| Also known as: |
The place where worlds meet (Source: The Heraldry of the
Commonwealth Caribbean) |
| Motto: |
Forward, Upward, Onward Together |
| Location: |
The Bahamas is an archipelago state lying about 50 miles off the coast of Florida,
extending over 750 miles south-easterly along the coast of Cuba to
within 60 miles of Haiti and West of Turks and Caicos Islands.
The archipelago comprises about 100,000 square miles with more than
4,000 islands, islets and cays, but it is commonly known as the
country of 700 islands. Twenty-nine islands are permanently
inhabited. |
| History: |
The islands were colonised by the English in the 16th
century and was a British Crown Colony from 1717 until internal self-rule
in 1964. It gained independence on 10 July 1973. |
| Elections: |
Last elections were held in
2007. Next elections
due in 2012. |
| Ruling Party: |
Free
National Movement (FNM) |
| Major Political Parties: |
Free National Movement (FNM), Progressive
Liberal Party (PLP) |
| Head of State: |
H.E. Sir
Arthur A. Foulkes, GCMC, Governor General |
| Head of Government: |
Rt. Hon. Hubert A.
Ingraham
Prime Minister
DATE OF
BIRTH: 04
August, 1947MARITAL STATUS:
Married
EDUCATION:
Studied Law in Chambers in Nassau
1972 - Called to the Bahamas Bar
2000 - Received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of
Buckingham, England
PROFESSIONAL/POLITICAL CAREER:
1975 - Elected to National General Council of
the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP)
1976 - Elected National Chairman of the PLP and member of
National Executive Committee
1977 - Elected to the House of Assembly
1982 - Appointed Minister of Housing,
National Insurance and Social Services
1982 - Chairman of The Bahamas Mortgage Corporation
1987 - Re-elected to Parliament as an Independent Candidate
1990 - Joined the official
Opposition, Party, the Free National Movement (FNM) and elected
Party Leader. Appointed Leader of the Official Opposition
1992 - Elected Prime Minister
1993 - Became a member of the Privy
Council (UK)
1997 - Re-elected Prime Minister
2007 - Re-elected Prime Minister
|
| Economic Summary: |
Tourism is the mainstay
of the economy, providing employment directly and indirectly for
over 50,000 persons. The
industry is oriented mainly towards short-stay visitors and is concentrated
in Nassau and in Grand Bahama Island. There is a strong offshore financial
services sector. There
is also a container trans-shipment port on Grand Bahama, as well as
some export manufacturing. |
| Airports: |
Nassau International
(New Providence)
Freeport (Grand Bahama) |
| Status: |
Independent: 10
July 1973 |
| Capital: |
Nassau |
| Area: |
13,864 sq. km. (5, 353 miČ) |
| Population: |
338,300 (2008)
|
Currency:
|
Bahamian dollar
(BAH$1 = US$1) (2008)
|
| Education: |
Compulsory from ages 5 to 16
years |
| Infant mortality rate: |
17.2 per 1000 live births
(2003) |
| Life expectancy: |
Male 70.4 years; Female
77.3 years (2003) |
GDP per capita:
|
EC$MN19,532 (2007)
|
Total Exports:
|
EC$375.9m (2001) |
Total Imports:
|
EC$8,643.7m (2008) |
Intra-Regional Exports:
|
EC$2.8m (2007) |
Intra-Regional Imports:
|
EC$7.7m (1997) |
| Business Hours: |
Commercial: 09:00
hrs-17:00 hrs Monday to Saturday. Shops
close on Thursday afternoons and open on selected Sundays to accommodate
cruise ship visits. Government: 09:00 hrs-17:30 hrs Monday
to Friday
|
| National Holidays: |
New Year's Day (01 January); Good Friday; Easter Monday;
Whit Monday; Labour Day (02 June); Independence Day (10 July); Emancipation
Day (04 August); Discovery Day (12 October); Christmas Day (25 December);
Boxing Day (26 December) Holidays that fall on Saturday or Sunday are
observed on the following Monday
|
| Date of CARICOM Membership: |
4 July 1983
|
| National Anthem: |
March on Bahama
Land
Lift up your head
to the rising sun, Bahama land;
March on to glory, your bright banners waving high.
See how the world marks the manner of your bearing!
Pledge to excel thro' love and unity.
Pressing onward, march together to a common loftier goal;
Steady sunward, tho' the weather hide the wide and treach'rous shoal
Lift up your head to the rising sun, Bahama land;
'Til the road you've trod lead unto your God,
MARCH ON, BAHAMALAND!
(Words
and music by Timothy Gibson) |
| Highest National Award: |
Governor General Award |
| Favourite Dish: |
Steamed Conch 'N
Tomato Paste |
| Government web page: |
|
| National Symbols: |
 |
 |
The Bahamas - National Flag |
|
(January 2012) |
Printer Friendly
