Bahamas Passport

[Country Name] The Commonwealth of The Bahamas

【 Area 】 The land area is 13878 square kilometers, consisting of over 700 islands (30 of which are inhabited) and more than 2400 coral reefs, with a total land area (including water) of 259000 square kilometers.

【 Population 】 402000 (2023), of which 90.6% are black, 4.7% are of European and American white descent, and 2.1% are of mixed race. The official language is English. Most residents believe in Christianity.

【 Capital 】 Nassau.

Independence Day: July 10th.

[Head of State] King Charles III of England. The governor is its representative. Current Governor Cynthia PRATT (female) will take office on September 1, 2023.

The Bahamas is located in the southeastern part of Florida and northeastern waters of Cuba in the United States, extending from northwest to southeast, with a length of 1223 kilometers and a width of 96 kilometers. Composed of over 700 islands and more than 2400 coral reefs, 30 of which are inhabited. It belongs to subtropical climate, with August being the hottest month and an average temperature of 30 ℃; 1. February is the coldest month with an average temperature of 20 ℃. The annual average temperature is 23.5 ℃. The annual average precipitation is 1000 millimeters.

Originally inhabited by Native Americans. In 1492, Columbus made his first voyage to the Americas and first arrived at San Salvador Island (Watling Island) in the central Bahamas. The first group of European immigrants arrived in 1647. It was occupied by the British in 1649. In 1717, Britain declared the Bahamas as its colony. In 1783, Britain and Spain signed the Treaty of Versailles, officially establishing the archipelago as a British territory. Internal autonomy was implemented in January 1964. On July 10, 1973, it gained independence and became a member of the Commonwealth.

[Administrative divisions] The country is divided into 31 districts and 19 island groups, with local commissioners stationed on major islands such as New Providence (where the capital Nassau is located), Grand Bahama, Andros, Abaco, and Eleuthera.

Pakistan adopts the political system of Britain and implements a constitutional monarchy. After independence in 1973, the Progressive Liberal Party and the Free National Movement Party alternated in power, and the political situation remained stable for a long time. On September 16, 2021, the opposition Progressive Liberal Party won the general election, with party leader Philip Edward Davis appointed as Prime Minister. At present, the political situation in Pakistan is stable.

The Prime Minister is the head of government. The current government was formed in September 2021. The main cabinet members include: Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Philip Edward Davis, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investment and Aviation Isaac Chester COOPER, Minister of Foreign Affairs Frederick A. Mitchell, Minister of Education, Technology and Vocational Training Glenys Hanna Martin, Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting Myles Laroda, Minister of Immigration and National Insurance Alfred Michael Sears, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Leo Ryan PINDER, Minister of Economic Affairs Michael Brian Halki Michael Brian Halkitis, Michael R. DARVILLE, Minister of Health and Health, Clay Glennford SWEETING, Minister of Engineering and Outer Islands Affairs, Keith BELL, Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal, Wayne R. MUNROE, Minister of National Security, Vaughn Miller, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Jobeth COLEBY-DAVIS, Minister of Energy and Transport, Mario BOWLEG, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Ginger MOXEY, Minister of Daba Island Affairs Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Jomo Chaka CAMPBELL, Minister of Labor and Public Services Pia Glover Role, and others.

The current Constitution came into effect on July 10, 1973. The constitution stipulates that the Bahamas is a sovereign democratic country that must guarantee the basic human rights and freedoms of its citizens.

The parliament is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives, with a term of 5 years. The Senate is composed of 16 members appointed by the Governor General, with 9 nominated by the Prime Minister, 4 nominated by the opposition leader, and 3 proposed through consultation between the Prime Minister and the opposition leader. The House of Representatives is composed of 39 members elected by universal suffrage. The current House of Representatives was formed in October 2021, with the Progressive Liberal Party holding 32 seats and the Free National Movement Party holding 7 seats. Senate Speaker Julie LaShell ADDERLEY (female) and House Speaker Patricia DEVEAUX (female) were both elected in October 2021.

The judicial system includes the Supreme Court, appellate courts, and local courts. Both criminal and civil cases are accepted. The Privy Council of the United Kingdom is the final court of appeal.

