Old and New 19 years after Columbus’s landfall in the Baha- Worlds on 12 October 1492 as a transformative, mas, Peter Martyr referred to the Lucayas as the single event in history, and rethinking it as a “useless” islands (Sauer 1966: 159-160). 500 complex of dynamic cultural processes, contex- years later, one discovers that the Bahama Ar- tualized over time and space, and second, the chipelago may still constitute an “intellectually use of historical sources to provide a set of cul- useless” group of islands to archaeologists and th th tural contexts for the 15 -16 century Spanish historians (for exceptions, see Berman and artifacts archaeologically recovered on San Sal- Gnivecki 1995; Craton 1986; Gnivecki 1995; vador Island, and elsewhere in the Bahama Ar- and Keegan 1992).
    [Show full text]
  • The Commonwealth of the Bahamas National Investment Policy
    The Commonwealth Of The Bahamas National Investment Policy Table of Contents MONACO UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Honorary Consul of The Bahamas An invitation by the Prime Minister . 3 L’estoril 1/A4 CHICAGO 31 Avenue Princess Grace Bahamas Tourist Office Introduction to The Bahamas . 4 MC 98000, Monaco Principality 8770 W. Bryn Mawr, Suite 1300 Tel.: 377-9330-5150 – Fax: 377-9330-5177 Chicago, IL 60631 Economic Policy . 5 Tel.: (773) 867-8377 - Fax: (773) 867-2910 SWITZERLAND The Investment Environment . 5 Honorary Consul of The Bahamas FLORIDA Schutzengasse 1, Postfach 6075 Bahamas Tourism Office International Financial Centre . 5 CH-8029, Zurich, Switzerland 1200 South Pine Island Road, Suite 770 Investment Incentives . 5 Tel.: 41-226-40-42 – Fax: 41-1-226-40-43 Plantation, FL 33324 Tel.: (954) 236-9292 - Fax: (954) 474-1773 BAHAMAS TOURIST OFFICES Preferential Trade Incentives . 6 CANADA LOS ANGELES Administration of Investment Policy . 6 Bahamas Tourism Office Bahamas Tourism Office 11400 West Olympic Blvd. #200 Establishing a Business in The Bahamas . 6 6725 Airport Road, Suite 202 Los Angeles, CA 90064 Mississauga, Ontario L4V 1V2, Canada Tel.: (310) 312-9544/ (800) 439-6993 Project Proposal Guideline . 6 Tel.: (905) 672-9017 - Fax: (905) 672-2092 Fax: (310) 312-9545 ENGLAND NEW YORK General . 7 Bahamas Tourism Office Bahamas Tourist Office 1. Work Permits Bahamas House 60 East 42nd Street, Suite 1850 New York, NY 10165 10 Chesterfield Street 2. International Owners of Second Homes London, W1J 5JL Tel.: (212) 758-2777 / (800) 823-3136 Fax: (212) 753-6531 Tel.: +44-20-7355-0800 3.
    [Show full text]
  • The World Factbook Central America and Caribbean :: Bahamas, The
    The World Factbook Central America and Caribbean :: Bahamas, The Introduction :: Bahamas, The Background: Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher COLUMBUS first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas has prospered through tourism, international banking, and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US and Europe, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US. Geography :: Bahamas, The Location: chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba Geographic coordinates: 24 15 N, 76 00 W Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total: 13,880 sq km country comparison to the world: 161 land: 10,010 sq km water: 3,870 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut Land boundaries: 0 km Coastline: 3,542 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm Climate: tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream Terrain: long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Alvernia on Cat Island 63 m Natural resources: salt, aragonite, timber, arable land Land use: arable land: 0.65% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 99.06% (2011) Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2003) Total renewable water resources:
    [Show full text]
  • The Mineral Industries of the Islands of the Caribbean in 2003
