BahamasDevon

[|**FLAG OF THE BAHAMAS**] March On Bahamaland
 * __NATIONAL ANTHEM__**

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 treacherous shoal. Lift up your head to the rising sun, Bahamaland, 'til the road you've trod lead unto your God, March on Bahamaland. __RELATIVE LOCATION__ The Bahamas i east of florida,north of Cuba,and northwest of the Turks.

MAJOR RESOURCE EXPORTS vegatables and fruit __CAPITAL__ The capital of the bahamas is Nassau. Nassau is 26°n, and 77°w

In the Bahamas they only speak only one language, That language is English.
 * __LANGUAGE__**

The Bahamas is an independent country and member of the [|Commonwealth of Nations]. Political and legal traditions closely follow those of the United Kingdom. The Queen of the Unitfool Kingdom is the ceremonial head of state, represented by a [|Bahamian governor-general]. [|Prime Minister] is the [|head of government] and is the leader of the party with the most seats in the elected House of Assembly. The current Governor is [|Arthur Dion Hanna] and the current [|Prime Minister] is [|Perry Christie]. The upper house - or Senate - is appointed. [|Executive power] is exercised by the cabinet. [|Legislative power] is vested in both the [|government] and the [|two chambers of parliament]. The party system is dominated by the centre-left [|Progressive Liberal Party] and the centre-right [|Free National Movement]. A handful of splinter parties have been unable to win election to parliament. These parties include the [|Bahamas Democratic Movement], the [|Coalition for Democratic Reform] and the Bahamian Nationalist Party. Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, press, worship, movement, and association. The Bahamas is a member of the Caribbean Community. The [|Judiciary] is independent of the executive and the legislature. Jurisprudence is based on English common law.-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahamas
 * __Government__**


 * __Straw market__**

What is regarded as the birth of straw vending in the Bahamas as an industry began following the death of the sponge industry in the 1940's. Searching for another means of income, Bahamian women started plaiting and decorating dried palm and sisal plant leaves to create items such as baskets, bags and dolls. Soon large numbers of women were making straw souvenirs that were sought after by visitors. After World War II, many Americans began vacationing in the Bahamas and straw craft souvenirs grew in popularity. Straw vending is considered one of the country's oldest industry with organized markets in Nassau, Cable Beach, Paradise Island and a number of The Family Islands. Stroll down to the famous native Straw Market where you can find bustling activity with vendors who are willing to bargain with buyers.

FLIGHT COST


 * From: //Newark, NJ (EWR)// To: //Freeport, Bahamas (FPO)// || Depart: //Feb 21, 2007// Return: //Feb 28, 2007// || Airline: //AirTran Airways// || //$228// ||

Weather It is 79°f in the bahamas and it is partly cloudy.

CULTURAL PICTURES







Currency This is a Bahamian Dollar.

RELIGION The population is overwhelmingly Christian, with Baptists comprising about 32%. About 20% of the population are Anglicans and about 24% belong to other Protestants groups such as the Methodists (6%), the Church of God (6%), the Presbyterians, Seventh-Day Adventists, and members of the Salvation Army. About 19% of the population are Roman Catholics. There is also a strong Greek Orthodox community. Smaller groups include Jews, Baha'is, Muslims, Hindus, and Rastafarians. More traditional practices related to witchcraft and known to scholars as voodoo or obeah continue to be observed in some areas. Religion, with a focus on Christianity, is considered an academic subject in government schools. Although students may freely choose not to participate in religious instruction or observance outside of their own faith, the topic is included in mandatory standardized tests. 10,010 sq km (3,864 sq miles)
 * LAND AREA**

ECONOMY The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on [|tourism] and offshore [|banking]. The Bahamas is generally reckoned to be one of the [|leading offshore financial centres]. Tourism alone accounts for more than 75% of [|GDP] and directly or indirectly employs almost half of the labour force. Steady growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new [|hotels], resorts, and residences have led to solid GDP growth in recent years. [|Manufacturing] and [|agriculture] together contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector, which depends on growth in the [|United States], the source of the majority of tourist visitors. The unemployment rate has fallen to 7.6% in 2006, from 10.2% in 2005 primarily due to the construction of several large resort developments throughout the country. In the two most populated islands in The Bahamas, unemployement fell from 10.9 percent to 6.6 percent in New Providence, and from 11 percent to 8.4 percent in Grand Bahama. The estimated poverty rate in 2004 was 9.3%. In addition, the average household income has increased to $43,420 from $38,894 in 2005. The [|Bahamian] and [|United States dollars] are both distributed on a 1:1 exchange.

This is an example of bahamian art...