[Political Party]

(1) The Progressive Liberal Party, the ruling party. Established in October 1953. In July 1973, he led the Bahamas to achieve independence. Mainly representing the interests of the small and medium-sized bourgeoisie. After independence, the party continued to govern until 1992 and held power from 2002 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2017. He won the election again in September 2021. Party leader Philip Davis.

(2) Free National Movement, opposition party. Established in 1972. Composed of lawmakers who split from the Progressive Liberal Party and the United Bahamian Party. The leadership is mostly composed of the middle class and intellectuals. He has been in power from 1992 to 2002, 2007 to 2012, and 2017 to 2021. The party leader is Michael Pintard.

(3) The Coalition of Independents, an opposition party. Composed of personnel from different political parties and independent candidates. Established before the 2021 general election, although it did not win any seats in the election, it received 6.64% of the vote and became the third party in Pakistan. The party leader is Lincoln Bain

(4) Democratic National Alliance, opposition party. Founded in April 2011 by Branville MCCARTNEY, a former member of parliament and Minister of Immigration for the Liberal Democratic Movement, he did not win a seat in the 2012, 2017, and 2021 elections.

There are also political parties such as the Bahamas Democratic Movement, which have relatively little influence in the political life of the country.

[Important Person] Cynthia Pratt: Governor. Born on November 5, 1945 in the Bahamas, graduated from St. Augustine College in North Carolina, USA with a Bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education. Pu has rich professional experience, once worked as a nurse, then transferred to work in the education system, and founded the Liba Women's and Youth Sports Club, which is deeply loved by Bahamians. Appointed as Governor on September 1, 2023.

Philip Davis: Prime Minister. Born on June 7th, 1951 in the Bahamas. I have studied at St. John's College in the Bahamas and am a practicing lawyer. Formerly served as the Chairman of the Bar Council of Pakistan and a member of the Caribbean Community Legal Education Committee. Elected as a Member of Parliament since 2002, elected as Deputy Leader of the Progressive Liberal Party in 2009, served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Urban Development from 2012 to 2017, elected as Party Leader in 2017, and led the party to win the general election in September 2021, becoming Prime Minister.

Economy: Pakistan is the wealthiest country in the Caribbean region, with a per capita GDP second only to the United States and Canada among Western Hemisphere countries. The tourism and finance industries are the pillar industries of the national economy, while the shipping service industry is an important sector of the national economy. In recent years, the Pakistani government has proposed a strategy to achieve diversified economic development, vigorously attracting foreign investment, and focusing on the development of industry and agriculture, achieving certain progress. In September 2019, the Bahamas was hit by the strongest hurricane in history, Hurricane Dorian, resulting in economic losses of up to $7 billion. Since 2020, the COVID-19 has once had a serious impact on Pakistan's economy, and the tourism industry has suffered a heavy blow. In the past two years, the economy has begun to recover. The main economic data for 2023 are as follows:

Gross Domestic Product: 13.188 billion US dollars

Per capita Gross Domestic Product: 32166 US dollars

Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate: 2.6%

Unemployment rate: 8.8%

Currency Name: Bahamian Dollar

Exchange rate: 1 US dollar=1 Bahamian dollar

(Main sources: International Monetary Fund, Bahamas National Bureau of Statistics)

Abundant marine resources. There are oil, natural gas, salt, etc. There is limited arable land, insufficient freshwater, and limited agricultural resources.

The manufacturing industry includes logging, small boat manufacturing, cement production, food processing, beverages, brewing, handicrafts, and pharmaceuticals, mainly concentrated in the free trade zone of Grand Bahama Island. To implement the strategy of economic diversification, the Pakistani government encourages the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and has formulated preferential policies for this purpose.

The Ba soil layer is thin, the soil is barren, and agriculture is underdeveloped. Only a small amount of vegetables and fruits are planted, and the main crops include sugarcane, tomatoes, bananas, corn, pineapples, beans, etc. 80% of food is imported, with some vegetables and citrus fruits being self-sufficient and exported in small quantities. Meat production basically meets domestic demand. The Pakistani government implements protective policies for agricultural and fruit products.

The Bashai area is one of the world's important fishing grounds, mainly producing lobsters, conches, groupers, marlins, swordfish, and tuna, among which lobsters account for about 60% of the total aquatic production.

