The Bahamas: a slice of the British Commonwealth in paradise
The Commonwealth of the Bahamas is located in the West Indies. The country is made up of an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. This means that it is made up of a series of islands, which connect to the mainland, hence the plural name.
The Bahamas was a British colony from 1718 and then became an independent country in 1973, while remaining part of the Commonwealth of Nations. They keep Queen Elizabeth II as their monarch and still sing God Save the Queen as their national anthem. The main language is English, although some speak variants of English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
The capital city is Nassau, which is located on New Providence Island, although Andros Island is the largest of the group. The city was a haven for pirates who sailed the Caribbean, including the notorious Blackbeard, and several nations fought over it, notably Spain and England. The entire region was notorious in legend for pirate activity, and is used as the setting for many books and movies on the subject.
The pirates even upset the government of the area at one point by declaring a lawless “Republic of Privateers” and looting Charlestown, which would later become Nassau. The islands had been in the hands of the Spanish and had nearly destroyed the native population of Arawak Indians. The British stopped much of the trouble when they made the islands a British crown colony.
The islands are mostly Christian, with a strong inclination towards the Protestant church, other denominations being present but in a minority. A very small minority practice Obeah and Voodoo, both similar to each other, as spiritualist folk beliefs.
The Prime Minister of the Bahamas is Perry Gladstone Christie, born in 1944 and the nation’s third Prime Minister. Christie has won awards for his efforts in urban renewal and community policing, though he, too, has been outraged by his political tactics.
The main industry in the Bahamas is tourism, with the island being a mass tourist spot for most Western countries. The tropical location and mysterious history make it an ideal location and a popular spot for couples, families, and parties.