Thirty-one members of the British Commonwealth attended the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting at Paradise Island, Nassau, 23-24 September 1971, representing over half the peoples of the developing world.
The meeting recognised the serious financial issues faced by the United States, and the Ministers who attended were of the strong opinion that “equilibrium in the international monetary system should be sought through expansion rather than contraction of international trade.” The Ministers called for realignment of currency parities and the removal of import surcharges which would be detrimental to developed and developing nations.
Machine Cancellations
The Bahamas postal services set up a booth at the meeting and two special cancels were employed. One being a handstamp and the other a machine slogan.
Freeport
- Slogan: COMMONWEALTH / FINANCE MINISTERS / MEETING, 1971
- Description:
- 23mm Single Circle
- FREEPORT / BAHAMAS
- YYYY / DDMMM / HH:MM AM (PM)
- Usage: 20SEP71
- Type: Not listed.
Nassau
This variety is not listed by Proud. It is similar to M8 State 4 but the date stamp is to the right and the format of the date is YYYY / DD MMM / HH:MM. There is also a line under the MM of the time (M8 does not have this).
- Slogan: COMMONWEALTH / FINANCE MINISTERS / MEETING, 1971
- Description:
- 23mm Single Circle
- NASSAU / BAHAMAS
- YYYY / DDMMM / HH:MM AM (PM)
- Usage: 20SEP71-25SEP71
- Type: Not listed.
References
- British Caribbean Philatelic Journal Vol.11 No.6, Dec 1971
- British Record A Review of British Affairs – British Information Services (1970)
- Postal History of the Bahamas – Edward B Proud (2000)