December 20 marked the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of the Bahamas Independence Conference which was held at Marlborough House in London from December 12 to 20, 1972. It was on this date that Her Majesty's government indicated that it would be prepared to recommend to Parliament the passage of the necessary legislation to provide for the independence of The Bahamas on the desired date of July 10, 1973.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home, secretary of state for foreign and Commonwealth affairs, made the following statement to the House of Commons on the conclusion of the Bahamas Independence Conference on December 21, 1972. The Bahamas Independence Conference was successfully concluded yesterday at Marlborough House having been opened by myself on December 12.

The plenary sessions were under the chairmanship of my right honorable friend the minister of state and my honorable friend the under-secretary of state for foreign and Commonwealth affairs. A white paper containing the report of the conference will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible. After full discussions in which all sides had an opportunity to explain their views, the conference agreed on the substance of a constitution appropriate to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas as an independent sovereign state.

Throughout their deliberations the conference had in mind their responsibility for ensuring that decisions were taken in the best interests of all the people of The Bahamas, whatever their race, color or creed. Particular attention was paid to the need to provide constitutional safeguards ensuring the rule of law, protection of the rights and freedoms of the individual, the independence of the judiciary, the impartiality of the public service and the maintenance of the constitution itself.

Bahamas delegation to the conference expressed the wish that on independence the country should remain a monarchy and indicated that the Government of The Bahamas would apply for membership of the Commonwealth. Her Majesty's government in the United Kingdom has undertaken to sponsor The Bahamas' application for Commonwealth membership and to use their best endeavors to facilitate applications by The Bahamas for membership of the United Nations and other international bodies.

The Bahamas government agreed that on independence, diplomatic relations would be established between our two countries by the setting up of high commissions in London and Nassau. The present bicameral form of legislature will be retained. The life of a parliament will be limited to five years from the date of its first sitting after any dissolution. The prime minister will preside over a Cabinet consisting of not less than eight other ministers of whom one will be the attorney general.

In his responsibility for public prosecutions, the attorney general will act entirely on his own responsibility and not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority. There will be a supreme court presided over by the chief justice and also a court of appeal. Provision will be made in the constitution for appeals to the Judicial Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council, or to such other courts as may be prescribed by the Bahamas Parliament. Responsibility for the public service, police and judicial service will lie with independent executive commissions as at present.

Provisions were also agreed to safeguard the position of past and present members of Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Service in The Bahamas in respect of pensions and other matters. Satisfactory arrangements were also agreed for safeguarding the constitution. The more important provisions of the constitution may be amended only if there have been affirmative votes carried by each House of the legislature by a three-quarters majority followed by approval of the amendments by simple majority in a referendum.

Certain other provisions may be amended by a similar process, except that the majority required in the legislature will be two-thirds. The Bahamas government proposed, and it was agreed, that citizenship of The Bahamas should be automatically acquired at the time of independence by:

(a) Every person who, having been born in The Bahamas, is a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies.

(b) Every person born outside The Bahamas who, on the day of independence, is a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies, if his father, having been born in The Bahamas, becomes or would, but for his death, have become a citizen of The Bahamas; and that after independence citizenship should be automatically available to:

(c) Every person born in The Bahamas of a Bahamian parent;

(d) Every person born outside The Bahamas after independence whose father was born in, and is a citizen of, The Bahamas.

Particular consideration was given to the position of persons who immediately before the independence of The Bahamas are citizens of the United Kingdom and colonies solely by reason of their connection with The Bahamas, as compared with citizens of the United Kingdom and colonies who have qualifying ancestral connections with the United Kingdom or a remaining United Kingdom dependency at the time of Bahamas independence. It was agreed that at the time of independence Bahamas citizenship would be extended automatically to all citizens of the United Kingdom and colonies who acquired that status by naturalization or registration in The Bahamas, with the exception of:

(a) Persons who have duel nationality;

(b) Those registered persons who are not ordinarily resident in The Bahamas at the end of 1972

(c) Persons registering after the end of 1972;

(d) Naturalized persons who indicate that they do not wish to accept Bahamas citizenship.

The Government of The Bahamas indicated that they would assume all treaty obligations and rights previously undertaken by Her Majesty's Government on their behalf, on the understanding that within a reasonable time the new state would review in detail such treaty obligations with a view to their continuation or termination. Her Majesty's government indicated that it would be prepared to recommend to Parliament the passage of the necessary legislation to provide for the independence of The Bahamas on the desired date of July 10, 1973. The British government undertook that before that date they would be ready to discuss with the Bahamas government future defence and financial arrangements."

Marsh Harbour, Abaco -- Bahamas Striping has added to its generous giving by donating 100 Christmas toys for children and 50 hams for the elderly to be given through Urban Renewal 2.0 in Abaco. The company presented the donations to Member of Parliament for North Abaco Renardo Curry on behalf of the Urban Renewal Commission at the opening of the Urban Renewal Center in Marsh Harbour on Friday.

The donations added to the 200 toys and 100 hams for Nassau given to Prime Minister Christie on behalf of Urban Renewal 2.0 on Wednesday this week. The young company decided to give back to the Bahamas generously because it has at last received striping work for the first time on major public roads as promised by Deputy Prime Minister "Brave" Davis in August this year.

According to Bahamas Striping President Atario Mitchell, the donations are a way of saying thanks to the government for "putting Bahamians first" and letting the benefits of local employment stay in the country. Mitchell stressed that "giving back to the community" is a cornerstone of his company's philosophy.

Minister for Abaco, the Hon. Renardo Curry said: "The people of Abaco and Urban Renewal are very pleased to see companies like Bahamas Striping partnering with government to bring relief to the people. I commend Bahamas Striping for the work they do throughout the country donating services, training our young men and giving them jobs."

IN LIGHT of the country's precarious economic situation, one community activist is calling for the government to put a tax on the use of new highways.

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