Best Deals In The Caribbean - Bahamas
The largest island is Andros Island. The Biminis are just
50 miles (80 km) east of Florida. The island of Grand Bahama
is home to the second largest city in the country, Freeport.
The island of Abaco is to its east. The most southeastern island
is Inagua. Other notable islands include Eleuthera, Cat Island,
San Salvador, Acklins, Crooked Island, Exuma and Mayaguana.
Nassau is the capital and largest city, located on New Providence.
The islands have a subtropical climate, moderated by the Gulf
Stream.
In the southeast, the Caicos Islands and the Turks islands,
and three more extensive submarine features called Mouchoir
Bank, Silver Bank, and Navidad Bank, are geographically a continuation
of the Bahamas, but not part of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
Bahamian culture is a hybrid of African, European influences.
Perhaps its most famous expression is a rhythmic form of music
called junkanoo. Aside from the Junkanoo, other indigenous
forms of music include rake and scrape, calypso, and a unique
form of hymnal, known internationally through the music of
Joseph Spence, who is now deceased. Marching bands are also
an important part of life, playing at funerals, weddings and
other ceremonial events.
In the less developed out islands - sometimes called "family
islands" - crafts include basketry made from palm fronds.
This material, commonly called "straw", is also plaited
into hats and bags that are popular tourist items today.
Regattas are important social events in many family island
settlements. They usually feature one or more days of sailing
by old-fashioned work boats, as well as an onshore festival.
Some settlements have festivals associated with the traditional
crop or food of that area, such as the "pineapple fest" in
Gregory Town, Eleuthera or the "crab fest" on Andros.
Other significant traditions include story telling and the
practice of Obeah.
The Bahamas is an independent country and member of the Commonwealth
of Nations. Political and legal traditions closely follow those
of the United Kingdom.
The Queen of the United Kingdom is the ceremonial head of
state, represented by a Bahamian governor-general. Prime Minister
is the head of government and is the leader of the party with
the most seats in the elected House of Assembly. The upper
house - or Senate - is appointed. Executive power is exercised
by the cabinet. Legislative power is vested in both the government
and the two chambers of parliament.
The party system is dominated by the centre-left Progressive
Liberal Party and the centre-right Free National Movement.
A handful of splinter parties have been unable to win election
to parliament, despite a feeling among many Bahamians that
both the FNM and the PLP are strikingly similar in their approach.
These parties include the Bahamas Democratic Movement, the
Coalition for Democratic Reform and the Bahamian Nationalist
Party.
Constitutional safeguards include freedom of speech, press,
worship, movement, and association. The Bahamas is a member
of the Caribbean Community. The Judiciary is independent of
the executive and the legislature. Jurisprudence is based on
English common law.
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