| Motto:
|
Forward,
Upward, Onward Together |
|
|
|
Coat
of Arms |
National
Flower (Yellow Elder)
|
Flag |
|
| Location: |
An archipelago of 700 islands and more that 2,000
islets spread over a total area of approximately
161,000 square km (100,000 square miles), 80 km
(50 miles) off the southeast coast of Florida
at its closest point and extending in a 1,200
km (750miles) arc towards the northern edge of
the Caribbean Sea. |
| 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 March 1997. Next elections
due in 2002. |
| Ruling
Party: |
Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) |
| Major
Political Parties: |
Free
National Movement (FNM), Progressive Liberal Party
(PLP), Vanguard Nationalist and Socialist Party
(VNSP). |
| Head
of State: |
H.E.
Dame Ivy L. Dumont, DCMG, Governor General |
| Head
of Government: |
|
| |
The
Hon. Perry Christie
Prime Minister
DATE
OF BIRTH: 21 August 1943
MARITAL
STATUS: Married
EDUCATION:
Attended
the:
- Eastern
Senior School in New Providence, The Bahamas;
- The
University 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 PLP with responsibility
for Party activities outside Parliament
- 1997:
re-elected to the House of Assembly
- 1997:
appointed Leader of the Progressive Liberal
Party (PLP)
- 1997:
Leader of the Opposition
- 2002:
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 Grand
Bahamas.
There is a strong offshore financial services
sector which contributes an estimated 7% to GDP.
There is a container trans-shipment port on Grand
Bahamas, as well as some export manufacturing.
Agriculture is limited to about 3% of GDP. |
| Airport: |
Nassau International & Freeport |
| Status: |
Independent: 10 July 1973 |
| Capital: |
Nassau |
| Population: |
303,611 (mid 2000) |
| Currency: |
Bahamian dollar |
| GDP
Per Capita (at current prices): |
EC$29,811
m (1995)
|
| Total
Exports: |
EC$840.8 m (1998) |
| Total
Imports: |
EC$ 3,680.9 m (1998) |
| Intra-Regional
Exports: |
EC$2.5
m (1997) |
| Intra-Regional
Imports: |
EC$7.7 m (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 |
| National
Anthem: |
March
on Bahamaland
Lift up your head to the rising sun, Bahamaland;
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, Bahamaland;
'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 |
| Date
of CARICOM Membership: |
4 July 1983 |
| Government
web page: |
http://www.bahamas.gov.bs
|
|