Hope Town District Council

The Hope Town District Council is a local government council in the Bahamas. It is a third schedule district council located within the Abaco Islands of the northwest Bahamas.

After the implementation of local government in the Bahamas in 1996, the Ministry of Local Government approved the creation of the Hope Town District in 1999. The initial council makeup included seven councillors, three from Hope Town, three from Man-O-War Cay, and one from Great Guana Cay. During the 2008 local government elections, the council makeup was downsized to five councillors, with two for Hope Town, two for Man-O-War Cay, and one for Great Guana Cay.

The Hope Town District Council is an amalgamation of thirteen islands: Great Guana Cay, Scotland Cay, Foot’s Cay, Fowl Cay, Man-O-War Cay, Sandy Cay, Dickie’s Cay, Garden Cay, Johnny’s Cay, Elbow Cay (where the capital settlement Hope Town is located), Lubber’s Quarters, Tilloo Cay, and the Pelican Cays.

When local government was introduced to the Bahamas in 1996, the Hope Town District Council did not exist. Hope Town had its own town committee and the neighboring communities of Man-O-War Cay and Great Guana Cay shared a town committee. The seat of Council was in Marsh Harbour that involved the Central Abaco area and the cays. The Town Committees of both Hope Town and Man-O-War Cay/Guana Cay each sent a Council member to sit on the Central Abaco Council.

Local government terms in the Bahamas are three years. After the first term of local government (1996–1999), the Minister of Local Government saw the need for the Cays to have its own council, and thus the Hope Town District Council was formed. The council consists of three settlements and surrounding cays, including the settlements of Great Guana Cay, Man-O-War Cay, and Elbow Cay. The other cays that are included are:

The Hope Town District Council consists of seven members, all elected. Three members represent Elbow Cay, three members represent Man-O-War Cay, and one represents Great Guana Cay. These numbers are based on registered voter population, meaning that Elbow Cay and Man-O-War Cay have larger populations than Great Guana Cay.

The residents of Great Guana Cay have voiced concern over their representation feeling that they deserve equal representation with the other two towns. The Minister of Local Government was considering a change in the member structure for the 2008 local government elections.