Bahamas Overview Country Overview There are over 700 islands in The Bahamas, lying southeastward from the coast of Florida; many of them have escaped the notice of tourists. The islands offer clear warm water and sandy beaches. All the larger islands offer a high standard of accommodation and leisure facilities. Sunbathing, diving, fishing and boating are the main daytime amusements. The capital of The Bahamas, Nassau, stands on New Providence Island. In the capital, tourists can shop in the bustling ‘straw market’, where local vendors create unique straw goods on the spot. The Water Tower is the highest point on the island, 85m (216ft) above sea level. An elevator takes visitors to an observation deck for panoramic views. Freeport, the second city located on Grand Bahama, is excellent for golf and diving. Long Island: This island certainly lives up to its name, being almost 100km (60 miles) long but rarely more than 5km (3 miles) wide. The landscape consists of rugged headlands dropping sharply down to the sea, fertile pastureland, rolling hills and sandy beaches washed by surf. At Conception Island divers can explore over 30 shipwrecks, and tours are arranged from the Stella Maris resort complex at the north end of the island. Blue Lagoon Island features an exotic lagoon where visitors can enjoy close encounters with friendly bottle-nosed dolphins. Local delicacies include conch, grouper cutlets, baked crab and red snapper fillets in anchovy sauce. Local drinks are rum based and the local liqueur is called Nassau Royal. Beach parties and discotheques are organised regularly by hotels. Live entertainment includes calypso, goombay music and limbo dancing. General Information Area: 13,939 sq km (5382 sq miles). Population: 300,529 (official estimate 2002). Population density: 21.6 per sq km. Capital: Nassau. Population: 212,432 (official census 2000). GEOGRAPHY: The Bahamas consist of 700 low-lying islands, mostly islets (cays or keys) and rocks. The whole archipelago extends 970km (500 miles) southeastward from the coast of Florida, surrounded by clear, colourful waters. The soil is thin, but on the more developed islands, cultivation has produced exotic flowers. On other islands are large areas of pine forest, rocky and barren land, swamp and unspoilt beaches. The Bahamas are divided into two oceanic features, the Little Bahama Bank and the Great Bahama Bank. Government: Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence in 1973. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Dame Ivy Dumont since 2001. Head of Government: Prime Minister Perry Christie since 2002. Language: The official and national language is English. Religion: The three main Christian denominations are Baptist, Anglican and Roman Catholic. Time: GMT - 5. Electricity: 120 volts AC, 60Hz. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 1 242. New Providence and all islands have automatic telephone systems. The state telephone company, BaTelCo, offers both manual- and automatic-dial mobile radio telephones which allow callers to contact ships at sea. Phone cards can be purchased at discounted rates for international calls. Mobile telephone Handsets must be registered with BaTelCo (tel: 394 4000; fax: 394 3573; e-mail: info@batelnet.bs). Visitors will need to purchase a SIM card if their provider has no agreement with BaTelCo. Handsets can be hired locally. Fax This service is available to the public at the Centralised Telephone Office in East Street, Nassau or in Internet cafes. Machines can also be hired. Internet There are a few Internet cafes on Grand Bahama Island and Nassau Island open seven days a week. Laptop connections are available, as are webcams and facilities for scanning and copying. The main ISP is BaTelNet (website: www.batelnet.bs). Telegram Telegrams can be sent from most hotels, Post Offices and the CT Office. Post Postal service to Europe takes up to ten days. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700 and Sat 0900-1230. Press The four daily newspapers are the Tribune, the Nassau Guardian, The Bahama Journal and the Freeport News. The Punch is published twice a week. Both What’s On Magazine and Bahamas Tourist News are printed once a month. International newspapers available in The Bahamas include: The Times, The Miami Herald, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today and The Daily Telegraph. