Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA): AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS FOR THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION RELATING TO TAXES

The Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas (“the Contracting Parties”):



Acknowledging that the Contracting Parties are competent to negotiate and conclude a tax information exchange agreement;

Desiring to provide a framework for cooperation and exchange of information in tax matters;



Agree to conclude the Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of

China and the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas for the Exchange of

Information Relating to Taxes (hereinafter referred to as “this Agreement”) as follows:





ARTICLE 1
SCOPE OF AGREEMENT





1. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall provide assistance through exchange of information that is foreseeably relevant to the administration and enforcement of the domestic laws of the Contracting Parties concerning taxes covered by this Agreement. Such information shall include information that is foreseeably relevant to

the determination, assessment, verification and collection of such taxes, the recovery and enforcement of tax claims, and the investigation or prosecution of tax matters.



2. Information shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions of this

Agreement and shall be treated as confidential in the manner provided in Article 8.





ARTICLE 2

JURISDICTION





To enable the appropriate implementation of this Agreement, information shall be provided in accordance with this Agreement by the competent authority of the requested party:



(a) without regard to whether the person to whom the information relates is a resident, national or citizen of a party, or whether the person by whom the information is held is a resident, national or citizen of a party; and



(b) provided that the information is present within the territory, or in the possession or control of a person subject to the jurisdiction, of the requested party.





ARTICLE 3

TAXES COVERED





1. The taxes covered by this Agreement are:



(a) in the case of the People’s Republic of China, all taxes except customs tariffs;



(b) in the case of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, taxes of every kind and

description.



2. This Agreement shall also apply to any identical or substantially similar taxes imposed by either Contracting Party after the date of signature of this Agreement in addition to, or in place of, any of the taxes listed in paragraph 1.



3. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall notify each other of any relevant changes to the taxation and related information gathering measures covered by this Agreement.



4. The taxes covered by this Agreement may be expanded or modified by mutual

agreement of the Contracting Parties in the form agreed upon by both Contracting Parties.





ARTICLE 4

DEFINITIONS





1. In this Agreement:



(a) “the People’s Republic of China”, when used in a geographical sense, means all the territory of the People’s Republic of China, including its territorial sea, in which the Chinese laws relating to taxation apply, and any area beyond its territorial sea, within which the People’s Republic of China has in accordance with international law sovereign rights of exploration for and exploitation of resources of the seabed and its sub-soil and superjacent water resources;



(b) “the Commonwealth of The Bahamas” when used in a geographical sense means the territory of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, encompassing the land, the territorial waters, and in accordance with international law and Bahamian laws any area outside the territorial waters inclusive of the exclusive economic zone and the seabed and sub-soil over which The Bahamas exercises jurisdiction and sovereign rights for the purpose of exploration, exploitation and conservation of natural resources;



(c) “collective investment fund or scheme” means any pooled investment vehicle irrespective of legal form;



(d) “company” means any body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;



(e) “competent authority” means,

(i) in the case of the People’s Republic of China, the State Administration of

Taxation or its authorized representative; and

(ii) in the case of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the Minister of

Finance or the Minister’s authorized representative;



(f) “information” means any fact, statement, document or record in whatever form;



(g) “information gathering measures” means judicial, regulatory or administrative laws and procedures enabling a Contracting Party to obtain and provide the information requested;



(h) “national” means,

(i) in relation to the People’s Republic of China, any individual possessing the nationality of the People’s Republic of China;

(ii) in relation to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, any individual possessing the nationality or citizenship of, or who is a permanent resident of, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas;

(iii) any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in a Contracting Party;



(i) “person” means a natural person, a company or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes, or any other body or group of persons;



(j) “public collective investment fund or scheme” means any collective investment fund or scheme, in which the purchase, sale or redemption of shares or other interests is not implicitly or explicitly restricted to a limited group of investors;



(k) “publicly traded company” means any company whose principal class of shares is listed on a recognised stock exchange provided its listed shares can be readily purchased or sold by the public. Shares can be purchased or sold “by the public” if the purchase or sale of shares is not implicitly or explicitly restricted to a limited group of investors; and for this purpose, the term “principal class of shares” means the class or classes of shares representing a majority of the voting power and value of the company. For the purposes of this paragraph the term “recognised stock exchange” means:

(i) in the People’s Republic of China: the Shanghai Stock Exchange or the Shenzhen Stock Exchange;

(ii) in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas: the Bahamas International Securities Exchange;

(iii) any other stock exchange which the competent authorities agree to recognize for the purposes of the paragraph;



(l) “requested party” means the party to this Agreement which is requested to provide or has provided information in response to a request;



(m) “requesting party” means the party to this Agreement submitting a request for or having received information from the requested party;



(n) “tax” means any tax covered by this Agreement.



2. As regards the application of this Agreement at any time by a Contracting Party, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning that it has at that time under the law of that Contracting Party, any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that Contracting Party prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that Contracting Party.





ARTICLE 5

EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION UPON REQUEST





1. The competent authority of a requested party shall provide upon request in writing information for the purposes referred to in Article 1. Such information shall be exchanged without regard to whether the conduct being investigated would constitute a crime under the laws of the requested party if it occurred in the territory of the requested party. If the information received by the competent authority of the requested party is not sufficient to enable it to comply with the request for information, it shall advise the competent authority of the requesting party of that fact and request such additional information as may be required to enable the effective processing of the request.



2. If the information in the possession of the competent authority of the requested party is not sufficient to enable it to comply with the request for the information, the requested party shall use all relevant information gathering measures to provide the requesting party with the information requested, notwithstanding that the requested party may not need such information for its own tax purposes.



3. If specifically requested by the competent authority of the requesting party, the competent authority of the requested party shall provide information under this Article, to the extent allowable under its domestic laws, in the form of depositions of witnesses and authenticated copies of original records.



4. Each Contracting Party shall ensure that its competent authority, for the purposes of this Agreement, has the authority to obtain and provide upon request:



(a) information held by banks, other financial institutions, and any person, including nominees and trustees, acting in an agency or fiduciary capacity;



(b) information regarding the legal and beneficial ownership of companies, partnerships, trusts, foundations and other persons, including, within the constraints of Article 2, ownership information on all such persons in an ownership chain; in the case of trusts, information on settlors, trustees, beneficiaries and protectors; and in the case of foundations, information on founders, members, beneficiaries and directors or other senior officers of the foundation.



5. Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs, this Agreement does not create an obligation on the parties to obtain or provide:



(a) ownership information with respect to publicly traded companies or public collective investment funds or schemes, unless such information can be obtained without giving rise to disproportionate difficulties;



(b) information relating to a period more than six years prior to the tax period under consideration;



(c) information in the possession or control of a person other than the taxpayer

that does not relate to the taxpayer.



6. The competent authority of the requesting party shall provide the following information to the competent authority of the requested party when making a request for information under this Agreement in order to demonstrate the forseeable relevance of the information to the request:



(a) the identity of the person under examination or investigation;



(b) the period for which the information is requested;



(c) the nature and type of the information requested, including a description of the information and/or specific evidence sought, and the form in which the requesting party would prefer to receive the information;



(d) the tax purposes for which the information is sought;



(e) reasonable grounds for believing that the information requested is present in the territory of the requested party or is in the possession or control of a person subject to the jurisdiction of the requested party;



(f) to the extent known, the name and address of any person believed to be in possession or control of the information requested;



(g) a statement that the request is in conformity with this Agreement and the laws and administrative practices of the requesting party, and that if the requested information were within the jurisdiction of the requesting party then the competent authority of the requesting party would be able to obtain the information under the laws of the requesting party or in the normal course of administrative practice;



(h) a statement that the requesting party has pursued all means available in its own territory to obtain the information, except those that would give rise to disproportionate difficulties.



