Abstract
The paper presents a narrative of what a traveler to the Bahamas can reasonably expect to see and experience vis-a-vis culture and food. In particular, the paper describes the Bahamas' Junkanoo Festival and time is also be devoted to exploring the rich mosaic of art, music and dance that makes the Bahamas one of the most enjoyable tourist escapes anywhere in the world. Finally, the paper concludes with a look at the archipelago's revered cuisine - a sumptuous banquet that has enticed visitors to the region for as long as anyone can remember. In the final analysis, what emerges from this brief narrative is an appreciation of the richness and vibrancy that makes the Bahamas so different from almost anywhere else.

Tags:cuisine, culture, bahamas

Abstract
Describes the history and development of the system. Discusses the Bahamas's informal banking practice prior to establishment of formal institutions, the emergence of foreign-owned international banking in the 1930s, and the responsibilities of the Central Bank of the Bahamas.

From the Paper
"This research reviews the banking system in Commonwealth of the Bahamas (referred to in the remainder of this review as the Bahamas). The major topic area..."

Abstract
This paper looks at Bahamian music, or Junkanoo music, as a unique cultural artifact from the Bahamas. This type of music is considered to be part of Caribbean music as a large grouping, but is specific to the islands of the Bahamas. The paper looks at how the main influences on Junkanoo music seem to be African and European influences, which would make sense considering the nation's history. The paper also discusses how Junkanoo music is not a popular import, like reggae or salsa and how it is based more on the past and tradition.

From the Paper
"One has to think about colonialism and its influence on Junkanoo music as well. Because Junkanoo from this perspective can be seen as a sort of reaction against British colonialism, because it seeks to fuse an African tradition, and also perhaps native tribal traditions, mixing song, dance, and an evolving narrative. Thinking of a pre-colonial Caribbean and defining it as so is difficult given the current perspective of colonialism, which also involves such concepts as cultural stereotyping and the elimination of native cultures and societies. And no one would deny that Junkanoo also has its share of European influences. Many of the instruments used in this type of music have an improvisational nature as well, such as using old barrels as a way of making percussion. There are elements of found art objects and the notion of taking advantage of what is at hand to make the music. "

Tags:tradition, culture, colonialism

Abstract
This paper explains that the Turks and Caicos Island nation boast the quiet solitude of hundreds of miles of undeveloped beaches, which promote a strong trade in eco-tourism, and an archaeological past, which dates back thousands of years. The author points out that the recently developed Holland America Line cruise center, which has changed the landscape of Grand Turk Island, similar to the situation in other Caribbean destinations, does not preserve the natural settings nor add sufficiently to the revenue of the nation to justify the disruption of the environment. The paper stresses that creating a system based on eco-friendly practices, including limiting embankments and increasing time spent in various locations, is essential to the tourist industry in this area. The paper includes several long quotations.

From the Paper
"Robertsen in a pioneering call for research on the subject of the social, economic and environmental impact of the fast growing cruise industry states that the Turk & Caicos islands were being threatened by the development of this center (in 2001 before it was cemented). The evidence associated with many cruise centers is difficult to judge based on the fact that there is limited reporting and only marginal amounts of scholarly research on the subject. In trade magazines, the issue is largely glossed over as a point of great growth and expansion, ..."

Tags:undeveloped, cruise, cement, belize, extreme

From the Paper
"Tax Havens Around The World
Around the world there are at least 50 governments and municipalities that are known as "tax havens" because of the laws that affect taxes on income and earnings held in the offshore banks. An article in The European describes the situation like this. "Today's typical tax haven is no longer the palm-fringed island bathed in year-round glorious sunshine. It is more likely to be the city-centre skyscraper of a worldwide consultancy firm, set in a country that has skilled professionals and sophisticated international communications"(Butler, Phelps & Gartland, 1996, 31).


Given that definition, then Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg are "offshore" even though they are far inland. This is because those countries have the reputation, legislation and well-developed..."

Abstract
In the Renaissance context, the British colonisation of America was triggered by Christopher Columbus' first voyage to the Bahamas and Cuba in 1492. This paper discusses how the possibilities and dangers of this newly discovered world were profound issues at the time More and Shakespeare were writing and how their work is shot through with a contrast of fear and fantasy for the 'other'. The paper also examines how colonisation is also inextricably linked to humanist culture in that both believed in the possibility of social reformation. By suggesting that it is possible to create a perfect commonwealth, the paper discusses how "Utopia" appears to portray colonisation as a good thing, whereas in "The Tempest", Caliban epitomises its problems.

From the Paper
"By idealising a commonwealth, Utopia glorifies colonisation, and reflects the optimism that saturated the beginnings of the British Empire for example. Howard Felperin notes that this same optimistic energy is shown by Gonzalo in The Tempest, as he describes his perfect commonwealth halfway through act II scene I; "I would with such perfection govern, Sir, T' excel the Golden Age" (II:I:149) . In reality the enthusiasm behind colonialism was driven mainly by the promise of money - the piles of gold and silver to be generated by opportunities for new trade. But any sort of financial incentive is absent from Utopia. This makes us as suspicious of Utopus as we are of Hythloday; what are his motives for taking over the island? If Hythloday is the utopian explorer, Utopus is the utopian conqueror. In book 2 we learn that Utopus easily conquers the country, changes its name and "brought the rude and wild people to that excellent perfection in all good fashions, humanity, and civil gentleness" (p.56). He also alters its geography. Utopia's shift from a mainland country to an island is a near impossible and therefore doubtful feat, which implies so is the radical transformation of its people. "