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.19 12.10 6.195 5.975 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 13.79 9.455 6.130 5.995 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British 1 No/3 Yes Australian Yes No/5 Yes Canadian 1 No/5 Yes USA 2 No/4 Yes OtherEU Yes No/3 Yes Japanese Yes No/6 Yes PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least six months from date of entry into The Bahamas required by all except: (a) 1. nationals of Canada and the UK and its colonies, provided holding a birth certificate, a citizenship card or a certificate of baptism together with a photo ID for a stay of up to three weeks. Passports, however, are required for re-entry into the UK; (b) 2. nationals of the USA, provided holding a passport not expired by more than five years, original or certified birth certificate, naturalisation certificate together with an official photo ID, for stays of up to eight months. Note: Expired passports are not considered proper ID, even if they are endorsed with unexpired visas, unless they belong to nationals of Canada or the USA. VISAS: Required by all except the following: (a) 3. nationals of EU countries for visits of up to three months (eight months for nationals of Belgium, Greece, Italy, Luxemburg, The Netherlands and the UK); (b) 4. nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, Turkey and the USA for visits of up to eight months; (c) 5. nationals of Commonwealth countries who may stay for up to eight months (with the exception of nationals of Brunei, Cameroon, Ghana, India, Mozambique, Nigeria and Pakistan who do need a visa); (d) 6. nationals of Chile, Israel, Japan, Namibia, Mexico and South Africa for visits of up to three months; (e) nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela, for visits of up to 14 days; (f) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or next connecting aircraft within three days provided holding confirmed onward documentation and passport. Types of visa and cost: Single-entry: £15; Multiple-entry: £20 (three to six months); £30 (six to 12 months). Validity: Usually three months. Applications for extension should be made to the Director of Immigration. Application to: Consulate (or Consular Section at Embassy or High Commission); see Contact Addresses section. Application requirements: (a) Completed application form. (b) Valid passport. (c) Proof of sufficient funds to cover stay. (d) Two passport-size photos. (e) Itinerary of trip. (f) Return ticket and documents to enter any other country to which travel is planned. (g) Stamped self-addressed envelope if applying by post. (h) Proof of employment or enrollment in University. (i) Proof of hotel booking or letter of invitation if staying at a private home. Note: Applications should be made in person. Working days required: Dependent on nationality of applicant, a minimum of 48 hours. Applications made by post and from some nationals may take longer to process. Enquire at the Consulate or Embassy for further details. Temporary residence: Apply to the Director of Immigration, Hawkins Hill, PO Box N-831, Nassau, New Providence (tel: (242) 322 7531; fax: (242) 326 0977). Money Currency: Bahamian Dollar (B$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of B$100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 3 and 1, and 50 cents. Coins are in denominations of 25, 15, 10, 5 and 1 cents. The Bahamian Dollar has parity with the US Dollar and the latter is also accepted as legal tender. Note: The Bahamian Dollar is tied to the US Dollar. Currency exchange: Available in banks and at exchange bureaux and hotels. ATMs are located on the larger islands in airport terminals, at banks and casinos and at other convenient locations. Credit & debit cards: Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa and American Express are accepted. Check with your credit, or debit, card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars. Currency restrictions: Permission is required from the Central Bank of the Bahamas to import local currency, which may be exported up to a maximum of B$70. The import and export of foreign currency are unlimited. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Bahamian Dollar against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 1.46 1.52 1.58 1.59 $1.00= 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Banking hours: Mon-Thurs 0930-1500, Fri 0930-1700. Duty Free The following goods may be taken into The Bahamas by persons aged over 18 years without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 454g of tobacco; 1.136l of spirits and 1.136l of wine; goods up to the value of US$100. Note: Duty is payable on household items such as small electrical appliances (blenders etc) which are taxed at 45 per cent of their cost. Laptop computers are considered to be personal effects and are therefore duty free. Prohibited items: Weapons and drugs and animals from countries with rabies. Public Holidays Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Apr 18 Good Friday. Apr 21 Easter Monday. Jun 6 Labour Day. Jun 9 Whit Monday. Jul 10 Independence Day. Aug 4 Emancipation Day. Oct 12 Discovery (Heroes') Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Boxing Day. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Apr 9 Good Friday. Apr 12 Easter Monday. May 31 Whit Monday. Jun 4 Labour Day. Jul 10 Independence Day. Aug 2 Emancipation Day. Oct 12 Discovery (Heroes') Day. Dec 25 Christmas Day. Dec 26 Boxing Day. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No 1 Cholera No No Typhoid and Polio 2 N/A Malaria No N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers aged over one year travelling from an infected area. 2: Immunisation against typhoid is advised. Food & drink: Tap water is safe to drink although it can often be salty in taste. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat. Other risks: Diphtheria, tuberculosis and hepatitis B vaccinations are sometimes recommended. Health care: Medical facilities are on a par with the USA, but can be costly and therefore medical insurance is recommended. Travel - International AIR: The Bahamas’ national airline is Bahamasair (UP). Other airlines with regular flights to the Bahamas include American Airlines, Air Canada, Air Jamaica, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, British Airways, TWA, USAir and United Airlines. Charter airlines also fly regularly to the islands. Approximate flight times: From Nassau to Los Angeles is 7 hours, to New York is 3 hours, to London is 8 hours 30 minutes and to Singapore is 33 hours. International airports: Nassau International (NAS) is 16km (10 miles) west of the city. Taxi services are available. Airport facilities include banking (Mon-Thurs 0930-1500 and Fri 0930-1700), car hire, post office, bars, restaurants (0600-2000) and duty-free shops (0930-1900). Freeport International (FPO) is 5km (3 miles) from the city. Taxis are available. Airport facilities include banking, car hire, car parking, bar/restaurant and a duty-free shop. The new international airport at Moss Town, Exuma, has been completed. There are scheduled turbo-prop services between several airports in Florida and Treasure Cay (TCB) and Marsh Harbour (MHH), Abaco Island; Rock Sound (RSD) and Governor’s Harbour (GHB), Eleuthera; and Georgetown (GGT) Exuma. Departure tax: B$15 (Freeport – B$18). Children under six years of age and passengers for immediate transit are exempt. SEA: A large number of international passenger ships from New York and Miami call at Nassau. Nassau has direct passenger–cargo connections with the USA, the UK, the West Indies and South America. In addition, a large number of cruise ships call there. Facilities for cruisers in Nassau and some harbours of the Out Islands (Eleuthera, Andros and Exuma) are being improved. Contact Bahamas Tourist Office for an up-to-date list of cruise operators to The Bahamas, with all relevant contact numbers. Travel - Internal AIR: Charter services are available from Bahamasair Charter (UP), Pinder’s Charter Service, Le Air Charter Ltd, Sky Unlimited and Major’s Air Service. Approximate flight times: From Nassau, New Providence Island to Freeport is 40 minutes, to Marsh Harbour or Treasure Cay, Abaco is 35 minutes, to Governor’s Harbour is 30 minutes, and to Georgetown on Exuma is 40 minutes. SEA: The Out Islands are served by a mail boat which leaves Nassau several times a week carrying mail and provisions to the islands. Passengers share facilities with the crew. Arrangements should be made through boat captains at Potters Cay. Air-conditioned ferries operate between Nassau, Eleuthera and Harbour Island. For further details contact Bahamas Fast Ferries (tel: 323 2166; fax: 322 8185; e-mail: info@bahamasferries.com; website: www.bahamasferries.com). ROAD: Traffic drives on the left. Bus: The jitney (minibus) provides inexpensive touring and they operate in the hubs of Freeport and Nassau. However, there is no public transport on any of the smaller islands. Paradise Island is served by a bus service which stops at every hotel. A horse-drawn ride, which takes three passengers, is available along the streets of Nassau. Taxis are readily available and are the main form of transport on the smaller islands. Taxis in New Providence are metered and the rates are government controlled. Car hire: Avis, Budget, Dollar and Hertz are represented at the airports and in Nassau and Freeport. Motor scooter hire is also available. Documentation: International driver’s licence. Drivers must be aged 21 or over. Bicycles can be rented by the day or by the week. Documentation: A national driving licence is valid for up to three months. Motorcycle riders and passengers are required to wear crash helmets. TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from