Bahamas to Pay for Royal Visit

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Bahamas Government will pay for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The pair will visit the country next week in commemoration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Jared Higgs has the details.

Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Jack Thompson was responding to whether or not the Royal family would be contributing to the costs associated with their visit.

The revelation that The Bahamas will be footing the bill comes nearly a month after a Jamaican Cabinet Minister told media there the Jamaican government would not cover the cost for the Royals visit to that country, and would only cover per diem for security personnel.

While it is known that The Bahamas are paying for the visit, OPM press Secretary Clint Watson couldn’t say how much it will cost.

Ambassador to CARICOM Leslia Miller Brice, and Permanent Secretary Thompson, are coordinating the visit. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected in country March 24-26th. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ken Strachan says members of the public can expect road closures.

During the visit the Royals will visit Abaco to see the damage from hurricane Dorian first hand, before heading to Grand Bahama to visit the children’s home and Coral Vita facility.

On March 25th the Duke and Duchess will visit the Sybil Strachan Primary School where the children there will put on a performance for them. There’s also a regatta planned.

Some social media users criticized the fact that the government is paying for the trip.

One user asked “They can’t afford it?”, referring to the Royal family.

Another wrote, “Why? They should be paying the bill and leaving a hefty tip”.

But Thompson says the country will roll out the red carpet and the couple will be given all the courtesies.