7. The competent authority of the requested party shall forward the requested information as promptly as possible to the competent authority of the requesting party. To ensure a prompt response, the competent authority of the requested party shall:



(a) confirm the receipt of a request in writing to the competent authority of the requesting party and shall notify the competent authority of the requesting party of any deficiencies in the request within 60 days of receipt of the request; and



(b) if the competent authority of the requested party has been unable to obtain and provide the information requested within 90 days of receipt of the request, including if obstacles are encountered in furnishing the information, or if the competent authority of the requested party refuses to provide the information, it shall immediately inform the competent authority of the requesting party to explain the reasons for its inability or the obstacles or its refusal.





ARTICLE 6

TAX EXAMINATIONS OR INVESTIGATIONS ABROAD





1. The requested party may, in accordance with its domestic laws, following receipt of notice of a reasonable time from the requesting party, allow representatives of the competent authority of the requesting party to enter the territory of the requested party in connection with a request to interview persons and examine records with the prior written consent of the persons concerned. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall agree on the time and place of the intended meeting with the persons concerned.



2. At the request of the competent authority of the requesting party, and in accordance with its domestic laws, the competent authority of the requested party may permit representatives of the competent authority of the requesting party to be present at the tax examination in the territory of the requested party.



3. If the request referred to in paragraph 2 is granted, the competent authority of the requested party conducting the examination shall, as soon as possible, notify the competent authority of the requesting party of the time and place of the examination, the authority or person authorised to carry out the examination and the procedures and conditions required by the requested party for the conduct of the examination. All decisions regarding the conduct of the examination shall be made by the requested party conducting the examination in accordance with its domestic laws.





ARTICLE 7

POSSIBILITY OF DECLINING A REQUEST





1. The competent authority of the requested party may decline to assist:



(a) where the request is not made in conformity with this Agreement;



(b) where the requesting party has not pursued all means available in its own territory to obtain the information, except where recourse to such means would give rise to disproportionate difficulty; or



(c) where the disclosure of the information requested would be contrary to the public policy (ordre public) of the requested party.



2. This Agreement shall not impose upon a Contracting Party any obligation to provide information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process. Information described in paragraph 4 of Article 5 shall not by reason of that fact alone constitute such a secret or process.



3. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall not impose on a Contracting Party the obligation to obtain or provide information which would reveal confidential communications between a client (or his admitted legal representative) and a professional legal advisor where such communications are

(i) produced for the purposes of seeking or providing legal advice; or

(ii) produced for the purposes of use in existing or contemplated legal

proceedings;



(b) Information held with the intention of furthering a criminal purpose is not subject to legal privilege, and nothing in this Article shall prevent a professional legal advisor from providing the name and address of a client where doing so would not constitute a breach of legal privilege.



4. A request for information shall not be refused on the ground that the tax liability giving rise to the request is disputed by the taxpayer.



5. The requested party shall not be required to obtain and provide information which, if the requested information was within the jurisdiction of the requesting party, the competent authority of the requesting party would not be able to obtain under its laws or in the normal course of administrative practice.



6. The requested party may decline a request for information if the information is requested by the requesting party to administer or enforce a provision of the tax law of the requesting party, or any requirement connected therewith, which discriminates against a national of the requested party as compared with a national of the requesting party in the same circumstances.





ARTICLE 8

CONFIDENTIALITY





1. All information provided and received by the competent authorities of the

Contracting Parties shall be kept confidential and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies) in the jurisdiction of the

Contracting Parties officially concerned with the purposes specified in Article 1 and used by such persons or authorities only for such purposes, including the determination of any appeal. For these purposes, information may be disclosed in public court proceedings or in judicial proceedings.



2. The information may not be used for any purpose other than for the purposes stated in Article 1 and may not be disclosed to any other person or entity or authority or any other jurisdiction without the express written consent of the competent authority of the requested party.





ARTICLE 9

SAFEGUARDS





The rights and safeguards secured to persons by the laws or administrative practices of the requested party remain applicable. The rights and safeguards shall not be applied by the requested party in a manner that unduly prevents or delays effective exchange of information.





ARTICLE 10

ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS





1. Costs that would be incurred in the ordinary course of administering the domestic tax laws of the requested party will be borne by the requested party when such costs are incurred for the purpose of responding to a request for information. Such ordinary costs would normally cover internal administration costs and any minor external costs.



2. All other costs that are not ordinary costs are considered extraordinary costs and will be borne by the requesting party. Examples of extraordinary costs include, but are not limited to, the following:



(a) reasonable fees charged by third parties for carrying out research;



(b) reasonable fees charged by third parties for copying documents;



(c) reasonable costs of engaging experts, interpreters, or translators;



(d) reasonable costs of conveying documents to the requesting party;



(e) reasonable litigation costs of the requested party in relation to a specific request

for information; and



(f) reasonable costs for obtaining depositions or testimony.



3. The Contracting Parties will consult each other in any particular case where extraordinary costs are likely to exceed $US1000 to determine whether the requesting party will continue to pursue the request and bear the cost.





ARTICLE 11

LANGUAGE





Requests for assistance and responses thereto shall be in English.





ARTICLE 12

MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROCEDURE





1. Where difficulties or doubts arise between the Contracting Parties regarding the implementation or interpretation of this Agreement, the respective competent authorities shall use their best efforts to resolve the matter by mutual agreement.



2. In addition to the endeavours referred to in paragraph 1, the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties may mutually determine the procedures to be used under Articles 5 and 6.



3. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties may communicate with each other directly for the purposes of this Agreement.

4. The Contracting Parties may also agree in writing on other forms of dispute resolution.





ARTICLE 13

ENTRY INTO FORCE





The Contracting Parties shall notify each other in writing that they have completed the internal legal procedures necessary for the entry into force of this Agreement. This

Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day upon the receipt of the latter notification. This Agreement shall have effect in respect of taxable years beginning on or after the date of entry into force.





ARTICLE 14

TERMINATION





1. This Agreement shall remain in force until terminated by either Contracting Party.



2. Either Contracting Party may terminate this Agreement by giving notice of termination in writing. Such termination shall become effective on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of six months after the date of receipt of notice of termination by the other Contracting Party.



3. If this Agreement is terminated, the Contracting Parties shall remain bound by the provisions of Article 8 with respect to any information obtained under this Agreement. All requests received up to the effective date of termination shall be dealt with in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.





IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorised by the respective

Contracting Parties, have signed this Agreement.



DONE at Nassau in duplicate this 1st day of December 2009 , in the Chinese and English languages, both texts being equally authentic.





For the Government of the

People’s Republic of China

HU Dingxian

Ambassador to The Bahamas





For the Government of the

Commonwealth of The Bahamas

T. Brent Symonette

Deputy Prime Minister and

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Where to Vote: The official polling divisions and locations for the 2007 General Election...

The Bain & Grants Town Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 College of the Bahamas, Poinciana Drive
Polling Division No. 2 College of the Bahamas, Poinciana Drive
Polling Division No. 3 C. R. Walker Secondary School, Blue Hill Road
Polling Division No. 4 College of the Bahamas, Poinciana Drive
Polling Division No. 5 College of the Bahamas, Poinciana Drive
Polling Division No. 6 C. R. Walker Secondary School, Blue Hill Road
Polling Division No. 7 C. R. Walker Secondary School, Blue Hill Road
Polling Division No. 8 C. R. Walker Secondary School, Blue Hill Road
Polling Division No. 9 C. R. Walker Secondary School, Blue Hill Road
Polling Division No. 10 College of the Bahamas, Poinciana Drive
Polling Division No. 11 College of the Bahamas, Poinciana Drive
Polling Division No. 12 C. R. Walker Secondary School, Blue Hill Road
Polling Division No. 13 College of the Bahamas, Poinciana Drive
Polling Division No. 14 C. R. Walker Secondary School, Blue Hill Road