Nassau to other major centres. Air Sea Central Andros, Andros 0.15 3.00 Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera 0.30 2.0* Freeport, Grand Bahama 0.30/0.45 12.00 Marsh Harbour, Abaco 0.45 11.00 George Town, Exuma 0.45 13.00 Travel times Note: * BY Bahamas Fast Ferries; all other travel times are by mail boat. Accommodation The Bahamas offer a wide selection of accommodation, ranging from small, private guest-houses where only lodging is available, to large luxury resorts, complete with swimming pools, private beaches, sailing craft, skindiving equipment, full dining facilities and nightclub entertainment. Many hotels belong to The Bahamas’ Hotel Association, PO Box N-7799, SG Hambrose Building, West Bay Street, Nassau (tel: 322 8382/4; fax: 502 4220; e-mail: info@bhahotels.com; website: www.bhahotels.com). Further information can be obtained from the Bahamas Tourist Office (see Contact Addresses section for details). Classifications: Many of the larger resorts offer accommodation on either a Modified American Plan (MAP) which consists of room, breakfast and dinner or European Plan (EP) which consists of room only. Accommodation is classified as Hotels, Colonies, Guest-Houses, Apartment Hotels or Apartment/ Cottage Units. HOTELS: Hotels vary in size and facilities. There are luxury hotels offering full porter, bell and room service, planned activities, sports, shops and beauty salons, swimming pools and entertainment; some have a private beach, golf course and tennis courts. Double and single rooms are often the same price. The small hotels are more informal and while activities are less extensive, they usually offer a dining room and bar. There are new resorts situated on New Providence Island, which has sporting facilities and luxury accommodation. Some hotels include service charge on the bill. COTTAGE COLONIES: Separate cottages or villas, with maid service, surrounding a main clubhouse with a bar and dining room – these are ‘Cottage Colonies’. They are not equipped with kitchenette or facilities for the preparation of meals, although some have facilities for preparing beverages and light snacks. They offer the facilities of a hotel, such as a private beach/swimming pool, and are designed to offer maximum privacy. GUEST-HOUSES: Often less expensive than hotels and located near downtown Nassau. Many offer European Plan only, but restaurants are plentiful. Rooms may be with or without a bath. The Out Islands hotels are small with a casual atmosphere. APARTMENT HOTELS: These consist of apartment units with complete kitchen and maid service. Other hotel facilities (ie swimming pool, sporting activities, restaurant and bar etc) are normally available on the premises. APARTMENT/COTTAGE UNITS: These have complete kitchen facilities and some have maid service. Generally, there are no restaurant facilities and tenants are required to prepare their own meals. A few are situated in landscaped estates with their own beach, much like the cottage colonies but without the main clubhouse. Others offer inexpensive accommodation in less spacious but comfortable surroundings. Restaurant and bar facilities are not available. CAMPING: Camping is not permitted on any of the islands of The Bahamas. Introduction There are more than 700 islands in The Bahamas, many of which have escaped the notice of tourists. The islands offer clear warm water and sandy beaches. Several are relatively large – see individual entries for a description of some of these – but others are tiny and uninhabited. All the larger islands offer a high standard of accommodation and leisure facilities. Nassau The capital of The Bahamas, Nassau, stands on New Providence Island. In the capital, tourists can shop in the bustling ‘straw market’, where local vendors create unique straw goods on the spot, or the more sophisticated shops in Bay Street. The 18th-century Fort Charlotte, on West Bay Street has a moat, open battlements, dungeons and a magnificent view of the harbour. The nearby Ardastra Gardens have tropical flowers and pink flamingoes. The Queen’s Staircase, at the top of Elizabeth Avenue, is a 40m (102ft) climb up steps carved into the limestone leading to Fort Fincastle and the Water Tower. Built in 1793, Fort Fincastle is in the shape of a ship’s bow. The Water Tower is the highest point on the island, 85m (216ft) above sea level. An elevator takes visitors to an observation deck for panoramic views. Many bars, restaurants and discos can be found along Cable Beach, a two and a half mile-long stretch of golden sand, located just three miles outside the city. Paradise Island boasts some beautiful beaches, a 14-acre aquarium, the island’s largest casino and a multitude