The Bahamas

26.07.1718: British crown colony
07.01.1964: self-government
1969: Commonwealth of the Bahama Islands
10.07.1973: independence: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
18.09.1973: member of United Nations

Area: 10,070 km²
Population: 303,770 (2006)
Capital: Nassau
Currency: 1869 Bahamias pound (B£; = 1 £) = 20 shillings (s) = 240 pence (p) → 1966 Bahamas dollar (BSD, B$; = 1 US$) = 7 shillings (to 1973) = 100 cents
GDP per capita: 20,200 $ (2005)
Ethnic groups: local black 67.5%, mulatto 14.2%, white 14.4%, Haitian 3%, Asian, Hispanic, other 3.3% (2000)
Official language: English

Merchant marine: 84 ships (1,000 Grt or over) (2006)
Coastline: 3,542 km
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Military service age and obligation: no conscription
Military expenditures: N/A

Queen: Elisabeth II
Governor-general: Arthur Dion Hanna (01.02.2006)
Prime Minister: Hubert Alexander Ingraham (04.05.2007)
Minister of National Security: Cynthia A. Pratt (05.2002)

Major wars & other armed conflicts

10.05.1980: armed incident with Cuba (one RBDF vessel sank by Cuban MiG-21, 4 men killed)
Royal Bahamas Defence Force (Coast Guard)
» Vessels «

www.rbdfmil.com

Established: 31.03.1980 (de facto c.1976)
Commander: Lt.Cdr. Clifford "Butch" Scavella
Personnel: 600 (1989), 870 (1992), 850 (1994), 827 (1996), 886 (2001;2004)
Prefix to ships' names: HMBS (Her Majesty's Bahamian Ship)
Bases: Coral Harbour (New Providence I.) and Matthew Town (Inagua)

Ensigns

Ranks Insignia

Map



Royal Bahamas Police Force (Harbour Patrol Section)
» Boats «

www.rbpf.org

Established: 28.02.1966 (RBPF)
History: Circa 1967-68 RBPF Marine Division was established, mantaining then some launches and ex-fishing boats. In 1971 four 60-ft. patrol boats were acquired, 08.1979 moved to Coast Guard (and RBPF/MD disbanded). Later (in late 1980s) Harbour Patrol Section was formed.
Commander, RBPF/HPS: Insp. Clarence Finlayson ('2004)
Queen:
07.1973- HM Elizabeth II (of the United Kingdom)

Governors:
12.1953-1956 Thomas David Knox, Earl of Ranfurly
04.1957-1960 Sir Oswald Raynor Arthur
07.1960-1964 Sir Robert Stapledon de Stapledon
06.1964-1968 Sir Ralph Francis Alnwick Grey
11.1968-1972 Sir Francis Edward Hovell Thurlow
05.1972-07.1973 Sir John Warburton Paul
Governors-general
08.1973-01.1979 Sir Milo Boughton Butler (incapacitated from 09.1976)
01.1979-06.1988 Sir Gerald Christopher Cash (acting 09.1976-09.1979)
06.1988-01.1992 Sir Henry Milton Taylor (acting to 02.1991)
01.1992-01.1995 Sir Clifford Darling
01.1995-11.2001 Sir Orville Alton Turnquest
11.2001-11.2005 Dame Ivy Leona Dumont (acting to 01.2002)
12.2005-02.2006 Paul Lawrence Adderley (acting)
02.2006- Arthur Dion Hanna

Chief minister
1955-01.1964 Sir Roland Theodore Symonette
Prime Ministers:
01.1964-01.1967 Sir Roland Theodore Symonette
01.1967-08.1992 Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling
08.1992-05.2002 Hubert Alexander Ingraham
05.2002-05.2007Perry Gladstone Christie
05.2007-Hubert Alexander Ingraham

National Security Ministers:
1976-1985 Sir Lynden Oscar Pindling
1985-1987 Loftus Roker
1987-1990 Paul Lawrence Adderley
1990-1992 Darrell Rolle
1992-1994 Sir Arlington Butler
1994-1997 Cornelius Smith
1997-2002 Frank Watson
05.2002- Cynthia A. Pratt

Commanders, RBDF:
09.1976-12.1981Cmdr. Casper William Swinley
12.1981-09.1983Cmdr. Christopher P.R. Belton
09.1983-05.1997 Cmdr. Leon L. Smith
05.1997-11.2006 Cmdr. Davy F. Rolle
11.2006- Lt.Cdr. Clifford Wellington Scavella

Naval Squadron Commanding Officers:
c.1989 Cdr. C. A. Snell
c.1996 Cdr. A. J. Allens
c.2001 Cdr. Albert Armbrister
c.2004 Cdr. Raymond Farquharson
c.2008 Cdr. Samuel Evans

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