The Bamboo Town Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Prince Williams High School, Cowpen Road
Polling Division No. 2 Prince Williams High School, Cowpen Road
Polling Division No. 3 Prince Williams High School, Cowpen Road
Polling Division No. 4 Prince Williams High School, Cowpen Road
Polling Division No. 5 Prince Williams High School, Cowpen Road
Polling Division No. 6 Prince Williams High School, Cowpen Road
Polling Division No. 7 Prince Williams High School, Cowpen Road
Polling Division No. 8 Prince Williams High School, Cowpen Road
Polling Division No. 9 Prince Williams High School, Cowpen Road
Polling Division No. 10 Prince Williams High School, Cowpen Road
Polling Division No. 11 Prince Williams High School, Cowpen Road
Polling Division No. 12 Prince Williams High School, Cowpen Road
Polling Division No. 13 Prince Williams High School, Cowpen Road
Polling Division No. 14 Prince Williams High School, Cowpen Road


The Blue Hills Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Garvin Tynes Primary School, Alexander Blvd
Polling Division No. 2 Garvin Tynes Primary School, Alexander Blvd
Polling Division No. 3 Garvin Tynes Primary School, Alexander Blvd
Polling Division No. 4 Garvin Tynes Primary School, Alexander Blvd
Polling Division No. 5 Garvin Tynes Primary School, Alexander Blvd
Polling Division No. 6 Garvin Tynes Primary School, Alexander Blvd
Polling Division No. 7 Garvin Tynes Primary School, Alexander Blvd
Polling Division No. 8 Garvin Tynes Primary School, Alexander Blvd
Polling Division No. 9 Garvin Tynes Primary School, Alexander Blvd
Polling Division No. 10 Garvin Tynes Primary School, Alexander Blvd
Polling Division No. 11 Garvin Tynes Primary School, Alexander Blvd
Polling Division No. 12 Garvin Tynes Primary School, Alexander Blvd
Polling Division No. 13 Garvin Tynes Primary School, Alexander Blvd
Polling Division No. 14 Garvin Tynes Primary School, Alexander Blvd


The Carmichael Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Carmichael Primary School, Carmichael Road
Polling Division No. 2 Gerald Cash Primary School, Flamingo Gardens
Polling Division No. 3 Carmichael Primary School, Carmichael Road
Polling Division No. 4 Gerald Cash Primary School, Flamingo Gardens
Polling Division No. 5 Gerald Cash Primary School, Flamingo Gardens
Polling Division No. 6 Gerald Cash Primary School, Flamingo Gardens
Polling Division No. 7 Carmichael Primary School, Carmichael Road
Polling Division No. 8 Carmichael Primary School, Carmichael Road
Polling Division No. 9 Carmichael Primary School, Carmichael Road
Polling Division No. 10 Carmichael Primary School, Carmichael Road


The Clifton Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Adelaide Primary School, Adelaide Village
Polling Division No. 2 Adelaide Primary School, Adelaide Village
Polling Division No. 3 Church of God of Prophecy, Mt. Pleasant
Polling Division No. 4 Church of God of Prophecy, Mt. Pleasant
Polling Division No. 5 Adelaide Primary School, Adelaide Village
Polling Division No. 6 Gambier Primary School, Gambier Village
Polling Division No. 7 Gambier Primary School, Gambier Village
Polling Division No. 8 Gambier Primary School, Gambier Village
Polling Division No. 9 Gambier Primary School, Gambier Village
Polling Division No. 10 Adelaide Primary School, Adelaide Village


The Elizabeth Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Faith Temple Christian Academy, Prince Charles Drive
Polling Division No. 2 Thelma Gibson Primary School, Elizabeth Estates
Polling Division No. 3 Thelma Gibson Primary School, Elizabeth Estates
Polling Division No. 4 Faith Temple Christian Academy, Prince Charles Drive
Polling Division No. 5 Thelma Gibson Primary School, Elizabeth Estates
Polling Division No. 6 Faith Temple Christian Academy, Prince Charles Drive
Polling Division No. 7 Thelma Gibson Primary School, Elizabeth Estates
Polling Division No. 8 Faith Temple Christian Academy, Prince Charles Drive
Polling Division No. 9 Faith Temple Christian Academy, Prince Charles Drive
Polling Division No. 10 Faith Temple Christian Academy, Prince Charles Drive
Polling Division No. 11 Faith Temple Christian Academy, Prince Charles Drive
Polling Division No. 12 Faith Temple Christian Academy, Prince Charles Drive


The Englerston Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 E. P. Roberts Primary School, Balfour Avenue.
Polling Division No. 2 E. P. Roberts Primary School, Balfour Avenue.
Polling Division No. 3 R. M. Bailey Senior High School, Robinson Road.
Polling Division No. 4 E. P. Roberts Primary School, Balfour Avenue.
Polling Division No. 5 R. M. Bailey Senior High School, Robinson Road.
Polling Division No. 6 E. P. Roberts Primary School, Balfour Avenue.
Polling Division No. 7 E. P. Roberts Primary School, Balfour Avenue
Polling Division No. 8 R. M. Bailey Senior High School, Robinson Road
Polling Division No. 9 R. M. Bailey Senior High School, Robinson Road
Polling Division No. 10 R. M. Bailey Senior High School, Robinson Road
Polling Division No. 11 R. M. Bailey Senior High School, Robinson Road
Polling Division No. 12 R. M. Bailey Senior High School, Robinson Road
Polling Division No. 13 R. M. Bailey Senior High School, Robinson Road
Polling Division No. 14 E. P. Roberts Primary School, Balfour Avenue
Polling Division No. 15 R. M. Bailey Senior High School, Robinson Road


The Farm Road And Centreville Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Centreville Primary School, Collins Avenue
Polling Division No. 2 Our Lady’s Primary School, Deveaux Street
Polling Division No. 3 Our Lady’s Primary School, Deveaux Street
Polling Division No. 4 Our Lady’s Primary School, Deveaux Street
Polling Division No. 5 Centreville Primary School, Collins Avenue
Polling Division No. 6 Our Lady’s Primary School, Deveaux Street
Polling Division No. 7 Our Lady’s Primary School, Deveaux Street
Polling Division No. 8 Our Lady’s Primary School, Deveaux Street
Polling Division No. 9 Centreville Primary School, Collins Avenue
Polling Division No. 10 Centreville Primary School, Collins Avenue
Polling Division No. 11 Our Lady’s Primary School, Deveaux Street
Polling Division No. 12 Centreville Primary School, Collins Avenue
Polling Division No. 13 Centreville Primary School, Collins Avenue
Polling Division No. 14 Centreville Primary School, Collins Avenue
Polling Division No. 15 Centreville Primary School, Collins Avenue


The Fort Charlotte Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 St. Francis/Joseph Primary School, Boyd Road
Polling Division No. 2 St. Francis/Joseph Primary School, Boyd Road
Polling Division No. 3 St. Francis/Joseph Primary School, Boyd Road
Polling Division No. 4 St. Francis/Joseph Primary School, Boyd Road
Polling Division No. 5 C. C. Sweeting Sr. High School, College Avenue
Polling Division No. 6 St. Francis/Joseph Primary School, Boyd Road
Polling Division No. 7 C. C. Sweeting Sr. High School, College Avenue
Polling Division No. 8 C. C. Sweeting Sr. High School, College Avenue
Polling Division No. 9 C. C. Sweeting Sr. High School, College Avenue
Polling Division No. 10 St. Francis/Joseph Primary School, Boyd Road
Polling Division No. 11 C. C. Sweeting Sr. High School, College Avenue


The Fox Hill Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Sandilands Primary School, Bernard Road
Polling Division No. 2 St. Augustine’s College, Bernard Road
Polling Division No. 3 St. Augustine’s College, Bernard Road
Polling Division No. 4 Sandilands Primary School, Bernard Road
Polling Division No. 5 Sandilands Primary School, Bernard Road
Polling Division No. 6 Sandilands Primary School, Bernard Road
Polling Division No. 7 St. Augustine’s College, Bernard Road
Polling Division No. 8 St. Augustine’s College, Bernard Road
Polling Division No. 9 St. Augustine’s College, Bernard Road
Polling Division No. 10 St. Augustine’s College, Bernard Road
Polling Division No. 11 St. Augustine’s College, Bernard Road
Polling Division No. 12 St. Augustine’s College, Bernard Road


