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Bahamas Constitution as adopted on 10 July 1973. Article 19 2. Any person who is arrested or detained shall be informed as soon as is reasonably practicable, in a language that he understands, of the reason for his arrest or detention and shall be permitted, at his own expense, to retain and instruct without delay a legal representative of his own choice and to hold private communication with him; and in the case of a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years he shall also be afforded a reasonable opportunity for communication with his parent or guardian. 4. Where a person is detained by virtue of such a law as is referred to in Article 29 of this Constitution, the following provisions shall apply- (a) he shall, as soon as reasonably practicable and in any case not more than five days after the commencement of his detention, be furnished with a statement in writing, in a language that he understands, of the grounds upon which he is detained; Article 20 2. Every person who is charged with a criminal offence... (b) shall be informed as soon as reasonably practicable, in a language that he understands and in detail, of the nature of the offence charged; (f) shall be permitted to have without payment the assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand the language used at the trial of the charge; Note: The text of the Constitution of the Bahamas is available through the Political Database of the Americas maintained by Georgetown University.

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