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