TIMELINE

http://www.bahamasgateway.com/bahamas_History.htm
 * 1904:** The first car arrives in Nassau – a 4 hp. 1902 model Oldsmobile, the first mass-produced U.S. car, owned by U.S. Vice-Consul Henry Mostyn.
 * 1906:** The first telephone system is installed. There were 150 subscribers, 147 of which were businesses located around central Bay Street.
 * 1908:** The Royal Bank of Canada opens its first branch on Bay Street, marking the coming of foreign financial centers to The Bahamas, a trend which has grown into a most significant local industry.
 * 1909:** Electricity becomes available in The Bahamas when a gas generator is installed which produced a weak current. By 1916, there were still only 443 subscribers and 276 streetlights. Electric current to private homes was cut off at 1 am.
 * 1911:** The first movie is shown in Nassau. By 1913, two motion picture theatres were in business – the Royal and Imperial Theatres. The first twin cinemas, located on Blue Hill Road, would not open until 1976.
 * 1913:** Ice begins to be produced locally. Before then, it was imported from Maine during the winter and stored in an ice-house.
 * 1919:** Prohibition in the U.S. creates an economic boom in The Bahamas via rum running.
 * 1935:** The first Labor Union is formed.
 * 1938:** The sponge blight: A mysterious fungus sweeps sponge beds, bringing on a sudden drop in economy. After much hardship, what was once a very lucrative local industry eventually died.
 * 1940:** The Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VII of England, arrives in Nassau to preside as Governor of The Bahamas.
 * 1942:** Construction of the Nassau International Airport begins, during which riots erupt over wages. Following the "Burma Road Riot", the Duke of Windsor organized ‘the Contract’ which allowed for up to 5,000 Bahamians to obtain work (mostly on farms) in the U.S. from 1943-1963.
 * 1943:** Sir Harry Oakes is mysteriously murdered; Mike Mckinney is the first Bahamian to die in action during WWII.
 * 1949:** The Hotels Encouragement Act is passed, designed to give a boost to the tourism industry.
 * 1952:** The People’s Penny Savings Bank, the first formal black-owned bank, opens in Grant’s Town. The dream of founder Leon Mckinney, the bank’s purpose was to allow any man, woman and child to take a step towards self-sufficiency by being able to open an account with 1 cent. The bank was eventually liquidated in the 1980’s.
 * 1955:** The Hawksbill Creek Agreement is signed, allowing American Wallace Groves to build Freeport.
 * 1957:** Nassau International Airport opens. One hundred protesting taxi drivers block access to the new airport for 24 hours.
 * 1958:** In support of 1957’s protests, a 16-day General Strike brings Nassau to a screeching halt. Unionized or not, just about every worker participated, and the strike was quite peaceful. The result was the Trade Union and Industrial Conciliation Act and the setting up of a Labor Department.
 * 1959:** The Bahamas National Trust is created with the aim of protecting the Bahamian environment.
 * 1961:** Women are granted the right to vote. They would first exercise that right during the General Election in November of 1962.
 * 1965:** A cruise ship, the Yarmouth Castle, sinks off Bahamian shores following a fire.
 * 1966:** Nassau harbor is dredged to create Arawak Cay.
 * 1967:** Majority rule comes into effect with the change of government; The first Paradise Island bridge opens.
 * 1970:** The U.S. dumps lethal nerve gas off Abaco shores in 6 miles of water.
 * 1973:** The Bahamas becomes an independent nation (143rd member of the United Nations); Bahamasair’s first plane arrives in Nassau, providing domestic service.
 * 1974:** The College of The Bahamas and National Insurance are established.
 * 1977:** Television 13 (ZNS) is officially commissioned.
 * 1980:** The Bahamas Defense Force arrests two Cuban fishing boats in Bahamian waters. While towing the Cuban boats to port, the BDF vessels are attacked by Cuban MIG Fighters who destroy the HMBS Flamingo and kill four Bahamian marines.
 * 1981:** The Bahamas Union of Teachers (BUT) stage an unprecedented 3-week strike for improved pay and conditions.
 * 1983:** An archeological dig at Long Bay Site in San Salvador uncovers green and yellow glass beads pointing to Columbus’ first landing. International debate erupts over this theory.
 * 1989:** Cable television comes to The Bahamas on Grand Bahama. In 1995, a more elaborate cable system, which would cover most of the islands, is activated.
 * 1992:** The FNM wins the General Election and becomes only the second governing administration since 1967.
 * 1993:** For the first time, three private radio stations are granted licenses: 100 Jamz, LOVE 97 and another in Freeport.
 * 1998:** A second bridge connecting Paradise Island to New Providence opens, coinciding with a major downtown traffic reversal and the grand opening of Sun International’s Atlantis resort.

Population 294,982