of resorts. Sunbathing, diving, fishing and boating are the main daytime amusements on these islands. The Main Islands Grand Bahama Island: The main towns are Freeport/Lucaya, which has an airport, and West End. The island offers wide white sandy beaches, two casinos and good shopping facilities, entertainment and restaurants at the International Bazaar and Port Lucaya. The Rand Memorial Nature Centre offers an excellent nature walk and the Garden of the Groves has exotic flowers, waterfalls and colourful birds. The Out Islands: These stretch across a huge area of clear ocean and are fringed with hundreds of kilometres of white sandy beaches. The islands have resort facilities for groups of up to 200 people and are ideal for a relaxing, secluded holiday. Though secluded, the islands are not isolated. They are served by the national flag carrier, Bahamasair, from Nassau and Freeport. The main out islands are described below. Andros: The largest but probably the least known of the bigger islands. Laced with creeks and densely forested inland, the interior is still largely untouched and natural. Off the eastern shore is the 224km-long (140-mile) coral barrier reef – the world’s third longest. Beyond the reef, the ocean floor drops away steeply to a depth of more than 1.5km (1 mile); called the Tongue of the Ocean, deep-water fishing here is a major attraction. The Abacos: A crescent-shaped chain of islands to the north of New Providence. Many of the towns here have the atmosphere of New England fishing villages. The islands are particularly noted for their tradition of shipbuilding, the original 200-year-old practice of which can still be observed in Man-O-War Cay. Treasure Cay has an excellent golf course and here, as in the other major islands, there are excellent leisure facilities. Other attractions include Alton Lowe’s Museum in New Plymouth, Green Turtle Cay, Elbow Cay and Marsh Harbour, the bare-boat charter centre of the northern Bahamas. Scuba divers are drawn to Pelican Cay National Park, an underwater preserve where night dives can be arranged. Eleuthera: A narrow island 177km (110 miles) long but seldom more than 3km (2 miles) wide. Attractions include the Ocean Hole, Glass Window Bridge, Harbour Island (with Dunmore Town, one of the oldest settlements in The Bahamas), Spanish Wells, off the northern tip of the island, Preacher’s Cave and the underwater caves at Hatchet Bay. The scuba diving from Eleuthera is particularly superb. The Exumas: The waters surrounding this 160km-long (100-mile) chain of islands have been described by yachtsmen as being the finest cruising region in the world. There are also spectacular reefs protected by the Exuma Land and Sea Park. Inland, several once-great plantation houses now stand ruined and deserted, although the names of their owners still live on in many local family surnames. In April, Elizabeth Harbour is the setting for the Family Island Regatta. Cat Island: One of the eastern bulwarks of The Bahamas, Cat Island has 60m (200ft) cliffs (a rare height for The Bahamas), dense natural forest and pre-Columbian Arawak Indian caves. On Mount Alvernia is the Hermitage built by Father Jerome. The Cat Island Regatta takes place here during the August bank holiday. Bimini: Lying between Andros and Florida, Bimini is widely regarded as one of the best fishing centres in the world. Hemingway used to live in Alice Town in Blue Marlin Cottage, and mementoes of his life can be seen in the local museum. Berry Island: Popular with fishing enthusiasts and also noted for its serene landscapes and white sand beaches. Great Harbour Cay has a championship golf course and a marina. Scuba divers can admire the underwater rock formations and 5m (15ft) staghorn coral reefs off Mamma Rhoda Rock. Blue Lagoon Island: An exotic lagoon where visitors can enjoy close encounters with friendly bottle-nosed dolphins. Regular 45-minute sessions include an educational talk and about 30 minutes of swimming in the water with the dolphins. Long Island: This island certainly lives up to its name, being almost 100km (60 miles) long but rarely more than 5km (3 miles) wide. The landscape consists of rugged headlands dropping sharply down to the sea, fertile pastureland, rolling hills and sandy beaches washed by surf. At Conception Island divers can explore over 30 shipwrecks and tours are arranged from the Stella Maris resort complex at the north end of the island. The Long Island Regatta at Salt Pond takes place here in May. San Salvador: This was Columbus’ first landing place in the New World. Cockburn Town is the main settlement, which is not far from the spot where Columbus is said to have landed, although other sites also claim this distinction. Game