The commonwealth of the Bahamas is in the West Indies. The country is made up of an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. This means that it is comprised of a series of islands, which connect to the mainland, thus the pluralized name. The Bahamas was a British colony from 1718 and later became an independent country in 1973, while remaining a part of the Commonwealth of Nations. They retain Queen Elizabeth II as their monarch and still sing God Save the Queen as a national anthem. The main language is English though some speak variants of English, Spanish and Portuguese. The capital city is Nassau, which is located on the island New Providence, though Andros Island is the largest in the group. The city was a haven for the pirates that sailed the Caribbean, including the famous Blackbeard, and was fought over by several nations, notably Spain and England. The whole region was notorious in legend for pirate activity, and is used as a set for many books and films on the subject. The pirates even disrupted the area's government at one point by declaring an anarchic 'Privateer's Republic' and ransacking Charlestown, which would later become Nassau. The islands had been through the hands of the Spanish and they had all but destroyed the native population of Arawak Indians. The British stopped a lot of the trouble when they made the islands a British Crown Colony. The islands are mostly Christian, with a heavy leaning towards the Protestant church, other denominations being present but in minority. A very small minority practise Obeah and Voodoo, both similar to each other, as spiritualistic folk beliefs. The Prime Minister of the Bahamas is Perry Gladstone Christie, born 1944, and third Prime Minister of the nation. Christie has earned awards for his efforts in urban renewal and community policing, though has also been in scandal surrounding his political tactics. The Bahamas' main industry is tourism, with the island being a massive tourist spot for most western countries. The tropical location and mysterious history make for an ideal spot and a popular place for couples, families and partiers. |
