Essay on Country Notebook Part 1 on The Bahamas

Submitted By flaredare911
Words: 2690
Pages: 11

X. Executive Summary: The Bahamas derives much of its culture from its European and African heritage, therefore English is the primary language spoken. The climate is warm year round with temperatures ranging from 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Men and women are both expected to provide income and they are treated equally in business. However Men tend to dominate the higher-income and higher status positions. Business customs are similar to the customs of America. Greet with a firm and friendly handshake. Men are expected to wait for a women to offer her hand first and eye contact must be maintained throughout greeting. Business relationships are very important so some of the meeting may be off topic. If business cards are exchanged, they must be handled with respect as the way you treat the card is seen as how you will treat the relationship. Bahamian law is based on English common and statue law. Due to its geographic location, the Bahamas is often the final staging area for illegal drugs from South America to North America. While this is a social problem, it is generally tolerated because it provides income. There is no military in the Bahamas and they rely solely on the protection of the United Kingdom. Bahamians wear light, loose-fitting, brightly colored garments of clothing. In business settings, long pants and shirts are to be worn, but that is about as formal as to be expected. There is no national healthcare program, so private health insurance is recommended to insure that all health needs are covered during your stay.
I. Introduction:
Our company is the International Marketing team. We specialize in marketing and trading with countries outside of the USA and will be exporting products to many countries over the course of this semester. Our specific focus at this time is exporting our product, the Beautiful Skin sun tan lotion to The Bahamas. This product will allow consumers to obtain beautifully tanned skin while protecting from the warm rays of sun at the Bahamas.
II. History of the Bahamas:
Columbus first encountered the Arawak Indians who inhabited the land now known as the Bahamas in 1492. In 1717 they became a British Crown Colony. When slavery was outlawed in the British Empire in 1834, the slaves in the Bahamas were also freed. In 1955 a free trade area was formed bringing in tourists. Prime Minister Lynden O. Pindling negotiated a new constitution with Britain in 1969. On July 10, 1973, the Bahamas became an independent nation. Since then, the Bahamas has prospered through tourism, international banking, and investment management.
III. Geographical Setting:
The Bahamas are a cluster of about 700 islands located 50 miles off the east coast of Florida. The Bahamian islands extend for over 700 miles and the land area is 5,382 square miles. The climate is subtropical with trade winds blowing almost continually throughout the islands. This gives the Bahamas a warm, agreeable climate year round. The Temperature averages around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit between September and May and is a bit warmer in the summer with temperatures around 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Its terrain includes long, flat coral formations with low rounded hills.
IV. Social Institutions
A. Family
Marriage procedures in the Bahamas are similar to those in the United States. They are monogamous, people are allowed to choose their own spouses, and weddings follow engagements. People do not marry blood relatives except in small communities where distant relatives often marry. Both the male and the female are expected to bring in an income to help with finances. Prior to marriage, the women are expected to be abstain from premarital sex, while the men are expected to have both premarital and extramarital affairs. Most households consist of nuclear families where authority is evenly split between the husband and wife. In poorer settlements, extended families exist in order to save money or to help take care of children while the parents