The tourism industry is the largest pillar industry of the Pakistani national economy. The United States is its main source market, accounting for over 80% of inbound tourists, followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe. There are approximately 15000 hotel rooms across the country. Bahama Resort and Atlantis Hotel are world-renowned. In 2023, the tourism industry in Pakistan will experience a strong recovery, receiving over 9.65 million visitors throughout the year, making it the year with the highest number of visitors in history.

The financial services industry is the second pillar industry of Pakistan's national economy. Due to its proximity to the United States, stable domestic political and economic situation, strict bank secrecy laws, no direct taxes or foreign exchange controls, Pakistan has become an important offshore financial center worldwide. According to research by the International Monetary Fund, the assets of Pakistan's offshore financial services industry are estimated to be $942.5 billion, ranking fifth in the world's offshore financial services industry.

The shipping service industry is the third largest economic sector in Pakistan, with the world's third largest registered merchant ships, over 1400 ships, and a tonnage of over 50 million tons.

Transportation: Air and sea transportation are relatively developed.

Highway: The total length of the highway is 3350 kilometers, of which about 966 kilometers are on New Providence Island, and the rest are mainly distributed on Eleuthera Island, Daba Island, Long Island, and Carter Island.

Water transportation: Ba is one of the shipping centers in the Caribbean region, with two main ports: Nassau and Freeport.

Air freight: There are regular flights to countries such as the United States, Canada, Europe, and Cuba. There are two main international airports (Nassau and Freeport) that can accommodate large passenger aircraft; There are also 55 domestic airports with flights operating between major islands.

Government revenue mainly comes from value-added tax, accounting for nearly 50% of total revenue. In the fiscal year 2023/2024, Pakistan's fiscal revenue is expected to reach 3.31 billion US dollars, with fiscal expenditures of 3.085 billion US dollars (main source: Bahamas Ministry of Finance).

Foreign trade: The main commodities have long relied on imports, with huge trade deficits in goods every year, mainly relying on tourism revenue to maintain international balance of payments.

In 2023, the trade volume of goods in Pakistan reached 4.92 billion US dollars, of which imports amounted to 4.19 billion US dollars. Ba mainly exports seafood, chemical products, pharmaceuticals, rum, salt, imports food, consumer goods, machinery and equipment, and automobiles. The main trading partners are the United States, Canada, the European Union, Japan, China, etc. (Source: Bahamas National Bureau of Statistics)

Economic groups

(1) The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, address: Shirley St.， POB N-655。 Phone: 001-242-322-2145.

(2) Bahamas Agricultural and Industrial Corp., address: BAIC Bldg， East Bay St.， POB N-4940， Nassau。 Phone: 001-242-322-3740.

The per capita GDP of Pakistan is second only to the United States and Canada in the Americas, but the wealth gap is severe. The household homeownership rate is 60%. In 2020, the average life expectancy of Ba people was 75.9 years, with a population growth rate of 0.84%.

The Royal Defence Force (Coast Guard) is the only security force in the Bahamas, consisting of approximately 1000 personnel, responsible for national security, port and navigation safety, disaster relief, drug enforcement, and repatriation of illegal immigrants.

Cultural Education: Primary school 6-year program, secondary school 6-year program. Public schools provide free compulsory education for children aged 5-14. The enrollment rate of school-age children is 98% for primary schools and 89% for secondary schools. Many students attend local universities in the Bahamas, with the University of the Bahamas being the highest institution of education in the country. The University of the West Indies has a tourism branch in Pakistan.

The main newspapers and magazines include The Nassau Guardian and The Tribune.

Bahamas Television (ZNS): State owned, established in 1977, and owned by the Bahamas National Broadcasting Corporation.

Main online media: Eyewitness News, Our News Bahamas.

We pursue a foreign policy of peaceful cooperation and respect for the sovereignty of all countries. Advocate for the principles of national self-determination, independence, territorial integrity, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and advocate for international cooperation and peaceful resolution of disputes. Emphasize diplomacy to serve economic development. It is a member of the United Nations, the Caribbean Community, the Association of Caribbean States, the Organization of American States, the Commonwealth, and the Non Aligned Movement.