There are established rules of etiquette, both by custom and law that concern the flying of flags in general and The Bahamas Flag in particular.

1. The National Flag of The Bahamas is flown between sunrise and  sunset. If flown at night proper lighting is required. 

2.  No flag shall take precedence over the National Flag.

3.  The National Flag, when carried in parade, is never dipped. Care must be taken that the National Flag does not touch the ground as this is would dishonour the flag and all it represents. In a parade when more than one flag is carried the National Flag is carried in the centre or on the LEFT as spectators would view it.

4.  The National Flag is flown at half staff only when so directed by the Governor General through the Cabinet Office..

5.  When two flags are flown, the National Flag is flown on the LEFT flag pole facing the viewer.

6.  When two flags are flown together the National Flag is hoisted first and taken down last.  The National Flag is the symbol of sovereignty and thus it must be hoisted before all other flags and taken down only after all other flags are taken down.

7.   No foreign or commonwealth flag can be flown in The Bahamas unless the National Flag of The Bahamas is also flown in an equal or superior manner.  This regulation does not include foreign embassies, commonwealth high commissions or consulates.

8.   The National Flag of The Bahamas is not flown at sea, but more properly, the Bahamas Red Ensign is flown in its place and from the stern of the vessel or other place of honour. The Defence Force and unarmed government vessels fly the ensign proper to them. The National Flag of The Bahamas is flown as a jack at the bow on Bahamas' Defence Force vessels only when not the vessel is not underway.

The Queen's Personal Flag, used outsdide of the United Kingdom and its possessions, is flown to indicate the Queen is present.

      The Flag of The Governor General of The Bahamas  

Prime Minister's Flag with Parliamentary Mace in the fly

The flag of a Bahamas Government Cabinet Minister bears the Coat of Arms on a white disc

The personal  flags of  Her Majesty The Queen of The Bahamas, the Governor General of the Bahamas,  the Prime Minister of The Bahamas and Bahamas Cabinet Ministers(all shown above) are flown according to existing rules and as such are flags personal to them, flown only by them and to indicate that these persons are "present". The flag of Her Majesty and the flag of the Governor General are never dipped and never half masted.

10.   Flags that are frayed or discoloured should be removed and discarded with reverence.

11.   No symbol, words or other thing should be placed on The National Flag to deface it unless permission is granted from the Cabinet Office.  The National Flag is defaced with the symbol of the parliamentary mace on the prime minister's flag and it is also defaced with the national coat of arms in the fly on cabinet minister's and diplomatic officer's rank flags. These defacements however are with proper authority and do not dishonour the National Flag.

12.   Persons who are near or present when the National Flag is raised or lowered should stop, come to attention, and remain so until the Flag is either raised or lowered as the case may be.

The Bahamas Red Ensign is flown by all non-government vessels in Bahamian waters and by all ships, of whatever size, licenced or registered in The Bahamas - from mailboats to cruise ships. Also foreign boats fly this flag or ensign (pronounced N-SUN) while in The Bahamas as a courtesy flag in recognition of Bahamian sovereignty. The National Flag is not proper for use at sea.

This is the flag or ensign (pronounced N-SUN) of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. This ensign is flown on all Defence Force vessels and at Defence Force bases.  Only the Defence Force flies this flag or ensign. It is flown from the stern of Defence Force vessels or other place of honour. The National Flag of The Bahamas is only flown on Defence Force vessels as a "Jack Flag" on the bow of the vessel when the vessel is not underway.

This ensign is flown on unarmed government vessels such as government pilot boats or government owned tenders in Bahamian harbours.

Remember, flags flown at sea are called ensigns not flags.

