Regions and territories: Bermuda

Bermuda, a densely-populated British overseas territory in the western Atlantic Ocean, has one of the world's most prosperous economies.

This wealth is largely down to the islands' offshore finance industry; more than 13,000 international companies have made the self-governing territory their nominal base.

Overview

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The arrival of some half a million visitors each year, most of them from the US, further fuels the economy. But it also makes Bermuda susceptible to the ups and downs of the tourist industry. Visitors are attracted to the beaches, golf courses, colonial buildings and subtropical climate.

Pastel-painted buildings in the capital, Hamilton

The discovery of the archipelago of seven main islands and more than 170 islets has been attributed to a 16th century Spanish sea captain, Juan de Bermudez.

Bermuda came under English control in the late 17th century. Slaves, most of them brought from Africa, came to outnumber the colonists. Today, three-fifths of the population are of African descent.

The remainder are of mostly-European extraction, as well as the descendants of migrants from Portuguese-settled Atlantic islands, including the Azores and the Cape Verde islands.

Internal self-government was guaranteed by the 1968 constitution. Bermuda saw political and racial tensions in the 1970s, culminating in the assassination of the colony's governor and rioting. British troops were despatched to restore order.

Independence from Britain is a recurring theme. In a 1995 referendum nearly three quarters of voters rejected the idea, but the issue was revived in 2004 when the colony's premier called for a debate on independence. More recent polls show a large majority remain opposed to independence.

The authorities are cooperating with a global OECD initiative aimed at ending "harmful" practices that have plagued the offshore financial industry and given the territory its reputation as a tax haven. In November 2008, in the wake of the global financial crisis, the British government announced a review into offshore financial centres including Bermuda.

Facts

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media

• Territory: Bermuda
• Status: British overseas territory
• Population: 63,800 (UN, 2009)
• Capital and largest city: Hamilton
• Area: 53 sq km (20.6 sq miles)
• Major languages: English, Portuguese
• Major religion: Christianity
• Life expectancy: 75 years (men), 80 years (women)
• Monetary unit: Bermudian dollar
• Main industries: Insurance, re-insurance, international finance, tourism, light manufacturing
• GNI per capita: US $37,000 (World Bank, 2006)
• Internet domain: .bm
• International dialling code: +1441

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Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor

Premier: Ewart Brown

Ewart Brown was sworn in as premier in October 2006 at the age of 60 after ousting three-year incumbent Alex Scott in a leadership challenge within the ruling Progressive Labour Party (PLP).

Ewart Brown (left) is sworn in by former governor Sir John Vereker

Apart from his leadership role, Brown picked up his old tourism and transport portfolio. He has been credited with bringing new flights and the promise of new hotel development to the territory.

He created a ministerial post for social rehabilitation, noting that it "sends a message that no longer will we shy away from the fact that we have social dysfunction in Bermuda". He said it would address issues of child care, foster care, health care and welfare.

On the question of relations with Britain, Mr Brown said Bermudians wanted a leader who was "stubborn enough to move them towards independence".

The PLP won an emphatic victory and a third straight term in office after a bitterly-fought election in December 2007.

Mr Brown's PLP won 22 seats in the 36-seat parliament, maintaining its majority and defeating the opposition United Bermuda Party which won the remainder.

The United Bermuda Party ran the island for 30 years until 1998.

Ewart Brown ran a medical practice in California for years before returning to Bermuda to run for office in the early 1990s.

Bermuda's governor, who is advised by the cabinet, controls foreign affairs, defence and security.

The territory is believed to have one of the oldest parliaments in the world; a representative assembly was established in 1620.

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The islands' broadcasting scene is dominated by two players, the Bermuda Broadcasting Company and VSB.

As well as home-grown broadcast media, most homes and hotel rooms have access to the multichannel, international offerings of cable and satellite TV services.

The press

• The Royal Gazette - daily
• Bermuda Sun - bi-weekly

Television

• Bermuda Broadcasting Company (BBC) - operates ZFB TV (Channel 7), ZBM TV (Channel 9)
• VSB - operates VSB TV (Channel 11)

Radio

• Bermuda Broadcasting Company (BBC) - operates ZBM AM, ZFB AM, ZBM FM 89, Power 95
• VSB - operates Mix 106, 1450 Gold, VSB 2, VSB 3