The Cabinet constitutes the executive branch and has general direction and control of the Government of The Bahamas. It is necessary for the Cabinet to comprise at least nine Ministers inclusive of the Prime Minister and Attorney General. All Ministers are Members of Parliament either the House of Assembly or the Senate. The number of Ministers from the Senate is limited to three. In addition the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance are required to be members of the House of Assembly. The Cabinet meets at least once per week to consider various issues.   

Vision

Excellence in policy making and responsive, high quality public services.

Mission

To ensure that the Government delivers its priorities in a timely and efficient way and that proper collective consideration takes place when it is needed before policy decisions are taken.

Role

Cabinet Office, which comes under the ministerial portfolio of the Prime Minister functions as the Secretariat to the Cabinet, as well as the coordinating agency for Government Ministries.  The Cabinet Office occupies three of the Churchill Building’s four floors - the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on the Ground Floor, General Administration on the First Floor and the main Cabinet Conference Room, as well as the Accounts Section on the Third Floor.  Other government agencies occupying office space in the building are the Ministry of National Security and the Information Technology Unit.

The Churchill Building, located in Rawson Square, in the centre of the “Downtown” Bay Street area, was named after the late Right Honourable Sir Winston Churchill, K.G.,O.M.,C.M.,M.P.

Unlike other Government Ministries, which are headed by Permanent Secretaries, the Cabinet Office is headed by an officer titled “Secretary to the Cabinet”.  The Secretary to the Cabinet is assisted in the administration of the Cabinet’s portfolio by a staff of one hundred twenty-four persons who carry out the Cabinet’s mandate in the following areas:

• The Government Printing Department.
• The Public Disclosure Commission.
• The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

Responsibilities

This office is at the centre of the administration and management of national affairs with the responsibility to provide support for the Government in the coordination, application, direction and control of policies at the highest level.  Its main responsibilities are as follows:

1. Operates as the secretariat for all Cabinet meetings and related matters, Immigration Board, National Economic Council and National Security Council business.
2. Monitors progress on matters raised in Cabinet relative to parliamentary affairs, regional and international events and domestic matters affecting The Bahamas socially or economically.
3. Collates, records and disseminates policy documents throughout the Public Service.
4. Consults with the Leader of the Opposition on high level appointments, or the removal from office of certain categories of staff in the Public, Judicial, Police and Defence Force Services.

Subject to Cabinet’s general direction and control, the Cabinet Office also plays a vital role in the coordination and management of parliamentary business and national events, and the Prorogation and Opening of Parliament.