The Garden Hills Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 A. F. Adderley Secondary School, Blue Hill
Polling Division No. 2 A. F. Adderley Secondary School, Blue Hill
Polling Division No. 3 A. F. Adderley Secondary School, Blue Hill
Polling Division No. 4 A. F. Adderley Secondary School, Blue Hill
Polling Division No. 5 S. C. McPherson Jr. High, Blue Hill Road
Polling Division No. 6 S. C. McPherson Jr. High, Blue Hill Road
Polling Division No. 7 A. F. Adderley Secondary School, Blue Hill
Polling Division No. 8 A. F. Adderley Secondary School, Blue Hill
Polling Division No. 9 S. C. McPherson Jr. High, Blue Hill Road
Polling Division No. 10 S. C. McPherson Jr. High, Blue Hill Road
Polling Division No. 11 S. C. McPherson Jr. High, Blue Hill Road


The Golden Gates Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Carmichael Primary School, Carmichael Road
Polling Division No. 2 Carmichael Primary School, Carmichael Road
Polling Division No. 3 Carmichael Primary School, Carmichael Road
Polling Division No. 4 Carlton Francis Primary School, Seven Hills
Polling Division No. 5 Carlton Francis Primary School, Seven Hills
Polling Division No. 6 Carlton Francis Primary School, Seven Hills
Polling Division No. 7 Carlton Francis Primary School, Seven Hills
Polling Division No. 8 Carlton Francis Primary School, Seven Hills
Polling Division No. 9 Carlton Francis Primary School, Seven Hills
Polling Division No. 10 Carlton Francis Primary School, Seven Hills
Polling Division No. 11 Carlton Francis Primary School, Seven Hills
Polling Division No. 12 Carmichael Primary School, Carmichael Road


The Golden Isles Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Gerald Cash Primary, Flamingo Gardens
Polling Division No. 2 Gerald Cash Primary, Flamingo Gardens
Polling Division No. 3 Gerald Cash Primary, Flamingo Gardens
Polling Division No. 4 Gerald Cash Primary, Flamingo Gardens
Polling Division No. 5 Gerald Cash Primary, Flamingo Gardens
Polling Division No. 6 Gerald Cash Primary, Flamingo Gardens
Polling Division No. 7 Gerald Cash Primary, Flamingo Gardens
Polling Division No. 8 Gerald Cash Primary, Flamingo Gardens
Polling Division No. 9 Gerald Cash Primary, Flamingo Gardens
Polling Division No. 10 Gerald Cash Primary, Flamingo Gardens
Polling Division No. 11 Gerald Cash Primary, Flamingo Gardens


The Kennedy Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute, Old Trail Road
Polling Division No. 2 Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute, Old Trail Road
Polling Division No. 3 Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute, Old Trail Road
Polling Division No. 4 Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute, Old Trail Road
Polling Division No. 5 Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute, Old Trail Road
Polling Division No. 6 Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute, Old Trail Road
Polling Division No. 7 Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute, Old Trail Road
Polling Division No. 8 Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute, Old Trail Road
Polling Division No. 9 Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute, Old Trail Road
Polling Division No. 10 Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute, Old Trail Road
Polling Division No. 11 Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute, Old Trail Road
Polling Division No. 12 Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute, Old Trail Road
Polling Division No. 13 Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute, Old Trail Road


The Killarney Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 H. O. Nash Secondary School, Dolphin Drive
Polling Division No. 2 H. O. Nash Secondary School, Dolphin Drive
Polling Division No. 3 H. O. Nash Secondary School, Dolphin Drive
Polling Division No. 4 H. O. Nash Secondary School, Dolphin Drive
Polling Division No. 5 H. O. Nash Secondary School, Dolphin Drive
Polling Division No. 6 H. O. Nash Secondary School, Dolphin Drive
Polling Division No. 7 H. O. Nash Secondary School, Dolphin Drive
Polling Division No. 8 H. O. Nash Secondary School, Dolphin Drive
Polling Division No. 9 H. O. Nash Secondary School, Dolphin Drive
Polling Division No. 10 H. O. Nash Secondary School, Dolphin Drive
Polling Division No. 11 H. O. Nash Secondary School, Dolphin Drive
Polling Division No. 12 H. O. Nash Secondary School, Dolphin Drive
Polling Division No. 13 H. O. Nash Secondary School, Dolphin Drive


The Marathon Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Claridge Road Primary School, Claridge Road
Polling Division No. 2 Claridge Road Primary School, Claridge Road
Polling Division No. 3 Claridge Road Primary School, Claridge Road
Polling Division No. 4 Claridge Road Primary School, Claridge Road
Polling Division No. 5 C. I. Gibson High School, Marathon Estates
Polling Division No. 6 C. I. Gibson High School, Marathon Estates
Polling Division No. 7 C. I. Gibson High School, Marathon Estates
Polling Division No. 8 C. I. Gibson High School, Marathon Estates
Polling Division No. 9 C. I. Gibson High School, Marathon Estates
Polling Division No. 10 C. I. Gibson High School, Marathon Estates
Polling Division No. 11 C. I. Gibson High School, Marathon Estates


The Montagu Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Queens’ College High School, Village Road
Polling Division No. 2 Kings Way Academy, Bernard Road
Polling Division No. 3 Queens’ College High School, Village Road
Polling Division No. 4 Queens’ College High School, Village Road
Polling Division No. 5 Queens’ College High School, Village Road
Polling Division No. 6 Kings Way Academy, Bernard Road
Polling Division No. 7 Kings Way Academy, Bernard Road
Polling Division No. 8 Kings Way Academy, Bernard Road
Polling Division No. 9 Queens’ College High School, Village Road
Polling Division No. 10 Queens’ College High School, Village Road
Polling Division No. 11 Queens’ College High School, Village Road
Polling Division No. 12 St. Matthews Primary School, Church Street


The Mount Moriah Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Government High School, Yellow Elder Way
Polling Division No. 2 St. John’s College, Bishop Eldon Drive
Polling Division No. 3 St. John’s College, Bishop Eldon Drive
Polling Division No. 4 St. John’s College, Bishop Eldon Drive
Polling Division No. 5 Government High School, Yellow Elder Way
Polling Division No. 6 Government High School, Yellow Elder Way
Polling Division No. 7 St. John’s College, Bishop Eldon Drive
Polling Division No. 8 Government High School, Yellow Elder Way
Polling Division No. 9 Government High School, Yellow Elder Way
Polling Division No. 10 Government High School, Yellow Elder Way
Polling Division No. 11 Government High School, Yellow Elder Way
Polling Division No. 12 St. John’s College, Bishop Eldon Drive


The Pinewood Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Cleveland Eneas Primary School, Pinewood Gardens
Polling Division No. 2 Cleveland Eneas Primary School, Pinewood Gardens
Polling Division No. 3 Cleveland Eneas Primary School, Pinewood Gardens
Polling Division No. 4 Cleveland Eneas Primary School, Pinewood Gardens
Polling Division No. 5 Cleveland Eneas Primary School, Pinewood Gardens
Polling Division No. 6 Cleveland Eneas Primary School, Pinewood Gardens
Polling Division No. 7 Cleveland Eneas Primary School, Pinewood Gardens
Polling Division No. 8 Cleveland Eneas Primary School, Pinewood Gardens
Polling Division No. 9 Cleveland Eneas Primary School, Pinewood Gardens
Polling Division No. 10 Cleveland Eneas Primary School, Pinewood Gardens
Polling Division No. 11 Cleveland Eneas Primary School, Pinewood Gardens


