THE HONOURABLE ARTHUR D. HANNA RETIRES - 14TH APRIL, 2010 As Governor General Of The Bahamas

.

(Nassau, Bahamas - BIS Release) -  It was announced from Government House today that His Excellency The Honourable Arthur D. Hanna desires to demit office as Governor-General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, a position to which he was appointed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 1st February 2006.

A formal request has been made to Her Majesty for His Excellency to demit office on 14th April, 2010.

His Excellency has also requested an early farewell audience with The Queen at Buckingham Palace.

The Rt. Honourable Hubert A. Ingraham, Prime Minister, has been advised of His Excellency's desire to demit office.

The Governor-General is one of the Framers of the Constitution of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and one of the Founding Fathers of an Independent Bahamas.

When the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) assumed office in January, 1967, he served as Deputy Premier, and later as Deputy Prime Minister.

As Deputy Prime Minister he held the portfolio of the Public Service, Freeport, and as Leader for Government Business in the House of Assembly. During his 1 7 years in Cabinet, His Excellency also served as Minister of Education, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Trade and Industry and Minster of Finance.

The Governor-General has been a Member of the House of Assembly for 32 years. The Governor-General has made major contributions to the political and social development of The Bahamas.