MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS [CH.24 – 1

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS CHAPTER 24

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS SECTION 1. Short title. 2. Interpretation. 3. Establishment of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 4. Functions of the Ministry. 5. Minister to be corporation sole. 6. Power of Governor-General to make rules. 7. Transitional.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS [CH.24 – 3

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– [Original Service 2001] STATUTE LAW OF THE BAHAMAS

CHAPTER 24

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS An Act relating to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and

to make the Minister responsible therefor a corporation sole; and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

[Commencement 7th May, 1975] 1. This Act may be cited as the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs Act. 2. In this Act — “the Minister” means the Minister responsible for

Foreign Affairs; “Ministry” means the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 3. (1) There shall be established a Ministry of the

Government of The Bahamas to be called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

(2) The Ministry shall be subject to the general direction and control of the Minister.

4. The Minister shall be responsible for the conduct of all official communications between the Government of The Bahamas and the Government of any other country in connection with the foreign affairs of The Bahamas and shall be charged with such other duties as may be assigned to the Ministry by the Governor General acting on the advice of the Prime Minister in relation to such foreign affairs, and the conduct and management of international negotiations so far as they may appertain to the Government of The Bahamas.

5. The Minister shall be a corporation sole with power to acquire, hold, lease and dispose of property of any description, to enter into contracts, to sue and be sued, and all property transferred to him by this or any other Act, or which otherwise becomes vested in him shall be held in trust for Her Majesty in right of Her Government of The Bahamas.

Short title.

Interpretation.

4 of 1983, s. 2.

Establishment of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

4 of 1983, s. 2.

Functions of the Ministry.4 of 1983, s. 2.

Minister to be corporation sole.

CH.24 – 4] MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

STATUTE LAW OF THE BAHAMAS [Original Service 2001]

6. The Governor-General may make rules providing for —

(a) such foreign service orders as he may consider necessary;

(b) the charging of fees for any service rendered by the Ministry; and

(c) such other matters as may be required to carry out effectively the functions of the Ministry.

7. (1) Any reference to the Ministry of External Affairs or the Minister of External Affairs in any written law in force or having effect on or after the commencement of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Foreign Affairs respectively.

(2) Any agreement or instrument subsisting immed- iately before the commencement of this Act to which the Minister of External Affairs was a party shall have effect on and after that day as if any reference in the agreement or instrument to the Minister of External Affairs were a reference to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Power of Gover- nor-General to make rules. 4 of 1983, s. 2.

Transitional.4 of 1983, s. 3.