Yearbook 2011
Bahamas. The credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s lowered Bahamas credit rating during the year. The main reason was the dependence on the failing tourism, mostly from the US. The industry accounted for over half of both GDP and employment.
According to Countryaah official site, an alarming increase in violent crime was reported. The number of murders exceeded 100 for the first time, and the limit was passed already in September when three months remained of the year. The waters around the Bahamas became a protected zone for sharks with a law passed in July. In addition to fishing, the ban also covers the sale, import and export of products made from shark. According to environmental groups, the world’s sharks are threatened, not least because of the demand for shark fins, which in China are considered a delicacy.