THE BAHAMASTHE BAHAMAS

20112011

ContentsContents1. ORIENTATION1. ORIENTATION2. HISTORY AND ETHNI2. HISTORY AND ETHNICC RELATIONS RELATIONS3. POLITICAL LIFE3. POLITICAL LIFE4. FOOD4. FOOD5. ECONOMY5. ECONOMY6. GENDER ROLES AND STATUSES6. GENDER ROLES AND STATUSES7. SOCIALIZATION7. SOCIALIZATION8. RELIGION8. RELIGION99. SECULAR CELEBRATIONS. SECULAR CELEBRATIONS

The BahamasThe Bahamas

The name The name Bahamas derives Bahamas derives from the Spanish from the Spanish baja baja ("shallow") ("shallow") and and mar mar ("sea").("sea"). Motto: Motto: "Forward, Upward, Onward, Together" "Forward, Upward, Onward, Together"

Location and GeographyLocation and Geography The Bahamas lie in the Atlantic off the The Bahamas lie in the Atlantic off the

eastern coast of Florida and extend for eastern coast of Florida and extend for over over 700 700 miles, roughly parallel to miles, roughly parallel to Cuba. Cuba.

The The nation consisting of 29 nation consisting of 29 islandsislands, , 700700 cayscays, and 2,, and 2,400400 is islets lets (rocks)(rocks)..

The land area isThe land area is 5,382 5,382 square square miles.miles. TheThe capital is capital is Nassau.Nassau. The The climate is subtropicalclimate is subtropical..

DemographyDemography Population estimates range from Population estimates range from

275,000 to 325,000275,000 to 325,000.. 85% 85% African BahamiansAfrican Bahamians, 12% , 12%

European BahamiansEuropean Bahamians, 3% , 3% Asians and Asians and Hispanic.Hispanic.

LanguageLanguage English is the primary and official English is the primary and official

languagelanguage.. Standard English" among the urban Standard English" among the urban

elite elite "Bahamian English" among the poorer "Bahamian English" among the poorer

people. people. There areThere are some some differences in differences in

vocabulary and pronunciation from vocabulary and pronunciation from island to island. island to island.

HistoryHistory (1) (1) The first residents were the Lukku-The first residents were the Lukku-

Cairis, or LucayansCairis, or Lucayans.. Christopher Columbus made his first Christopher Columbus made his first

hemispheric landfall in the Bahamas hemispheric landfall in the Bahamas and claimed them for Spainand claimed them for Spain..

Many Lucayans were taken to Many Lucayans were taken to Hispaniola and Cuba as slavesHispaniola and Cuba as slaves and and the the rest died of newly imported diseasesrest died of newly imported diseases..

HistoryHistory (2) (2) The Spanish never settled the BahamasThe Spanish never settled the Bahamas.. TThe region became a he region became a ““havenhaven”|”|for for

piratespirates.. The British claimed the islands in 1629 The British claimed the islands in 1629

and started a community on Eleuthera and started a community on Eleuthera in 1648. in 1648.

During the During the American war of American war of independencyindependency, the islands were a target , the islands were a target for American naval forcesfor American naval forces..

HistoryHistory (3) (3) InIn 1 1782, following the British defeat at 782, following the British defeat at

YorktownYorktown, a Spanish fleet appeared off the , a Spanish fleet appeared off the coast of Nassaucoast of Nassau..

In 1783 after In 1783 after American independence, American independence, some some LoyalistsLoyalists moved to The Bahamas moved to The Bahamas and and established established British governmentBritish government..

During the 1830 emancipation was legally During the 1830 emancipation was legally mandated. mandated.

The islands remained a British colony until The islands remained a British colony until independence was peacefully attained in independence was peacefully attained in 1973. 1973.

National IdentityNational Identity National culture was forged National culture was forged

through the interactions of Britishthrough the interactions of British traditionstraditions::

1.1. English language English language 2.2. ProtestantismProtestantism3.3. MMarket economyarket economy and Europeanand European

technology.technology.

Political Life Political Life

The The Bahamas is a parliamentary Bahamas is a parliamentary democracy with two main parties, democracy with two main parties, the Free National Movement and the the Free National Movement and the Progressive Liberal PartyProgressive Liberal Party..

The British monarch is recognized as The British monarch is recognized as the head of state and is represented the head of state and is represented by the governor-generalby the governor-general..

