The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE


Tribune Chief Reporter


lrolle@tribunemedia.net

THE government still does not know how much taxpayers will spend on King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s visit to The Bahamas next month, with Finance Minister Michael Halkitis saying agencies are still working out the costs.

Mr Halkitis said he understands expenses will be shared between the government and the Sovereign Grant, but could not say how much the government would be required to pay.

“I can't put any numbers to it,” he said. “I understand that the various agencies are meeting, the Ministry of Finance and some of the other agencies are meeting. I'll get a report on what it is.”

His comments come amid online speculation over the cost of the royal visit and criticism from the Bahamas National Reparations Committee over taxpayers footing the bill.

Mr Halkitis said cost-sharing arrangements were still being worked out.

“It’s always my understanding that it’s a sharing of the cost,” he said, “but you know again, as with all of these things, it’s a work in progress. When we get that information, we’ll share it.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to visit The Bahamas as part of a wider royal tour from October 27 to November 4.

The King is also scheduled to make a state visit to Guyana before travelling to Antigua and Barbuda, where he and Queen Camilla will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

The Bahamas visit differs constitutionally from that of an ordinary foreign leader because King Charles is King of The Bahamas and the country’s Head of State.

It will be his first visit to The Bahamas since succeeding Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 and his second official visit to the country.

The most recent major royal visit was in March 2022, when Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, travelled to The Bahamas as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

The government earmarked $636,194 for expenses associated with that visit.

The Tribune previously reported that much of the funding went to New Providence vendors and businesses, with other spending covering accommodation for the royal couple and staff, security, digital and electronic work at schools, the Royal Ball and regatta, and Bahamasair charter flights between New Providence, Abaco and Grand Bahama.

The upcoming visit has drawn criticism from the Bahamas National Reparations Committee, which has cited Britain’s historic oppression and injustices against Bahamians and their ancestors.

The committee said the government should stop preparing the country for royal visits and leaving taxpayers to pay the cost.

“The time is now for reparations. The time is now for the republic,” the committee said. “And the time is long past for our governments to stop preparing this country for guests and then hand us the bill.”