ial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry
CHRISTIE]; Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM]

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Arlington Griffith BUTLER
chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
mailing address: American Embassy, NAS/STATE 10-1006, P.O. Box 599009,
Miami, FL 33159-9009
telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206
FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Sidney WILLIAMS
embassy: Queen Street, Nassau
mailing address: Local or Express Mail address: P. O. Box N-8197,
Nassau; American Embassy, Nassau; Stateside address: American Embassy,
P.O. Box 9009, Miami, FL 33159; Pouch address: Nassau, Department of
State, Washington, DC 20521-3370 (pouch)
telephone: [1] (809) 322-1181, 328-2206
FAX: [1] (809) 356-0222

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top),
gold, and aquamarine with a black equilateral triangle based on the
hoist side

@Bahamas, The:Economy

Economy-overview: The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an
economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism
alone accounts for more than 50% of GDP and directly or indirectly
employs 40% of the archipelago's labor force. Moderate growth in
tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts,
and residences led to an increase of the country's GDP by an estimated
3.5% in 1997. Manufacturing and agriculture together contribute less
than 10% of GDP and show little growth despite government incentives
aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run will
depend heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector and continued
income growth in the US, which accounts for the majority of tourist
visitors.

GDP: purchasing power parity-$5.36 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate: 3.5% (1997 est.)

GDP-per capita: purchasing power parity-$19,400 (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector:
agriculture: 3%
industry: 5%
services: 92% (1997 est.)

Inflation rate-consumer price index: 0.4% (1997)

Labor force: