Editing History of the Bahamas (section)

===Post-World War II===
The wartime airfield became Nassau's international airport in 1957 and helped spur the growth of mass tourism, which accelerated after [[Havana]] was closed to American tourists in 1961. [[Freeport, Bahamas|Freeport]], on the island of [[Grand Bahama]], was established as a [[Free-trade zone|free trade zone]] in the 1950s. [[Bank secrecy]] combined with the lack of corporate and income taxes led to a rapid growth in the [[Offshore financial centre|offshore]] financial sector during the postwar years.

Modern political development began after World War II. The first political parties were formed in the 1950s. The [[Progressive Liberal Party]] was formed in 1953, and the [[United Bahamian Party]] was formed in 1956.

Bahamians achieved self-government in 1964, with [[Sir Roland Symonette]], of the United Bahamian Party, as the first Premier. Sir [[Lynden O. Pindling]], leader of the Progressive Liberal Party, became the first black Premier of the colony in 1967, and in 1968 the title was changed to [[Prime Minister of the Bahamas|Prime Minister]].