| 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
2012. Next elections
due in 2017. |
| Ruling Party: |
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) |
| 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. Perry G. Christie
Prime Minister
DATE OF
BIRTH: 21
August, 1943MARITAL STATUS:
Married
EDUCATION:
Attended the Eastern Senior school in New Providence, The
Bahamas
The University of Tutorial College, London
Inner Temple and Birmingham University - graduating with honours
in 1969
PROFESSIONAL/POLITICAL CAREER:
1974 -1977: Senator
1977 - elected Member of Parliament and Minister of Health and
National Insurance
1978 - Chairman, Gaming Board (regulates casinos in The Bahamas)
1982 - re-elected Member of Parliament; Minister of Tourism
1990- Minister of Agriculture, Trade and Industry
1993 - elected co-deputy leader of the Progressive Liberal Party
(PLP) with responsibility for Party activities outside
Parliament
1997 - re-elected to the House of Assembly
1997 - appointed Leader of the PLP
1997 - Leader of the Opposition
2002 - elected Prime Minister
2007- Leader of the Opposition
2012- 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 |
|
(February 2013) |
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