The St. Anne’s Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 St. Anne’s School, Fox Hill Road
Polling Division No. 2 St. Anne’s School, Fox Hill Road
Polling Division No. 3 St. Anne’s School, Fox Hill Road
Polling Division No. 4 St. Anne’s School, Fox Hill Road
Polling Division No. 5 St. Anne’s School, Fox Hill Road
Polling Division No. 6 St. Anne’s School, Fox Hill Road
Polling Division No. 7 St. Anne’s School, Fox Hill Road
Polling Division No. 8 St. Anne’s School, Fox Hill Road
Polling Division No. 9 St. Anne’s School, Fox Hill Road
Polling Division No. 10 St. Anne’s School, Fox Hill Road
Polling Division No. 11 St. Anne’s School, Fox Hill Road


The St. Cecilia Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 St. Cecilia Primary School, Third Street the Grove
Polling Division No. 2 St. Cecilia Primary School, Third Street the Grove
Polling Division No. 3 St. Cecilia Primary School, Third Street the Grove
Polling Division No. 4 St. Cecilia Primary School, Third Street the Grove
Polling Division No. 5 St. Cecilia Primary School, Third Street the Grove
Polling Division No. 6 St. Cecilia Primary School, Third Street the Grove
Polling Division No. 7 Ridgeland Primary School, Ridgeland Park
Polling Division No. 8 St. Cecilia Primary School, Third Street the Grove
Polling Division No. 9 Ridgeland Primary School, Ridgeland Park
Polling Division No. 10 Ridgeland Primary School, Ridgeland Park
Polling Division No. 11 Ridgeland Primary School, Ridgeland Park
Polling Division No. 12 St. Cecilia Primary School, Third Street the Grove
Polling Division No. 13 Ridgeland Primary School, Ridgeland Park
Polling Division No. 14 Ridgeland Primary School, Ridgeland Park


The St. Thomas More Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Palmdale Primary School, Bradley Street
Polling Division No. 2 Palmdale Primary School, Bradley Street
Polling Division No. 3 Palmdale Primary School, Bradley Street
Polling Division No. 4 Palmdale Primary School, Bradley Street
Polling Division No. 5 St. Thomas More Primary School, Madeira Street
Polling Division No. 6 St. Thomas More Primary School, Madeira Street
Polling Division No. 7 St. Thomas More Primary School, Madeira Street
Polling Division No. 8 Palmdale Primary School, Bradley Street
Polling Division No. 9 Palmdale Primary School, Bradley Street
Polling Division No. 10 Palmdale Primary School, Bradley Street
Polling Division No. 11 St. Thomas More Primary School, Madeira Street
Polling Division No. 12 St. Thomas More Primary School, Madeira Street
Polling Division No. 13 Palmdale Primary School, Bradley Street
Polling Division No. 14 Palmdale Primary School, Bradley Street
Polling Division No. 15 Palmdale Primary School, Bradley Street
Polling Division No. 16 Palmdale Primary School, Bradley Street


The Sea Breeze Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Sadie Curtis Primary School, Nassau Village
Polling Division No. 2 Sadie Curtis Primary School, Nassau Village
Polling Division No. 3 Sadie Curtis Primary School, Nassau Village
Polling Division No. 4 Sadie Curtis Primary School, Nassau Village
Polling Division No. 5 Sadie Curtis Primary School, Nassau Village
Polling Division No. 6 Sadie Curtis Primary School, Nassau Village
Polling Division No. 7 Sadie Curtis Primary School, Nassau Village
Polling Division No. 8 Sadie Curtis Primary School, Nassau Village
Polling Division No. 9 Sadie Curtis Primary School, Nassau Village
Polling Division No. 10 Sadie Curtis Primary School, Nassau Village
Polling Division No. 11 Sadie Curtis Primary School, Nassau Village
Polling Division No. 12 Sadie Curtis Primary School, Nassau Village
Polling Division No. 13 Sadie Curtis Primary School, Nassau Village


The South Beach Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 C. V. Bethel High School, East Street South
Polling Division No. 2 C. V. Bethel High School, East Street South
Polling Division No. 3 C. V. Bethel High School, East Street South
Polling Division No. 4 C. V. Bethel High School, East Street South
Polling Division No. 5 C. V. Bethel High School, East Street South
Polling Division No. 6 C. V. Bethel High School, East Street South
Polling Division No. 7 C. V. Bethel High School, East Street South
Polling Division No. 8 C. V. Bethel High School, East Street South
Polling Division No. 9 C. V. Bethel High School, East Street South
Polling Division No. 10 C. V. Bethel High School, East Street South
Polling Division No. 11 C. V. Bethel High School, East Street South


The Yamacraw Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 St. Andrews School, Yamacraw
Polling Division No. 2 St. Andrews School, Yamacraw
Polling Division No. 3 St. Andrews School, Yamacraw
Polling Division No. 4 St. Andrews School, Yamacraw
Polling Division No. 5 St. Andrews School, Yamacraw
Polling Division No. 6 St. Andrews School, Yamacraw
Polling Division No. 7 St. Andrews School, Yamacraw
Polling Division No. 8 St. Andrews School, Yamacraw
Polling Division No. 9 St. Andrews School, Yamacraw
Polling Division No. 10 St. Andrews School, Yamacraw
Polling Division No. 11 St. Andrews School, Yamacraw
Polling Division No. 12 St. Andrews School, Yamacraw


Freeport, Grand Bahama

The Eight Mile Rock Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Lewis Yard Primary School
Polling Division No. 2 Lewis Yard Primary School
Polling Division No. 3 Church of God - Hawksbill
Polling Division No. 4 Church of God - Hawksbill
Polling Division No. 5 Hugh Campbell Primary School
Polling Division No. 6 Bartlett Hill Primary School
Polling Division No. 7 Bartlett Hill Primary School
Polling Division No. 8 St. Stephen’s Anglican Church Parish Hall
Polling Division No. 9 Eight Mile Rock High School
Polling Division No. 10 Eight Mile Rock High School
Polling Division No. 11 Eight Mile Rock High School
Polling Division No. 12 Eight Mile Rock High School
Polling Division No. 13 St. Vincent De Paul Catholic School
Polling Division No. 14 St. George’s High School
Polling Division No.15 St. George’s High School


The Lucaya Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 St. George’s High School Gym
Polling Division No. 2 Walter P. Parker Primary School
Polling Division No. 3 Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School
Polling Division No. 4 Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School
Polling Division No. 5 St. George’s High School
Polling Division No. 6 St. George’s High School
Polling Division No. 7 Bishop Michael Eldon School
Polling Division No. 8 Walter P. Parker Primary School
Polling Division No. 9 Bishop Michael Eldon School
Polling Division No. 10 Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School
Polling Division No. 11 Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School
Polling Division No. 12 St. George’s High School Gym
Polling Division No. 13 St. George’s High School Gym
Polling Division No. 14 Walter P. Parker Primary School
Polling Division No. 15 Bishop Michael Eldon School
Polling Division No. 16 Walter P. Parker Primary School
Polling Division No. 17 St. George’s High School Gym


The High Rock Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Sweetings Cay Primary School
Polling Division No. 2 High Rock Primary School
Polling Division No. 3 Eric L. Sam Center
Polling Division No. 4 Free Town Primary School
Polling Division No. 5 Water Cay All-Age School
Polling Division No. 6 McCleans Town Primary School
Polling Division No. 7 Freeport Primary School
Polling Division No. 8 Maurice Moore Primary School
Polling Division No. 9 Freeport Primary School
Polling Division No. 10 Maurice Moore Primary School
Polling Division No. 11 Walter P. Parker Primary School
Polling Division No. 12 Freeport Primary School
Polling Division No. 13 Freeport Primary School
Polling Division No. 14 Eric L. Sam Center


The Marco City Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Maurice Moore Primary School
Polling Division No. 2 Freeport Gospel Chapel School
Polling Division No. 3 Jack Hayward High School
Polling Division No. 4 Mary Star of the Sea Catholic School
Polling Division No. 5 Sunland Baptist Academy
Polling Division No. 6 Sunland Baptist Academy
Polling Division No. 7 Bishop Michael Eldon School
Polling Division No. 8 Bishop Michael Eldon School
Polling Division No. 9 Jack Hayward High School
Polling Division No. 10 Jack Hayward High School
Polling Division No. 11 Jack Hayward High School
Polling Division No. 12 Jack Hayward High School
Polling Division No. 13 Grand Bahama Catholic High School
Polling Division No. 14 Jack Hayward High School