fishing and diving are the most popular pastimes. Sport & Activities Watersports: These are exceptionally well catered for in The Bahamas: sailing, parasailing, diving, swimming, snorkelling and water-skiing are all widely available. The temperature of the sea rarely drops below 21°C (70°F) even in midwinter. Equipment is available from shops, hotels and marinas. Surfing can be done on Eleuthera and windsurfing in Nassau and on Grand Bahama. Sport fishing is popular throughout the islands. For further details on beaches and diving, see the Resorts & Excursions section. Ball sports: Tennis, squash, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, rugby, golf, American football and cricket are all popular. Excellent facilities exist for tennis and squash. Other: Eight 18-hole and one 9-hole golf courses are available and the islands are host to major tournaments. There are gyms and fitness centres which are open to visitors on Nassau/Paradise Island and on Grand Bahama Island. Good spa facilities and yoga tuition exist throughout the islands. A variety of new age therapies are available. Social Profile Food & Drink: There is a wide choice of restaurants and bars. Specialities include conch, grouper cutlets, baked crab and red snapper fillets in anchovy sauce. Fresh fruit is available from the Out Islands, including sweet pineapple, mango, breadfruit and papaya. Table service is usual in restaurants. Local drinks are based on rum. The local liqueur is Nassau Royal, served alone or in coffee. Nightlife: Hotels have bars and nightclubs. Beach parties and discotheques are organised regularly. Live entertainment includes calypso, goombay music and limbo dancing. Nightclubs are found in Nassau and Freeport. There are four casinos: one on Cable Beach, another on Paradise Island; on Grand Bahama there is a casino in Freeport and one in Lucaya. All casinos feature restaurants and live entertainment. Shopping: Special purchases include china, cutlery, leather, fabrics, spirits from Britain, Scandinavian glass and silver, Swiss watches, German and Japanese cameras and French perfume. Local products include all types of straw artefacts, sea-shell jewellery and woodcarvings. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Special Events: For a full list of special events, contact the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in The Bahamas during 2003: Jan 1 New Year’s Junkanoo Festival, Nassau. Jan 29 14th Annual Quilt Show, Nassau. Feb Nassau Race Week, Nassau/Paradise Island; Abaco Art Festival, Abaco Beach Resort. Mar Annual Red Cross Fair, Nassau; Annual Alton Lowe Art Museum. Apr Bahamas Billfish Tournament, South Abaco; Annual National Youth Choir Concert, Nassau; Annual Family Island Regatta, George Town. May Annual Bimini Festival of Champions (fishing competition), Bimini Islands; Annual Long Island Sailing Regatta. Jun Junkanoo in June Heritage Festival; Bahamas Summer Boating Fling, Abaco. Jul Cultural Showcase and Mini Tattoo; Annual Regatta Time in Abaco; Round the Great Turtle Race, Abaco. Aug Annual Bernie Butler Basra Swim Race, Grand Bahama Island; Bimini Family Fishing Tournament; Fox Hill Festival, Nassau Sept Bahamas Culinary Classic, Nassau; Great Abaco Triathlon, Abaco; All Abaco Sailing Regatta. Oct International Cultural Festival, Nassau/Paradise Island; National Eco-Tourism Awareness Month; North Eleuthera Sailing Regatta, Harbour Island. Nov Annual One Bahamas Music & Heritage Festival, Nassau/Paradise Island; Christmas Jolification, Nassau/Paradise Island; Annual Bahamas Wahoo Championships. Dec Christmas Sailing Regatta, Nassau/Paradise Island. Dec 26 Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade, Nassau/Grand Bahama Island. Social Conventions: The pace of life is generally leisurely. Informal wear is acceptable in the resorts with some degree of dressing up in the evenings, particularly for dining, dancing and casinos in Nassau or Freeport. Further from the main towns, dress is more casual although there is still a tendency to dress up at night. Small outposts like Green Turtle Cay, for example, will not require more than a shirt and long trousers. It is not acceptable to wear beachwear in towns. Tipping: Fifteen per cent is usual for most services including taxis. Some hotels and restaurants, however, include service charge on the bill. Business Profile Economy: One of the wealthiest countries in the Caribbean, The Bahamas depend heavily on their main industry of tourism. Other industries produce rum, oil, pharmaceuticals and salt. Transhipment through Freeport, which enjoys significant tax concessions, is another valuable source of revenue. The Bahamas also has a sizeable and growing offshore banking sector, although