| GENERAL INFORMATION ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT |
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The Constitutional Monarchy of the Bahamas consists of a total of 29 islands and a large number of smaller cays and islets. The 29 islands roughly correspond with the administrative divisions of the country. A total of 31 administrative divisions exist and are responsible for the provision of local services in their own districts. General local government in the Bahamas falls under the Ministry of Lands and Local Government which supervises and appoints local government administrators as the chief representatives of the central government to one or more districts. They carry out magisterial and executive duties in financial affairs as well as in the appointment of local government officials. The island of New Providence where the capital of Nassau is located presents an exception. There is no local government on the island, it is governed directly by the central government. The 31 lower level districts can be either second-schedule (13) or third-schedule districts (19) both headed by an elected council. The two types of districts differ in the way local councilors are elected, the functions they are responsible for and the way the districts are formed. The second-schedule districts are comprised of town areas whereas third-schedule districts have a wider geographical range and govern mostly rural and village communities. Local councils in districts are elected on a three yearly basis most recently in July 2011.
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Local government policy is formulated and administered through the Local Government Act of 1996 which sets out the responsibilities and functions of the different districts. These functions vary for example from road and traffic regulations, port authorization to shop licensing and overall town planning. Other legislation focuses on the management of aquaculture and tourism on the different islands. In 2006, a public consultation was started to determine if local government should also be expanded to the capital island of New Providence. In 2010 the discussion was still going as to which specific form local government in New Providence should take.
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The Bahamas central government strives to strengthen local accountability through a number of projects. For example the Commonwealth Local Government Conference of 2009 was hosted by the Bahamas. The final statement of this conference proposed a broad range of strategic objectives such as improving service-delivery, more financial sustainability for localities and improving central-local government relations. Localities are supported by projects focusing on Local Economic Development, supported by the Diplomatic Bahamas High Commission in London which seeks cooperation on an international scale to strengthen local government capacity in the Bahamas.
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Local Government Associations
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Bahamas Association of Local Government Authorities BALA (no website)
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National Local Government Partners
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Office of the Prime Minister (Department of Lands & Local Government)
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Regional Local Government Representation
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More information will follow.
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DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
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