EExecutive power is vested in the xecutive power is vested in the prime ministerprime minister..

National flagNational flag The colors The colors

embodied in the embodied in the design of the design of the Bahamian flag Bahamian flag symbolise the symbolise the image and image and aspirations of the aspirations of the people of The people of The BahamasBahamas..

FoodFood

Typical meals Typical meals consists from fconsists from fruits ruits and vegetables, meat or fish, bread, and vegetables, meat or fish, bread, and riceand rice..

The two national dishes are conch, The two national dishes are conch, an easily collected sea snail, rice, an easily collected sea snail, rice, and peas. and peas.

Holiday meals tend to center on Holiday meals tend to center on local fish or conchlocal fish or conch..

Economy (1)Economy (1) Tourism accounts Tourism accounts

for about half the for about half the gross domestic gross domestic product and nearly product and nearly half of all jobs. half of all jobs.

Economy (2)Economy (2) Commercial farming of cotton, Commercial farming of cotton,

pineapples, and sisal has had little pineapples, and sisal has had little success. success.

Commercial fishing is moderately Commercial fishing is moderately importantimportant..

Cottage industries that produce straw, Cottage industries that produce straw, shells, and wooden items cater to local shells, and wooden items cater to local residents and tourists. residents and tourists.

Goods such as pharmaceuticals, rum, Goods such as pharmaceuticals, rum, crawfish and cement are exportedcrawfish and cement are exported..

Gender Roles and Statuses Gender Roles and Statuses Legally, women have equal status Legally, women have equal status

under the lawunder the law.. MMen tend to dominate the higher-en tend to dominate the higher-

income and higher status positions in income and higher status positions in the public and private sectorsthe public and private sectors..

Urban women have many career Urban women have many career opportunities and are not opportunities and are not discriminated against in obvious waysdiscriminated against in obvious ways..

Socialization (1) Socialization (1) Infants are cared for by their mothersInfants are cared for by their mothers.. Both bottle feeding and breast-feeding Both bottle feeding and breast-feeding

are acceptedare accepted.. The literacy rate is about 90 percent, and The literacy rate is about 90 percent, and

public education is available through local public education is available through local elementary schools and regional elementary schools and regional secondary schoolssecondary schools..

Private schools in Nassau are available to Private schools in Nassau are available to wealthier families. wealthier families.

Socialization (2) Socialization (2) Since independence, higher Since independence, higher

education has been stressededucation has been stressed.. The College of the Bahamas in The College of the Bahamas in

Nassau and numerous technical Nassau and numerous technical schools provide higher educationschools provide higher education..

FForeign universities are popular oreign universities are popular among the more affluent. among the more affluent.

MarriageMarriage Marriages are monogamous. Marriages are monogamous. Church weddings follow brief Church weddings follow brief

engagements. engagements. Both partners are expected to Both partners are expected to

contribute financially to a marriagecontribute financially to a marriage..

Religion (1)Religion (1) Most residents are churchMost residents are church going going

ChristiansChristians:: 80 percent are Protestant80 percent are Protestant.. 20 percent are Roman Catholic. 20 percent are Roman Catholic. Most rituals are Christian services and Most rituals are Christian services and

are held in churches. are held in churches. BBaptisms and revival meetings are held aptisms and revival meetings are held

outdoorsoutdoors.. Large congregations are led by ordained Large congregations are led by ordained

ministers and priestsministers and priests..

Religion (2)Religion (2) The dead are placed in simple pine The dead are placed in simple pine

coffins, and wakes are held at home. coffins, and wakes are held at home. Funerals are held in churches, and Funerals are held in churches, and

burials are in churchyards or public burials are in churchyards or public cemeteries. cemeteries.

It is believed that souls go to heaven It is believed that souls go to heaven or hellor hell..

Secular Celebrations Secular Celebrations New Year's Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Good Friday, Easter, Easter, Whit Monday (seven weeks after Easter), Whit Monday (seven weeks after Easter), Labor Day (first Friday in June), Labor Day (first Friday in June), Independence Day (10 July), Independence Day (10 July), Emancipation Day (first Monday in August), Emancipation Day (first Monday in August), Discovery Day (12 October), Discovery Day (12 October), Christmas Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day (26 December). Boxing Day (26 December).

Thank you!Thank you!