USE THE LINK TO LEARN MORE

http://www.crwflags.com/FOTW/FLAGS/bs.html

Check here for Bahamas Country Information from BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/1154642.stm

TITLES AND FORMS OF ADDRESS IN THE BAHAMAS

THE QUEEN OF THE BAHAMAS

The Royal Style and Title in The Bahamas

Elizabeth The Second, By The Grace of God, Queen of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, and of Her Other Realms and Territories, Head of The Commonwealth

"Her Majesty"  never Her Royal Highness

USE THE LINKS TO LEARN MORE

http://www.royal.gov.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/_Bahamas

http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/bahamasweb2/home.nsf/vContentW/AD50C97FCEE345FE06256F02007F60C0

GOVERNOR GENERAL AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF

The Direct and Personal Representative of The Queen in The Bahamas

"His or Her Excellency" and the spouse of the GG is also styled "Excellency" during their term of office as the representative of Her Majesty The Queen of The Bahamas. He fulfills the monarch's constitutional role in The Bahamas.

Our current Governor General also has the title "Honourable" and is formally addressed as His Excellency The Hon Arthur D Hanna.

USE THE LINK TO LEARN MORE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Governors-General_of_the_Bahamas

FORMER GOVERNORS GENERAL

No official title is given a former governor general, however in Bahamian practice the form "Excellency" is often unofficially retained as a courtesy

FORMER GOVERNORS GENERAL STILL LIVING

LAST SURVIVING BRITISH GOVERNOR OF THE BAHAMAS

Sir Francis Cumming-Bruce, The Lord Thurlow  age 97    served 1968-72

HEIR TO THE THRONE

The heir to the Throne, the future king, is "His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales (Prince Charles)". His wife is addressed as "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall."  His former wife was the Late Diana, Princess of Wales and they had two children, Prince William and Prince Harry. The actual physical "throne" for the sovereign of The Bahamas can be seen inside the Bahamas Senate chamber. It used by the Governor General, as the Queen's representative, when reading the "Speech from The Throne" at the opening of parliament.

PRIME MINISTER AND MEMBERS OF THE CABINET

Prime Minister The Right Honourable Hubert Ingraham, PC MP

The title "Honourable" is given to the prime minister and all cabinet ministers. However, the Queen has always chosen to appoint her Bahamian prime ministers as members of the "Queen's Privy Council". The Privy Council was once a body of consultors who advised the King or Queen. Today, it is a body of distinguished and highly respected men and women from both within and outside the Commonwealth of Nations whom the Queen wishes to honour. The title "Right Honourable" is conferred with this appointment and it is for life. Dame Joan Sawyer, president of the Court of Appeal was also given this title in July 2004.  British cabinet ministers are automatically members of the Privy Council and a select committee of the privy council comprised of distinguished judges forms what is called the Judicial Committee of The Privy Council. This "committee" is  the highest and final court of appeal in the United Kingdom and in several Commonwealth nations including The Bahamas. Dame Joan Sawyer, president of the Bahamas Court of Appeal is a member of the Judicial Committee of The Privy Council.

Both Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Dame Joan Sawyer append the letters P.C. after their names. The letters PC preceed MP in the prime minister's case.

In speaking to the prime minster the preferrred style is simply "Prime Minister" the prefix Mr is not used. So, a person would say, "Good morning, Prime Minister" not "Mr" Prime Minister. The prefix "Mr" is an Americanism not used here. The Bahamas follows both British and Commonwealth practice. The same applies for cabinet ministers. In speech it is simply, "minister" as in "Good afternoon, Minister."

USE THE LINKS TO LEARN MORE

Information on The Bahamas Government

http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/bahamasweb2/home.nsf

List of Members of the Queen's Privy Council

http://www.privy-council.org.uk/output/Page76.asp#a

Information on the Judicial Committee of The Privy Council

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_Committee_of_the_Privy_Council

LEADER OF HER MAJESTY'S LOYAL OPPOSITION

The Right Honourable Perry Christie, PC MP

The Leader of The Opposition is styled "The Honourable". However, if he is a member of the Queen's Privy Council, he is styled "The Right Honourable". The current Opposition Leader, Perry Christie, is a former prime minister and a member of the Queen's Privy Council and has the style, "Right Honourable". The title is borne for life.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND ALSO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

Senator, The Hon Lynn Howloesko, C.B.E., President of The Senate

Speaker of The House of Assembly, The Hon Alvin Smith, M.P.

The President of The Senate is addressed as "Madam President" and is given the title "Honourable".The Speaker of The House of Assembly is addressed as "Mr Speaker" and is accorded the title "Honourable". 

MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

Senators are styled "Senator, The Honourable". 

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

Mr Obie Wilchcombe, Member of Parliament for Bimini and West End

Members of the House of Assembly, that is, Members of Parliament, are addressed as Mr, Mrs, or Miss, or Dr unless they have another title such as an order of knighthood.  The initials M.P. are placed after their names. They are not given the title "The Honourable" unless they are cabinet ministers or the prime minister(who may be Rt Hon if a member of the Queen's Privy Council) However, in the House of Assembly they are addressed by each other as the "Honourable Member for X". Or the phrase, "My honourable friend.." is used  If speaking of the prime minister one would say "My Right Honourable friend or the Right Honourable gentleman..."

THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT AND

THE COURT OF APPEAL FOR THE BAHAMAS

The title "The Honourable" is accorded to these jurists. On the bench they are addressed as "My Lord or My Lady/Your Ladyship or Your Lordship".   In July 2004 Dame Joan Sawyer, President of the Bahamas Court of Appeal, was appointed a member of the Privy Council by The Queen. She is now "The Right Honourable" Dame Joan Sawyer. The Chief Justice is styled "The Honourable Sir Burton Hall".

USE THE LINKS TO LEARN MORE

Information on The Bahamas Judicial System

http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/BahamasWeb/aboutthegovernment.nsf/Subjects/Overview+Judicial+System

Information on the Judicial Committee of The Privy Council

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_Committee_of_the_Privy_Council

CIRCUIT AND STIPENDARY MAGISTRATES

When sitting, all magistrates are addressed as "Your Worship". The form "Your Honour" is an Americanism and is not proper in Bahamian courts.

FAMILY ISLAND ADMINISTRATORS

Mr Sherrick Ellis, J.P.

Family Island Administrators (formerly commissioners) are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the central government and are representatives of both the Crown and the Central government within their districts. Their office falls within the Ministry of Local Government. When sitting as a local magistrate they are addressed as "Your Worship" as they are also Justices of The Peace. They may affix the letters J.P. after their names.The Administrator of Bimini is Mr Sherrick Ellis, J.P.

CHIEF COUNCILLORS OF FAMILY ISLAND DISTRICTS

Bimini Chief Councillor Lloyd Edgecombe, JP

Chief Councillors are elected, together with their fellow District Councillors by the people of their district every three years. The Chief Councillor and the other elected councillors oversee, to a limited extent, the affairs of their district as outlined in the Local Government Act  Chief Councillors are not given a particular form of address or title other than "Chief Councillor", but by virtue of their office they are Justices of The Peace and may append the initials J.P. after their name. The Chief Councillor of Bimini is Mr Lloyd Edgecombe, J.P.

FOREIGN AMBASSADORS AND COMMONWEALTH HIGH COMMISSIONERS

The international style for foreign Ambassadors and Commonwealth High Commissioners is "Excellency".   British Commonwealth countries do not send ambassadors to each other but rather send "High Commissioners". However, a High Commissioner is equal in rank to an ambassador. Bahamian citizens would not properly call a Bahamian Ambassador or a Bahamian High Commissioner "Excellency" within The Bahamas. The title is restricted by practice to the Governor General. The title is used however when addressing foreign/commonwealth diplomats of ambassadorial rank within The Bahamas.  Persons who are given the titles "Ambassador For The Environment" or similar such non diplomatic posts are not usually addressed as "Excellency" as these are not diplomatic posts and do not come under the protocols established by international convention. However, it is used sometimes as a courtesy.

THE ANGLICAN BISHOP OF THE BAHAMAS INCLUDING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, BRITISH WEST INDIES 

His Lordship The Right Reverend Laish Zane Boyd

The Anglican Bishop of The Bahamas is properly addressed as "The Right Reverend" and in speech as "My Lord", "Your Lordship" or simply, "Bishop".  The Anglican bishop is never addressed simply as "Reverend". His assistant bishops and retired bishops are addressed in a similar manner. The recently retired bishop, Drexel Gomez, who also served as Archbishop of The West Indies is styled "Most Reverend" and the forms "Your Grace" or "His Grace" are retained as a matter of courtesy. He retains the title archbishop.

http://bahamas.anglican.org/

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC METROPOLITAN ARCHBISHOP OF NASSAU

His Grace The Most Rev Archbishop Patrick C Pinder CMG STD

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Nassau is addressed as "Your Grace" and styled "The Most Reverend". He is never addressed simply as "Reverend". 

http://www.archdioceseofnassau.org/

THE BAHAMAS ORDER OF MERIT

Rarely conferred, this Bahamian Order recognises good citizenship and outstanding merit and achievement by Bahamians. The Order is conferred by the Governor General, the Queen's representative.  The letters, B.O.M. follow the surname of a holder of this distinquished honour.

ROYAL, PAPAL AND FOREIGN ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD

The Queen, on the advice of her Bahamian prime minister, continues to bestow British  honours on Bahamian citizens. These honours include medals that indicate membership in several fraternities of merit such as the Order of The British Empire, The Order of St Michael and St George, and the Royal Victorian Order.  The highest rank in these Orders is knighthood.  Persons created "knights bachelor" by the Queen are also knights, but as such do not belong to a particular  Order of Knighthood. Several Bahamians are "knights bachelor" while several others are members of a particular Order. For example Chief Justice Sir Burton Hall is a knight bachelor while  Sir Orville Turnquest, a former governor general, is a knight of the Order of St Michael and St George. No matter what rank one is given in any of these Orders they are all marks of high esteem from the Queen, in the name of the Bahamian people,  which recognise outstanding merit, high achievement and good citizenship. There are currently discussions underway to establish a Bahamian honours system.

above: Medal of a Commander of The Order of The British Empire/ CBE)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_honours_system

The Late Sir Gerald Cash, former governor general, wears the medal of an officer of the Order of The British Empire as his frst medal together with the Queen's Coronation and Silver Jubilee Medals. He wears two stars of Orders of  Knighthood. The top star is that of a Knight Grand Cross of The Order of St Michael and St George. The bottom star is that of a Knight Grand Cross of The Royal Victorian Order.

Persons given an order of knighthood are styled "Sir" such as "Sir Gerald". Never is a knight styled using their last name such as "Sir Cash". The wife of a knight is styled "Lady" and with her last name only. For example "Lady Cash". a knight's widow is styled as, "Jane, Lady Smith".  A woman who is given an order of knighthood in her own right is styled "Dame" such as "Dame Marguerite Pindling", the title preceding her first name but never is she called "Dame Pindling".  The husband of a Dame is given no title. Orders of knighthood are conferred by Her Majesty The Queen and also by the countries of France, Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Italy and the Vatican City State.

Chief Justice The Hon Sir Burton Hall, standing before St Peter's Basilica in Rome, wears the medal of a Papal Knight of the Order of St Sylvester. He was knighted by Pope John Paul II and he was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

There are several Bahamians who have been awarded knighthoods by The Queen  and also several who have been honoured by Pope John Paul II and earlier popes including Chief Justice Sir Burton Hall who is a knight bachelor (Queen Elizabeth II) and a Knight of St Sylvester(Holy See/Vatican). The late Sir Etienne Dupuch was a knight bachelor (HM The Queen) and a Papal Knight of St Gregory The Great (Holy See/Vatican) an honour from Pope Pius XII. A few Bahamians have also received knighthood in the historic Order of Malta (Sir Etienne Dupuch and Cyril St John Stephenson) and also in the Venerable Order of The Hospital of St John (Great Britain). The title "Sir" is prefixed to the first name of a holder of a British knighthood, but in The Bahamas it has been unofficially used as a courtesy towards anyone given a legitimate foreign or papal knighthood.