The Pineridge Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Hugh Campbell Primary School
Polling Division No. 2 Genesis Academy
Polling Division No. 3 Grand Bahama Catholic High School
Polling Division No. 4 St. Paul’s Methodist College
Polling Division No. 5 St. Paul’s Methodist College
Polling Division No. 6 Grand Bahama Catholic High School
Polling Division No. 7 St. Paul’s Methodist College
Polling Division No. 8 Foster B. Pestaina Center
Polling Division No. 9 Foster B. Pestaina Center
Polling Division No. 10 Central Church of God
Polling Division No. 11 Grand Bahama Catholic High School
Polling Division No. 12 Tabernacle Baptist Christian Academy
Polling Division No. 13 Tabernacle Baptist Christian Academy


The West End And Bimini Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 West End Primary School
Polling Division No. 2 West End Primary School
Polling Division No. 3 West End Primary School
Polling Division No. 4 Holmes Rock Primary School
Polling Division No. 5 Holmes Rock Primary School
Polling Division No. 6 Martin Town Primary School
Polling Division No. 7 Martin Town Primary School
Polling Division No. 8 Public School, Alice Town
Polling Division No. 9 Anglican Parish Hall, Bailey Town
Polling Division No. 10 Holy Name Catholic School, Bailey Town
Polling Division No. 11 Mount Zion Baptist Sunday School Hall, Bailey Town


Family Islands

The North Abaco Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Grand Cay All Age School
Polling Division No. 2 Fox Town Primary School
Polling Division No. 3 Teacher Residence, Cedar Harbour
Polling Division No. 4 North Abaco High
Polling Division No. 5 Cooper Town Primary
Polling Division No. 6 Leasure Lee, Marsh Harbour
Polling Division No. 7 Green Turtle Cay School
Polling Division No. 8 Abaco Central High
Polling Division No. 9 Abaco Central High
Polling Division No. 10 Abaco Central High
Polling Division No. 11 Abaco Central High


The South Abaco Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Guana Cay All Age School
Polling Division No. 2 Man-O-War Cay Public School
Polling Division No. 3 Hope Town Public School
Polling Division No. 4 Marsh Harbour Primary School
Polling Division No. 5 Marsh Harbour Primary School
Polling Division No. 6 Marsh Harbour Primary School
Polling Division No. 7 Old School, Spring City
Polling Division No. 8 Cherokee Cay, Spring City
Polling Division No. 9 Different of Abaco
Polling Division No. 10 Crossing Rocks Public School
Polling Division No. 11 Sandy Point Public School
Polling Division No. 12 Moores Island Public School


The South Andros Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Mars Bay Post Office
Polling Division No. 2 Deep Creek Primary School
Polling Division No. 3 South Andros High School
Polling Division No. 4 High Rock Primary School
Polling Division No. 5 Long Bay Cays Pre-School
Polling Division No. 6 Old Driggs Hill Primary School/Community Center
Polling Division No. 7 Victoria’s Point Pre-School
Polling Division No. 8 Burnt Rock Primary School
Polling Division No. 9 Behring Point Primary
Polling Division No. 10 Bowen Sound Primary School
Polling Division No. 11 Fresh Creek Primary School
Polling Division No. 12 Central Andros High School


The Cat Island, Rum Cay & San Salvador Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Arthur’s Town High School
Polling Division No. 2 Orange Creek Primary School
Polling Division No. 3 Bennett’s Harbour Primary School
Polling Division No. 4 Media Centre, The Cove
Polling Division No. 5 New Bight Primary School
Polling Division No. 6 Old Bight Primary School
Polling Division No. 7 Porte Howe, Primary School
Polling Division No. 8 Devil’s Point Post Office
Polling Division No. 9 Rum Cay All-Age School
Polling Division No. 10 Catholic Church Hall
Polling Division No. 11 San Salvador Elewating Assoc. Lodge Hall


The North Eleuthera Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 2 All Age School, Harbour Island
Polling Division No. 3 Catholic Centre, Harbour Island
Polling Division No. 4 Spanish Wells All Age School
Polling Division No. 5 Spanish Wells All Age School
Polling Division No. 6 Spanish Wells All Age School
Polling Division No. 7 Community Centre Current
Polling Division No. 8 Current Island All Age School
Polling Division No. 9 North Eleuthera Primary School, Bluff
Polling Division No. 10 North Eleuthera High School, Lower Bogue
Polling Division No. 11 Town Hall Administrator’s Complex Upper Bogue
Polling Division No. 12 Primary School, Gregory Town
Polling Division No. 13 P. A. Gibson Primary School Hatchet Bay
Polling Division No. 14 Primary School, James Cistern


The North Andros And Berry Islands Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Lowe Sound Primary School
Polling Division No. 2 Society Hall Lowe Sound
Polling Division No. 3 Nicholls Town Primary School
Polling Division No. 4 Nicholls Town Primary School
Polling Division No. 5 Conch Sound Community Center
Polling Division No. 6 Red Bay’s Primary School
Polling Division No. 7 Training Centre Barc Community
Polling Division No. 8 R. N. Gomez All Age School
Polling Division No. 9 Mastic Point Primary School
Polling Division No. 10 Lodge Hall, South Mastic Point
Polling Division No. 11 Public School, Stafford Creek
Polling Division No. 12 Public School, Blanket Sound
Polling Division No. 13 Public School, Stanyard Creek


The South Eleuthera Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 2 Preston H. Albury High School
Polling Division No. 3 Rock Sound Primary
Polling Division No. 4 Green Castle, Primary
Polling Division No. 5 Wemyss Bight Primary
Polling Division No. 6 Deep Creek Primary
Polling Division No. 7 Administrative Building
Polling Division No. 8 Administrative Building
Polling Division No. 9 Governor’s Harbour Primary
Polling Division No. 10 Magistrate’s Court Governor’s Harbour
Polling Division No. 11 Emma E. Cooper Primary School


The Exuma Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Staniel Cay All Age School
Polling Division No. 2 Black Point All Age School
Polling Division No. 3 Farmers Cay All Age School
Polling Division No. 4 Barraterre School Building
Polling Division No. 5 Stuart Manor Primary School
Polling Division No. 6 Rolleville Primary School
Polling Division No. 7 Rokers Point Primary School
Polling Division No. 8 Forest Primary School
Polling Division No. 9 Mt. Thompson Primary School
Polling Division No. 10 Moss Town Primary School
Polling Division No. 11 George Town Primary School
Polling Division No. 12 Roll Town Community Centre
Polling Division No. 13 Williams Town Public School
Polling Division No. 14 Exuma Resource Centre
Polling Division No. 15 St. Margaret Anglican Church Community Centre


The Long Island & Ragged Islands Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Morrisville Primary School
Polling Division No. 2 Community Centre, Clarence Town
Polling Division No. 3 Mangrove Bush Primary School
Polling Division No. 4 Lower Deadmans Cay Primary School
Polling Division No. 5 Resource Centre, Grays
Polling Division No. 6 Miller School Building
Polling Division No. 7 Simms Primary School
Polling Division No. 8 Glintons Primary School
Polling Division No. 9 School Building, Ragged Island
Polling Division No. 10 NGM Major High School


The Mical Constituency
Polling Division Polling Place

Polling Division No. 1 Public Library Landrail Point
Polling Division No. 2 Cabbage Hill Primary School
Polling Division No. 3 Colonel Hill High School
Polling Division No. 4 Primary School Lovely Bay
Polling Division No. 5 Primary School Snug Corner
Polling Division No. 6 High School Pompey Bay
Polling Division No. 7 Primary School Salina Point
Polling Division No. 8 Post Office, Long Cay
Polling Division No. 9 Abraham’s Bay High School
Polling Division No. 10 Pirates Well Primary School
Polling Division No. 11 High School, Matthew Town
Polling Division No. 12 Primary School, Matthew Town



Caribbean Blog International

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fred Mitchell Confirms The Bahamas Voted in Support of Cuba’s Ascension to The New United Nations Human Rights Council

Former Prime Minister, Hubert Ingraham Responds: "If we were in office Cuba would not have the nerve or the gumption to ask us to vote for them to be on a human rights commission.  That’s an unthinkable event."