it has come under pressure as a result of competition from elsewhere and international efforts to tighten up on ‘tax havens’. In June 2000, the Bahamas were identified by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as one of 35 countries whose financial laws were inadequate to prevent large-scale tax evasion and money-laundering. The Government has since adopted some measures to meet the OECD’s requirements. Most foodstuffs and virtually all other products must be imported, mainly from the USA, although oil is purchased primarily from Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. Other than the USA, the UK and Puerto Rico are The Bahamas’ major trading partners. Business: Normal courtesies are observed, ie appointments are made and calling cards are exchanged. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700 and 0900-1730 (government offices). Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, PO Box N-665, Shirley Street, Nassau (tel: 322 2145; fax: 322 4649; e-mail: bahamaschamber@bahamas.net.bs; website: www.bahamasb2b.com/bahamaschamber). Conferences/Conventions: Conference venues can seat up to 2000 people. Information may be obtained from the Bahamas Tourist Office or the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism in Nassau (see Contact Addresses section). Climate The Bahamas are slightly cooler than other Caribbean island groups owing to their proximity to the continental North American cold air systems. Required clothing: Lightweight or tropical, cottons all year round. Light raincoats are useful during the wet season. History and Government History: Columbus was the first European to discover The Bahamas (and hence America) in 1492. San Salvador was his first landing place in the New World and Cockburn Town, the main settlement, is not far from the spot where Columbus is said to have landed (although other sites also claim this distinction). Columbus met the Lucayan Indians, the original inhabitants of the Bahamas. Subsequently, the islands were largely ignored by the Spanish and the first European settlement was established by a group of English religious dissidents, known as the Eleutheran Adventurers, in 1647. In 1717, the islands were formally colonised by Britain. They were briefly occupied by the Spanish in 1782 but returned to Britain the following year under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. Thereafter, the Bahamas became a haven for freed slaves and, subsequently, a favourite holiday destination for the wealthy. The post of Governor, representing the British monarch, became a remote but pleasant sinecure. The best-known incumbent was the Duke of Windsor, who had abdicated the British crown in 1936, and, in view of his pro-Nazi sympathies, was despatched to the territory in 1940 as Governor for the duration of World War II. In 1964 the Bahamas were granted internal self-government, followed by independence in 1973. Post-independence politics in the Bahamas have been dominated by (later Sir) Lynden Pindling, who had first been elected to the premiership as head of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) in 1967. The PLP, with Pindling as its head, was returned to office at each of five subsequent elections, despite increasingly numerous and detailed allegations of corruption and involvement in drug trafficking against Pindling and some of his associates. All were vehemently and repeatedly denied by Pindling. Pressure from the USA (which has leased two military bases on the islands since the 1950s) forced the Government to introduce more stringent measures against drug trafficking, including changes to the islands’ banking secrecy laws. The damage to Pindling’s reputation and the islands’ poor economic performance during the early 1990s led to the PLP’s rejection by the electorate at the August 1992 polls. The new premier was the leader of the long-time opposition Free National Movement (FNM), Hubert Ingraham. Once a minister under Pindling, Ingraham had resigned in 1984 in protest against Pindling. Ingraham was re-elected in 1997, but at the most recent poll in May 2002, the PLP, under the leadership of Perry Christie, resumed control of the Government with an overwhelming majority in the House of Assembly. Government: The bicameral Parliament, composed of a 16-member Senate, whose membership is appointed, and a 40-strong House of Assembly directly elected for a five-year term, has legislative powers. The British monarch has formal executive powers, vested in a Governor General, though in practice the Governor General almost invariably acts upon the advice of a Cabinet of Ministers appointed from the House of Assembly. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.