    THE MINERAL INDUSTRIES OF THE ISLANDS OF THE CARIBBEAN ARUBA, THE BAHAMAS, BARBADOS, CUBA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, JAMAICA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, AND OTHER ISLANDS By Omayra Bermúdez-Lugo ARUBA Petroleum Economist, 2003, Aruba, in News in brief: Petroleum Economist, v. 70, no. 6, June, p. 44. Valero Energy Corp., 2004, 2003 annual report: San Antonio, Texas, Valero In 2003, the mining sector continued to play a minor role Energy Corp., 33 p. in the economy of Aruba. This island, which is located in the Caribbean Sea approximately 29 kilometers (km) off the Internet References Cited Paraguana Peninsula of northern Venezuela, had a population of about 97,000. The main sector of the Aruban economy Rigzone.com, 2003, El Paso to sell Aruba refinery this year, accessed was tourism followed by offshore banking, oil refining, and May 15, 2003, at URL http://www.rigzone.com/news/ storage. The country’s per capita gross domestic product article_pf.asp?a_id=6627. U.S. Department of State, 2004 (August), Aruba, Background Note, accessed (GDP) in 2003 was $21,158. Exports, which were valued at November 2, 2004, at URL http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/22491pf.htm. $3.48 billion, included art and collectibles; animal products and live animals; electrical equipment; machinery; petroleum THE BAHAMAS products, which included petroleum reexports; and transport equipment. The major markets for these exports were United In 2003, mining continued to play a minor role in the States (40.4%), Venezuela, (19.9%), the Netherlands (10.2%), economy of The Bahamas. This group of islands, which are and the Netherlands Antilles (14.8%) (U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Tribune 25 Template V2009
    C M C M Y K Y K WEATHER TRY OUR DOUBLE FILET-O-FISH ANY TIME...ANY PLACE, WE’RE #1 HIGH 88F The Tribune LOW 75F T-STORM IN SPOTS BAHAMAS EDITION www.tribune242.com Volume: 105 No.256 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2009 PRICE – 75¢ (Abaco and Grand Bahama $1.25) Choosing CARS FOR SALE, Honour for S E S the right E R T D HELP WANTED I U R S T O ‘SEA WOLF’ N A P I AND REAL ESTATE E Relationships S F SEE WOMAN SECTION BAHAMAS BIGGEST SEE PAGE NINE TRAVOLTA TRIAL: Women charged WEEK TWO ‘Bridgewater’s meeting with Travolta lawyer in pilot murder secretly recorded’ f f FORMER PLP a t Defendants aged 20 and 19 in court s Senator Pleasant e n Bridgewater and u b former premedic i r T Tarino / e Lightbourne Pair also accused of attempted murder k r a lawyer Carlson l C By NATARIO McKENZIE Shurland m Tribune Staff Reporter i yesterday. [email protected] T By NATARIO TWO young women McKENZIE charged with the murder of Tribune Staff Reporter Bahamasair pilot Lionel [email protected] McQueen were arraigned in Magistrate’s Court yesterday. AN attorney for Hollywood celebrity John Travolta Genear McKenzie, 20, of allowed police to set up recording devices in his hotel Warren Street alias “Nettie”, room for a meeting with former PLP Senator Pleasant and Rhonda Knowles, 19, of Bridgewater, it was revealed in court Monday. Winton Estates, alias “Ganja Bridgewater and former ambulance driver Tarino Baby”, have been charged with the murder of McQueen, SEE page 12 29.
    [Show full text]
  • History of the Monetary Systems and the Public Finances in the Bahamas, 1946-2003
    HISTORY OF THE MONETARY SYSTEMS AND THE PUBLIC FINANCES IN THE BAHAMAS, 1946-2003 Alvin Rabushka David and Joan Traitel Senior Fellow Hoover Institution Stanford University Stanford, CA 94305 I. Wartime Background Between 1942 and 1946, the colonial government enjoyed a surplus of revenue over expenditure. It even provided wartime financial assistance to the United Kingdom for the purchase of airplanes, tanks, and the construction of a hospital ward in Malta. Revenue for the five years totaled £3,214,391, which exceeded expenditure of £3,170,924. At the end of 1946, the authorized public debt of the colony stood at a minuscule £245,000. But the net public debt was a much smaller £91,943, or just over £1 for every Bahamian man, woman, and child, because the contribution of revenue into Sinking Funds for the purpose of redeeming official public debt amounted to £153,057. For all practical purposes, the country was free of public debt. These numbers are no accident. They reflected official British colonial policy. British colonies were generally administered under the colonial regulations, known in full as “Rules and Regulations for Her (or His) Majesty’s Colonial Service.” The colonial regulations date back to 1837 and serve as “directions to Governors for general guidance given by the Crown through the Secretary of State for the Colonies,” especially in financial and administrative matters. The secretary of state was required to give his approval of the annual estimates of each colony before the beginning of each financial year. The overriding principle of colonial financial administration was to insure that colonies did not incur debt and impose a charge on the British Treasury.
    [Show full text]