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1 1 (June 17, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govdfzy0001 and id is 1 raw text is: The Bahamas: An Overview Updated June 17,2020 The Bahamas, a Caribbean nation of some 700islands off the southeast coast of the United States, has been a stable parliamentary democracy since its independence fromthe United Kingdom(UK) in 1973. The country's bicameral legislature has a 39-seat House of Assembly directly elected for five-year terms and a 16-member appointed Senate. Since independence, two politicalparties have alternated in power, the center-left Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and the center-right Free National Movement (FNM). The PLP was formed in 1953 as an oppositionpartyto the United Bahamian Party (UBP), which governed the Bahamas when the country was under British rule. In 1967, the PLP won control o fthe government and oversaw the country's independence fromthe UK. It ruled continuously from 1967 until 1992 under the leadership of Lynden Pindling, commonly referred to as the fatherofthe nation. The FNM was formed in 1971 by former members of the UBP and dissidents fromthe PLP. Under the leadership of Hubert Ingraham, the FNM won the 1992 general elections, governing until 2002. The PLP returned to power in 2002 underthe leadershipof Perry Christie, lost in 2007 to the FNM (still led by Hubert Ingraham), and won again in 2012, with Perry Christie as prime minister. Current Prime Minister Hubert Minnis led the FNM to victory in the May 2017 elections, capturing 35 House of Assembly seats comparedto 4forthe PLP. At the outset of 2017, many observers thought it was likely that the PLP underChristie would retain power, largely becauseof disarray within the FNM. Once the election was called, however, observers predicted the elections would be close, in large part becauseofthe country's stagnanteconomy. Ultimately, the economy along with rising crime and controversies associatedwith the Chinese-financed Baha Marresort in the capitalof Nassau led to the PLP's thrashing at thepolls. Over the past year, the Minnis government has faced two enormous challenges: recovery and reconstruction in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, and the current challenge of contending with thehealth and economic effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In September 2019, Hurricane Dorian caused widespread damage to the northwestern Bahamian islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama, with 74 confirmed deaths andmany more mis sing. An Inter-American DevelopmentBank-led assessment estimated $3.4 billion in damages andlosses. COVID-19 is having a significant economic impact on the Bahamas. As of June 15,2020, the Bahamas reported 103 cases and 11 deaths fromthe virus. Before the pandemic, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimted an economic contraction of 0.6% for 2020, but becauseofthe shutdown of economic activity in response to the pandemic, the IMF is now forecasting a contraction of 8.3%. On June 1, 2020, the IMF approved $250million in financing for the Bahamas to help it meet urgent balance-of-payments needs stemming from the pandemic. Figure I. Map of the Bahamas ~>*....... Mau: ............ . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...,........'S Source:.CR5. he.Bahamas at a:Glance Popultion.8,000(20..,.IMF) Area.(square.miles):.5,359,.slightly.smaller.than .Connecticut.(CIA) Source: IntRnainlMntrSFn.I )etrlItliec The servce-ase aamlanconmepoynebu hAlffea cunty'ils: worfoce.Th secgtor ssetallshut down in responetothepandemctiut (eIAha) ea aSlimied: Ineonotiopenigoner une I ) lCforriaIteboatsc Agnc...).U iedNainsD.eo met.rgrme.U.D) Torimndr.aedcnsrctonae.moran.ecos.o .........se.ah.inecnoy.e plyngabu ............s okfre.T e e to ssnial s u don......s.t.hepadmi,.u.teBaamsbea a imt.....i.o..n.n..n 5 o piat oas A' 'k '-.* *J-g.~*-N~*

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