royalvisit

King Charles III is coming to the Bahamas, and before the red carpets are rolled out, there is a question that deserves an answer: How much will it cost us?

The last major royal visit provides a useful benchmark.

When Prince William and Catherine visited The Bahamas in March 2022, the government later reported preliminary spending of $636,194 on the visit. More than $566,000 went to New Providence businesses and vendors, while additional spending was recorded in Abaco and Grand Bahama. The government also highlighted the international media exposure generated by the visit.

CSJ Report also reported at the time that the government had purchased 40 new vehicles and rented five floors at Atlantis for the royal party and entourage.

Four years later, the circumstances are different. This time, a reigning King is coming.

Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell has indicated that the visit is expected to involve heightened security and strict protocol. But when asked about the cost, his response was striking.

“There’s no bill for our king.” He added: “Nothing too good for the king.”

But what does “no bill” actually mean?

There will inevitably be costs associated with security, transportation, protocol, government personnel, official events and preparations. Some expenses may also be absorbed by private companies or other public agencies.

The government does not necessarily have to prove that a royal visit is a bad investment.

It can argue that international exposure, diplomacy, tourism promotion and the prestige of hosting a head of state have value. In 2022, the government itself pointed to the more than 40 international media organisations that covered the visit and promoted the Bahamas internationally.

But if there is value, can we measure it?

How much will this visit cost? Who will pay? What will taxpayers provide? What will private businesses or donors contribute? And what tangible benefits will the Bahamas receive in return?

Taxpayers should know what it costs to host him.

In 2022, the public eventually got a number.

This time, perhaps the number should come before the King arrives, not months afterward.

When King Charles III arrives in the Bahamas this October, he will see a country preparing to welcome a monarch. But will he see the same Bahamas that Bahamians experience every day?

For some residents, the royal visit has already sparked a familiar joke: Perhaps the roads will finally get fixed and the lights will stay on—at least while the King is here.

The comments may be humorous, but they reveal something serious about how some Bahamians view their government’s priorities.

Shamere Castro wrote on Facebook: “Yayyyyyy. The roads will finally get paved and downtown might get a quick facelift.”

Carmon Newton asked: “Think the power might stay on for him & a few Roads get fixed?”

And Doyla Fox joked: “All roads his motorcade travels will be freshly paved.”

Because royal visits require extraordinary preparation. Security arrangements, motorcade routes, official venues and public appearances mean roads and public spaces along those routes receive heightened attention.

The Bahamas saw this kind of intense preparation during the March 2022 visit of Prince William and Catherine, when the couple travelled through New Providence, Abaco and Grand Bahama.

Now Charles is returning, this time as King.

And with him comes an interesting public expectation: that the country’s best face will be put forward for the monarch.

Why shouldn’t the best version of the Bahamas be good enough for Bahamians too?

A freshly paved road is still a freshly paved road after the motorcade leaves. A functioning electricity system benefits residents long after the royal delegation departs. A cleaner, better-maintained downtown benefits workers, businesses and visitors every day, not just a visiting head of state.

Of course, the King does not control BPL, road paving or Bahamian infrastructure. And there is no evidence that his visit itself will determine which roads are repaired or when.

But the jokes are revealing something worth paying attention to. They reflect a public perception that when important people come to town, things can suddenly happen faster.

The royal visit to the Bahamas by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spurred controversy by some members of the public who debated the exorbitant price tag it will place on the tax payer’s purse.

Nearly two months after the March visit, the government released a preliminary financial expenditure statement on the visit. The Nassau Guardian revealed that the Bahamas government spent $636,194 on Prince William and wife Catherine Middleton during their visit to the Bahamas in March.

“The payments were managed by the Office of the Governor-General in consultation with the Secretariat,” the statement says.

It included:

• $566,828.93 was paid to New Providence businesses and vendors
  • $34,657.30 on accommodations at Atlantis
  • $76,141.96 with Wild Flowers for decor for the royal ball, a school and One Montague
  • $66,440.50 with Movi Company for large jumbo screens and digital and electronic work at a school, the royal ball and regatta, among other expenses.
• $50,063.92 was paid to Abaco vendors
• $18,107.15 was paid to Grand Bahama vendors.

The government believed it saved $100,000 with “the assistance of corporate Bahamas [in] assisting with the Royal Black-Tie Ball,” the report says, while boasting of the media attention the country received during the visit.

“It is difficult to quantify the tremendous benefits of the royal visit to The Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” it states.

“Over 40 international media houses from the UK and international graced our shores and recorded the wonders of The Bahamas, its beauty, charm and warmth of our people.”

Prince William and Kate spent eight days visiting three Caribbean countries to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years on the British Throne–Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas.

The Bahamas was their last stop when they left New Providence and flew to Abaco and Grand Bahama.

CSJ Report revealed that the government purchased forty new cars for the visit and rented out five floors of Atlantis for the couple and its entourage.

A heavy downpour was not the only occurrence to dampen Prince William and Kate’s Bahamas tour as they honor Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years on the British throne.

Rastafarians assembled near the Sybil Strachan School where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were to appear, protesting their visit and demanding reparations for the enslavement of African people.

WATCH THIS: Demonstrators singing outside the Sybil Strachan Primary School ahead of the first stop on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s royal visit in The Bahamas. #platinumjubilee #dukeandduchessofcambridge pic.twitter.com/0c6BH6DN6z

— Eyewitness News Bahamas (@ewnewsbahamas) March 25, 2022

Priest Marcus of the House of Rastafari in the Bahamas said, “The Bahamas is still under colonial rule and the Westminster system but we, as Rastas, don’t serve the system or the Queen. We can never forget slavery or the atrocities done to my people from the royal family,”

“We’re looking forward to an official apology and reparations—many Bahamians feel the same way. 400 years of slavery can’t be forgotten easily just like that; the damage has to be repaired.”

They were joined by a group representing abused women who sought to bring attention to their plight.

Both groups huddled together holding placards while singing songs.

As William and Kate appeared, the couple was met with torrents of rain using umbrellas to shield themselves from the downpour.

They were later escorted to Parliament Square to greet COVID-19 frontline workers. Though the rain held up for a brief period, it came down heavily as they greeted fans Down Town where a Junkanoo celebration was held.

HAPPENING NOW: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are greeted with Junkanoo as it makes its long-awaited return to Bay Street. #theroyalvisitbahamas pic.twitter.com/JlrDiY4GCf

— OURnews Bahamas (@OurNewsRev) March 25, 2022