USE THE LINKS TO LEARN MORE

http://www.honours.gov.uk/honours/chivalry.aspx

http://www.orderofstjohn.org/

http://www.orderofmalta.org

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_Orders_of_Chivalry

BRITISH TITLES OF NOBILITY

Bahamian citizens have not been given titles of nobility from The Queen. A knighthood is not a title of nobility but rather a very high honour from Her Majesty, or other legitmate sovereign, recognising good citizenship, outstanding merit and excellence in some field of endeavour.  The holder of a British noble title is called a lord, and is a member of the British House of Lords. He is titled as a baron, a viscount, an earl, a marquess or a duke. While several of The Bahamas' colonial Governor's held the title of  Lord  as an "Earl" or "Baron", these titles were not conferred on Bahamians themselves. (for example, The Earl of Ranfurly who together with his wife, the Countess Ranfurly, began the Ranfurly Home for Children, was Governor in the mid 1950s).  Governor Sir Ralph Grey later became Lord Grey of Naunton and Governor Sir Francis Cumning-Bruce became Baron Thurlow. Since independence in 1973 the governors general have been distinguished Bahamian citizens.

In the 1950s the Countess Ranfurly, wife of the British Governor, the Earl of Ranfurly, began both the Ranfurly Home for Children in Nassau and the Out-Island Library Service. The Out Island Library Service supplied books to Bimini's public school. The titles "Earl" and "Countess" are British noble titles. Countess Ranfurly died in her native England in 2003.Lord Ranfurly died in 1988. Their daughter is a frequent visitor to The Bahamas.

Countess Ranfurly in 2001

LAST LIVING BRITISH GOVERNOR OF THE BAHAMAS

With the death of Sir John Paul in 1998 there is but one living former British governor of The Bahamas  from the colonial era. Sir Francis Cumming-Bruce, now Baron Thurlow, lives in England. He is 97. He served in The Bahamas from 1968 until 1972 and was succeeded by Sir John Paul as governor. Sir John Paul also served as governor general after independence on July 10, 1973. He served however for less than one month and was succeeded in August 1973 by Sir Milo Butler, a distinguished Bahamian and one of the founders of the modern Bahamas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_nobility

OUR MOST FAMOUS BRITISH GOVERNOR: HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE EDWARD, THE DUKE OF WINDSOR

ONCE HE WAS THE  BRITISH KING, HE THEN GAVE UP THE BRITISH CROWN:  HE WAS APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF THE BAHAMAS 1940-1945

The British Governor with the highest title of nobility was His Royal Highness The Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor, the former King of the British Empire (Queen Elizabeth's uncle) who abdicated the British Throne in 1936 to marry a twice divorced American woman, Wallis Simpson.The British government refused to accept his choice of wife. His father had been a king as was his grandfather and his great grandmother was Queen Victoria. Sent by his brother, the new king (George VI - Queen Elizabeth's father), to The Bahamas with a new title,  The Duke of Windsor, he was the  governor of The Bahamas during World War II between 1940 and 1945. His new wife, The Duchess of Windsor, was active in the Bahamas Red Cross and was largely responsible for refurbishing and re-modelling Government House. Windsor Park in Nassau is named in his honour as is Windsor Downs Golf Course on Cat Cay, near Bimini.The old Duke died in France at his home in 1971. He is buried at Windsor Castle in England. The Duchess of Windsor, who died several years later, is now buried next to him. No other British colony or territory in history ever had a former king as their governor. His initial "E" (for Edward), with a crown surmounting it, is still etched in the central glass doors of Government House in Nassau.

 The Duke and Duchess of Windsor in 1969.

USE THE LINKS TO LEARN MORE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VIII_of_the_United_Kingdom

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_of_Windsor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_nobility

His Royal Highness Prince Edward, the Duke of Windsor, Governor of The Bahamas, and Her Grace,  Wallis, the Duchess of Windsor (1937)

The former king, as Duke of Windsor, was the British Governor of The Bahamas 1940-1945

A card bearing the signatures of Her Grace Wallis, The Duchess of Windsor, and His Royal Highness Prince Edward, The Duke of Windsor, the former King and later Governor of The Bahamas. The new king, George VI, the duke's brother, denied the title "Her Royal Highness" to the duchess. Despite this act by the new king the style and title HRH was often used unofficially as is seen in the letter below.

A letter from the Duke of Windsor's secretary, thanking Mrs Gertrude Ford of the United States for sending the Duke and Duchess a sample of tea. As a result the Duke ordered 2 pounds of it. This letter is written on stationery from Government House in Nassau in 1941 during the period that the former king was governor of The Bahamas.