ocr: Once an English pirate base, - the Bahamas, which gained its first parliament in 1729,became a formal British colony in 1783. 1920-1933 US prohibition laws turn the Bahamas into a prosperous bootlegging center. - 1959 Introduction of: male suffrage. - 1962 Women gain the vote. - 1973 Independence. - - 1976 The Bahamas becomes flag of convenience for merchant tleets. 1983 Narcotics smuggling scandals involving Bahamian government.