Hubert Ingraham said an FNM government never would have supported Cuba’s ascension to the United Nations Human Rights Council

Row Over Cuba Vote

By Candia Dames

Nassau, The Bahamas

18 May 2006

Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell tabled in the House of Assembly on Wednesday documents that confirmed that the Bahamas voted recently in support of Cuba’s ascension to the new United Nations Human Rights Council.

But the minister refused to state in clear terms while addressing the lower chamber exactly how the Bahamas voted.  He, however, did lash out at former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham over remarks Mr. Ingraham made in Grand Bahama on Saturday on the issue.

Mr. Ingraham said during his weekend press conference, "If we were in office Cuba would not have the nerve or the gumption to ask us to vote for them to be on a human rights commission.  That’s an unthinkable event."

In response, Minister Mitchell said the former prime minister was irresponsible in his comments and he accused him of political mischief making.

"I am concerned about the tenor and tone of the remarks coming from the side opposite about a country that sits on our western border, and who the last time I checked was considered at peace with us and a friend to our country," the foreign minister said.

"The language is contrary to the spirit of comity between the two countries…The position of the government as it relates to Cuba is no different from that of its citizens who, as the leader of the Official Opposition has pointed out, are free to travel where they wish.  The government must protect their interests."

Minister Mitchell tabled a document from Nicole L. Archer, who wrote on behalf of this country’s Permanent Mission in New York presenting the government the Mission’s recommendations regarding who the country should vote for.

The Mission identified both first-choice candidates and back-up candidates in the event that the Mission’s first-choice candidates were eliminated at any time during the balloting.

In all, the Mission identified 47 countries The Bahamas should vote for.

According to Ms. Archer, the Mission took into consideration each country’s human rights record and voluntary commitments to human rights.  It also took into consideration, The Bahamas’ relationship with specific countries and the need to ensure a broad and varied spectrum of political, economic and cultural views on the council.  Other factors were also taken into consideration.

One of the countries that the Mission advised The Bahamas to vote for as a first choice was Cuba.  Among the back-up candidates the Mission recommended The Bahamas vote for were Iraq and Iran.

But Minister Mitchell told reporters that the country did not vote for any of the back-up candidates because that did not become necessary.

Earlier, he told House members, "The government saw no reason to interfere with the advice offered and the votes cast on Tuesday 9 May were consistent with the advice given and consistent with historic patterns of voting by all previous administrations."

But Mr. Ingraham, who spoke with reporters in the Opposition Committee room of the House, accused Mr. Mitchell of misleading Bahamians.

"He did not and would not tell us how The Bahamas voted last week on Cuba’s membership on the Human Rights Commission," the FNM leader said.

"This is a new commission established by the United Nations and countries are able to vote for their choice.  It was wrong of Mr. Mitchell to lay the blame for The Bahamas’ vote or to support The Bahamas’ vote position by producing a minute of a relatively junior foreign officer in the Mission in New York."

During his communication, Minister Mitchell laid on the table of the House a copy of the record of the votes taken by The Bahamas on the embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba.

He noted that on each occasion, except two, the Ingraham government voted with the vast majority of the members of the UN General Assembly against the embargo imposed by the United States.

"If the Cuban government and people were so odious then why did he not change The Bahamas’ position when it was his time?" Minister Mitchell questioned.

He also noted that it was under the Ingraham Administration that the decision was made in 2001 to allow the Government of Cuba to establish a consulate general’s office in Nassau.

But Mr. Ingraham responded to this saying," No, we would not have had an embassy of The Bahamas in Cuba.  We may have had a consulate office, which is a downgraded position, in Cuba to deal with Bahamian nationals…I don’t know what it is about Cuba that causes it to rise to the level of ambassadorship from this government’s point of view.

"We didn’t see it that way and don’t see it that way, so if we came to office, we would downgrade the office in Cuba back to consular level."

The foreign minister also said the record will show that under the Ingraham Administration a statement was submitted to the Secretary General of the United Nations which read, "The Commonwealth of the Bahamas enjoys normal diplomatic and trade relations with the Republic of Cuba.  The Bahamas has not promulgated or applied laws or measures against Cuba that would prohibit economic, commercial or financial relations between The Bahamas and the Republic of Cuba."

But Mr. Ingraham told reporters that Minister Mitchell was confusing issues.

He also said that during the time when the former government appeared to have voted in favour of Cuba on certain issues, it was because voting was done in groupings, meaning that countries were not free – like they were during the recent UN vote – to vote for individual countries.

"We would have ended up with many human rights violators on the commission before now," he explained.  "That’s why the UN scrapped that system and put in a system where you have to vote for individual countries.

So this is the first time The Bahamas has had an opportunity to vote for or against an individual country."

He said an FNM government never would have supported Cuba’s ascension to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

"There are many things that we support Cuba [on], but not to be a member of the human rights commission," Mr. Ingraham said.

"Cuba’s human rights record does not lend itself to membership on a human rights commission and one of those tenets for a human rights commission would be countries that allow their citizens to leave the country when they choose to and return when they choose.  Cuba does not do that."

Explaining the position his Administration took to refuse to support the US embargo, the former prime minister said, "We never supported the embargo the United States has against Cuba; we never did.  We don’t propose to do so in the future.

"The most critical (and important) relationship The Bahamas has with a country outside its borders is the one with the United States of America.  We want to maintain the relationship with Cuba, Haiti and other countries in the Caribbean and the world, but we’re not going to put at risk our relationship to cozy up with and be friends with Cuba."

He said the refusal of the Ingraham Administration to support the US embargo with Cuba is a completely different matter than a vote in support of Cuba on human rights.

But Minister Mitchell said that the record clearly shows that the instructions given to the UN delegation by the former government in 1994 were to support Cuba’s membership on the Commission on Human Rights.

Mr. Ingraham, however, accused the foreign minister of distorting the facts. 

Minister of Youth, Sports and Housing Neville Wisdom, under whose portfolio Junkanoo fell before the February Cabinet reshuffle, disputed a portion of the Auditor General most recent report

Minister Disputes Audit

 

 

 

 

By Candia Dames

Nassau, Bahamas

12 May 2006

 

 

 

Minister of Youth, Sports and Housing Neville Wisdom, under whose portfolio Junkanoo fell before the February Cabinet reshuffle, disputed a portion of the Auditor General's most recent report on Thursday as it related to the controversial 2002 million-dollar Junkanoo bleacher contract.

 

As reported by the Bahama Journal, the Auditor General said that based on documentation from the then Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture it appears that the contract for rental of the bleachers did not receive Cabinet approval before an agreement was signed between the ministry and Towers Scaffold Services INC.

 

But the minister said this is not so.

 

"The Cabinet approved the bleacher contract," he indicated. Mr. Wisdom said the contract was approved before it was signed.

 

The Auditor General noted that Section 58 of the Financial Regulations states that the Cabinet shall make all contracts for supplies, works and services required by the government for amounts in excess of $250,000.

 

But the report said that based on documentation from the ministry, the ministry entered an agreement with Towers Scaffold Services INC. on October 28, 2002. However, approval for the venture was noted on November 28, 2002.

 

Asked to explain this, Minister Wisdom said that oftentimes Cabinet conclusions do not come out immediately when decisions are made. He suggested that this might be the case as it relates to the Junkanoo bleacher contract, although he was not sure.

 

The report also said that an examination of smaller Junkanoo bleacher contracts awarded during the 2002/2003 season revealed that the contracting parties did not sign three contracts.

 

The three contracts, the report said, were awarded in the amounts of $1,800 each.

