Bahamas

The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is an English-speaking country consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets (rocks). It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) and the Caribbean, northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States (nearest to the state of Florida). Its total land area is almost 14 000 km²

The Bahamas has an estimated population of 330,000.

Its capital is Nassau.

Originally inhabited by Arawakan Taino people, the Bahamas were the site of Columbus' first landfall in the New World in 1492.

Economic activity is mostly based on tourism and financial services. A relatively high degree of economic freedom has made the Bahamas one of the most prosperous countries in the Caribbean region. The financial sector’s domestic and offshore activities contribute around 15 percent of GDP. The economy has a very competitive tax regime. The government derives its revenue from import tariffs, license fees, property and stamp taxes, but there is no income tax, corporate tax, capital gains tax, value-added tax (VAT), or wealth tax. Payroll taxes fund social insurance benefits. In the most recent year, overall tax revenue as a percentage of GDP was 21.8 per cent.

The closest island to the United States is Bimini, which is also known as the gateway to the Bahamas. The island of Abaco is to the east of Grand Bahama. The southeasternmost island is Inagua. The largest island is Andros Island. Other inhabited islands include Eleuthera, Cat Island, Long Island, San Salvador Island, Acklins, Crooked Island, Exuma and Mayaguana. Nassau, the Bahamas capital city, lies on the island of New Providence. All the islands are low and flat, with ridges that usually rise no more than 15 to 20 m (49 to 66 ft). The highest point in the country is Mount Alvernia, formerly called Como Hill, which has an altitude of 63 metres (210 ft) on Cat Island.

To the southeast, the Turks and Caicos 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.

Education

Higher Education

College of the Bahamas

The College of The Bahamas is a publicly funded institution of higher education. In just over a quarter of a century, it has established itself as a leading tertiary institution and one of the region’s most highly respected. It operates through each of its seven major campuses/centres, including the Oakes Field Campus, The Bahamas Tourism Training Centre, The Grosvenor Close Campus, The Centre for Entrepreneurship, The Centre for Continuing Education and Extension Services, The Northern Bahamas Campus and The Exuma Centre. The College also has a presence on several of the other Family Islands, including Andros, Abaco and Eleuthera.

For more see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_of_the_Bahamas and the official web site http://www.cob.edu.bs

The Centre for Continuing Education and Extension Services develops innovative educational opportunities that meet the needs of the community. Professional opportunities of special interest to business and industry, such as industry-specific professional certifications, are provided, as well as academic upgrading for traditional age students and personal development courses. It offers a wide variety of courses throughout The Bahamas. These include Family Island and Distance Education. The Centre has study centres on Abaco, Andros, Eleuthera, Exuma and Grand Bahama.

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