Tags:Renaissance, caliban, Hythloday

Abstract
The paper discusses the strange disappearance of a group of United States naval airplanes just after World War Two in the vast expanse of ocean that is bounded by the Bahamas and the Straits of Florida, the Azores and the numerous islands of the Caribbean. The paper goes on to show how the popular version of events is at odds with official investigations into this occurrence; popular theories dismiss scientific explanations such as mechanical compass failures, fuel leaks, and human inexperience and instead look to extraterrestrials, and especially to the denizens of the lost ancient civilization of Atlantis. The paper concludes that there is little hard evidence to support the existence of any unusual phenomena in the area at all, let alone to attribute those phenomena to explanations that themselves depend on speculations.

From the Paper
"One of the enduring mysteries of our times, the Bermuda Triangle has captured imaginations for nearly sixty years. Though vague stories of the phenomena associated with the area date back centuries, the region first attracted widespread attention with an article in 1950 concerning the disappearance of a group of United States naval airplanes just after World War Two. The account would be similar to the many that would follow: planes or ships mysteriously disappear in the vast roughly triangular expanse of ocean that is bounded by the Bahamas and the Straits of Florida, the Azores, and the numerous islands of the Caribbean. As with the five naval airplanes of Flight 19 that disappeared in 1945, the objects simply vanish with little or no warning, no remains ever being found, nor any clue as to why the craft should leave behind no trace of their existence."

Tags:extraterrestrials, aliens, Atlantis, Third, Millennium, Flight, 19

Abstract
This paper provides an insight to the architectural styles in the United States' Key West and discusses the most predominant type of architecture there; the conch style. The author details the origins of conch houses and how they were adapted to the tropical weather of the Florida Keys. The paper also explains how the Key West architecture now has its roots in the conch houses of the original settlers, but also in the Bahamas, Africa, and even New England. In addition, other architectural styles are briefly described as well as how building codes have affected the landscape.

From the Paper
"These homes are also aesthetically pleasing to most people and they have a lot to offer to the right person who is looking for a home to call his or her own in Key West or one of the other islands that make up the Florida Keys. They reflect the heritage of the area and the settlers who came from many other places to make their homes there on Key West. They also reflect the island life and the beauty of a climate that is so very tropical and sunny and warm most of the time. The conch house is not the only game in town, though, when it comes to where a person can live on Key West."

Tags:houses, building styles, cultures

Abstract
This report presents a summary of hurricanes in general. The paper discusses the path of Hurricane Andrew. The paper explains that Hurricane Andrew was a small, but extremely ferocious hurricane that inflicted an unprecedented economic devastation all along its path through the northwestern Bahamas, the southern Florida peninsula, and south-central Louisiana. The paper contends that record amount of damage has been updated to well over forty billion dollars, making Hurricane Andrew one of the most expensive natural disasters in the history of the United States.

From the Paper
"A hurricane is basically a very big tropical cyclone like weather system that develops in the tropics. There are certain storm classifications that distinguish types of storms: Tropical Depression, Tropical Storm and a Hurricane. One major distinction between these different types of storms is the speed of the associated winds. A Tropical Depression usually has all of the makings of a storm such as persistent clouds and thunderstorms but the maximum sustained winds are at most thirty eight miles per hour. A Tropical Storm also has strong thunderstorms and winds blowing between thirty nine to seventy three miles per hour. In the case of a Hurricane, the tropical weather system's winds range from seventy four miles per hour and up."

Tags:tropical, cyclone, weather, system

Abstract
With the tourism industry becoming more consolidated and attracting bigger players, sustaining the economy of the local region is important. Cruise lines, air travel charters, and hotels, resorts, and spas are becoming part of the landscape of the Caribbean islands. The flush economy of the 1990s in the more industrialized nations and the increase in disposable income among the middle class population has spawned a market for vacations and holidays in the Caribbean. This paper shows, however, that the industry also has the potential to seriously impact the environment of the region. Sustainable tourism development is therefore critical and necessary. Preserving the natural beauty, culture, and social structure of this region is necessary if this industry is to grow and prosper in the near and distant future. In order to understand the impact that different factors have on the profitability and marketability of these islands to the vacationer comprehensively, the paper shows that research has to be conducted to identify the salient factors that have attracted the present clientele. Cultures, purchasing power, beliefs and customs, the impact of science and technology, homogeneity of population, and addressing the needs of local population are but some of the issues that have to be evaluated. This research, therefore, identifies ways by which their uniqueness can be preserved and marketed for a long time to come. The paper includes a map of the region.

Table of Contents
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: The Sustainable Travel and Tourism Industry
Chapter Three: Factors Need to Support Sustainable Development
Chapter Four: Conclusion and Recommendations
Bibliography

From the Paper
"Often, the benefits of spending all the money on the infrastructure needed to support "big" tourism and commercial international tour operators are outweighed by the negative impact on the local populations. As the big businesses have the negotiating power, the wages and salaries often paid to the workers in the tourism industry are not adequate. Sustainable development can encourage native populations to get more involved in the process, thereby offering them sufficient incentive and payback to get involved with the different sustainable programs being introduced."

Tags:Bahamas, WWF, recycling, contamination