 

To this, Minister Wisdom said, "I know absolutely nothing about that."

 

He promised to give a more detailed response after reviewing the Auditor General's Report, which was released in very limited numbers.

 

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Brent Symonette, who is the Member of Parliament for Montagu, has continued to ask the government to provide each member of the committee with a copy of the report so that it can meet.

 

Mr. Symonette made his most recent request on the floor of the House on Wednesday evening.

 

The other members of the committee are Lucaya MP Neko Grant (FNM); Long Island MP Larry Cartwright (FNM); Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP Philip "Brave" Davis (PLP); and St. Thomas More MP Frank Smith (PLP).

 

Mr. Symonette told the Bahama Journal on Thursday that it's sad that the government has not been able to come up with five copies of the report for the members of the committee.

 

He said that when the committee meets it will call officials of the various ministries in for questioning.

 

He said the permanent secretary of the former Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture will be among those called.

 

"We're going to ask for various contracts and ask when they were executed," Mr. Symonette said.

 

Asked whether the Auditor General's report that the ministry violated the financial regulations concerned him, he said, "It concerns me a lot."

 

"The auditor general asked the government to verify the information and the government failed to do so, and the auditor noted it," Mr. Symonette added.

 

"This is a very fundamental issue. [Minister Wisdom] never should have signed this contract without approval."

 

The auditor general said that relevant Cabinet conclusions regarding the Junkanoo arrangements were not forthcoming. Therefore, he relied on information from files at the ministry. The report was tabled in the House of Assembly several days ago.

 

After the million-dollar contract was executed to rent the bleachers, Minister Wisdom faced a firestorm in the House of Assembly over the arrangements.

 

At one point, he informed that, "Yes, a million dollars is being invested, but the return anticipated from the exercise is $3 million."

 

But the auditor general noted that the revenue for ticket sales was estimated at $2.1 million, but only $695,000 was realized.

 

The auditor general recommended that for future years the budgetary process should be "more realistic".

 

During the Junkanoo bleacher contract debacle, the Bahama Journal reported that a draft report from the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche had put losses to the Bahamian taxpayers at $1,189,562 during the Junkanoo season in question.

 

Amid criticisms from opposition forces, Minister Wisdom consistently denied that his ministry executed the bleacher contract without first getting the necessary approval from Cabinet.

 

With the newly released Auditor General's Report resurrecting the controversy, it's likely that he will face further questions about the contract.

 

Prime Minister Perry Christie now has ministerial responsibility for the Junkanoo parades, which come under the Culture portfolio.

The Bahamas Auditor General, Terrance S. Bastian is Unable to Certify Public Accounts

Auditor Raps Gov't

 

 

 

By Candia Dames

Nassau, The Bahamas

11 May 2006

 

 

The newly released Auditor General's Report shows that in the most recent year for which the study is available, public accounts were in such poor state that the auditor general was unable to certify them.

 

"As a result of my examination, I now report that due to un-reconciled accounts, which include inactive bank account that remain on the books, I cannot attest to the completeness and fairness of cash and bank balances, investments, and receivables," wrote Auditor General Terrance S. Bastian.

 

"Because of the fundamental importance, and the material effect of these accounts, as described in the preceding paragraph, on the statements of account, I am unable to certify that the Final Accounts of the Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas present a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the year ended June 30, 2003."

 

Under the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1973, it is the responsibility of the auditor general to examine and certify the government's financial statements.

 

The accounts of the Bahamas are presented to parliament annually and contain among other information the details of revenue, recurrent and capital expenditure, the public debt and the contingent liabilities of the government, as well as detailed revenue by category and detailed expenditure.

 

But the most recent report raises serious questions about inconsistencies in many government agencies and departments.

 

For instance, it says that an examination of the Junkanoo bleacher contracts awarded during the 2002/2003 Junkanoo season revealed that three contracts were not signed by the contracting parties.

 

The three contacts in question were awarded in the amounts of $1,800 each.

 

"Although photocopies of the unpaid cheque were seen on file - we were unable to confirm whether the cheque were cashed because the originals and the bank statement were not made available," the report said.

 

The auditor general recommends an explanation as to why the contracts in question were not signed; copies of the original cheque and the bank statement.

 

The report added that based on documentation from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, it appears that the contract for rental of the bleachers did not receive Cabinet approval before an agreement was signed between the ministry and Towers Scaffold Services INC.

 

Section 58 of the Financial Regulations states that "All awarded contracts for supplies, works and services requires by the government for amounts in excess of $250,000 shall be made by the Cabinet."

 

The report said that the records at the ministry show that an agreement with Towers Scaffold Services INC. was executed on October 28, 2002.

 

However, approval by Cabinet for the venture was noted on November 28, 2002.

 

"We have requested relevant copies of Cabinet conclusions which do not seem to be forthcoming. Therefore, we relied on information from files at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture," the report said.

 

The auditor general analyzed the budget for the 2002/2003 Junkanoo parades and compared the same with the actual amounts.

 

"We noted that revenue for ticket sales was estimated at $2.1 million, but only $695,000 was realized," the report said. "In addition, other contributions were estimated at $325,000, but only $107,954 was received.

 

The actual government contribution amounted to $981,065 compared to the $350,000 budgeted."

 

The report added that on the other hand, miscellaneous expenses were budgeted at $583,145 and $514,380.53 was expended. Also, it was reported that advertising was projected at $328,450, but this too fell short by $295,209.80.

 

The auditor general recommends that for future years, the budgetary process should be more realistic; a more detailed marketing strategy be put in place; and Junkanoo organizers conduct market surveys so that the reaction to new initiatives would be more realistically determined.

 

"It is obvious that revenue estimates were grossly overstated," the report said. "While marketing is not an exact science, we believe that the Junkanoo organizers must review as many scenarios as possible when preparing the budget."

 

The report also points to unrecorded deposits as they relate to the sale of Junkanoo tickets that year.

 

"At the time of our examination, $15,200 for Internet ticket sales were not recorded in the cashbook," the report said. "In addition, there were numerous other deposits where the nature of the transactions could not be determined due to insufficient information."

 

It added, "We recommend that all revenue collected be deposited in the bank and recorded in the cashbook promptly. Also, all transactions should be supported with sufficient details so as to clearly identify its source and nature."

 

The report noted that the approximate cost of rental and shipping of bleachers was $1,240,000.

 

Tower Events International SRL informed the Department of the Auditor General that the approximate selling price of the seats which were used for the 2002/2003 Junkanoo parades would have been between $6.5 and $7 million, the report said.

 

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture was not the only government agency where concerns were raised.

 

At the Department of Immigration, the report said during the audit it was observed that no cashbook was being maintained.

 

"We recommend that a cashbook be instituted in accordance with Section 134 of the Financial Regulations 1975," the report said.

 

While reviewing the accounting process, it was noted that when revenue is turned over to the accounting officer by the cashier, no receipt is issued to acknowledge the cash exchange and shortages exist in the amount of $14,805.14.

 

The auditor general recommends that there be documented verifiable evidence of exchange of funds from the cashier to the accounting officer.

 

The report also recommends a thorough investigation be conducted to determine further the extent and reason for the shortages. It said that every effort should be made to recover the amount of $14,805.14 from the cashier as a matter of urgency.

 

The report said that while examining the cash edit listing to the underlying accounting records, the auditor general observed that entries totaling $227,894.19 appeared as "void".

 

In many instances, the report said, there were no attachments to support the void or cancelled receipts.

 

"At the time of the review, we were not given the assurance that all voids that appeared on the cash edit listing were legitimate," the report said.

 

Shortly after coming to office and throughout his term so far, Prime Minister Perry Christie has continued to raise concerns about the failure of various government departments to reconcile their accounts.

 

He has said that while his administration does not want to raise taxes, it has been focused on ensuring that revenue loopholes are tightened up.

 

It's unclear whether the situation that prevailed in 2002/2003 has been improved, as there has not been any report from the auditor general to cover any fiscal years that followed.