Swart Baai
Establishing Nation
Prinsdom Swart Baai - Principality of Black Bay
Capital: Swart Baai
Language: Baais (a mix of Dutch, Afrikaans and some flavouring from other languages)
Demonym: Swart Baaiser / Black Bayer
Currency: Florijn (florin) (ƒ)
Drives on: left, trains and automobiles
Internet code: .sb
Telephone code: +99
Pop.: 23 million, Swart Baai Goudkust : 32 million
Swart Baai Goudkust - Black Bay Goldcoast (Overseas Dominion)
Capital: Windhoek
In short, I will be RPing a hyper capitalistic mostly city-state (small hinterland with some agriculture, mining and industry and smaller towns) with a diverse population struggling under the strains of rapid immigration that has gone unchecked for too long, resulting in social discourse.
BRIEF HISTORY
As an early adopter of free trade, Swart Baai declared itself an independent city-state republic in the 1400s and opened its doors to all. If you wanted to trade and make money, you were warmly welcomed and there were few restrictions, just a tidy, simple tax to keep services running smoothly. The population boomed and by the late 1600s the city was one of the largest in the region and had expanded inland to incorporate some needed agricultural land.
A unique system of governance-via-guild had formed over the centuries. Essentially, every profession or grouping of similar professions belonged to a guild. Members paid annual membership fees, which were pooled and used to maintain the Guild Hall, a sort of club for members to meet and swap stories and tradecraft. The guilds established De Senaat, The Senate, where each guild sent members based on the size of the guild's annual revenue. Richer guilds, such as those involved in the trade of oriental spices, tea and gold, were naturally larger and thus more powerful. The Senate began to take on a more powerful role in the day-to-day running of the city and hinterlands.
By 1779 the competition between the guilds had reached an inflection point: who is really in charge? To avoid a civil war, the Guildmaster of the Silk Merchants Guild proposed establishing a constitutional monarchy with a prince acting as intermediary between the guilds and the Senate. The Prince would have special powers to dissolve the Senate if he believed it was not acting in the best interests of the majority of guilds. This proposal was agreeable to most, including the many senators who hay by then retained ties to their guilds in name only and behaved more like politicians in other countries.
Peter van Lamberti, the guildmaster who came up with this compromise, was elected as the first Prince of Swart Baai. His family had emigrated from Radilo a century prior and quickly amassed wealth in the silk trade thanks to their rich network of silk producers and traders across Europe. The Lamberti family remains in power with a system of hereditary rule in which the eldest male is prince. This means that if a Prince dies but has a younger brother, the younger brother accedes to the throne and not the son of the prince. This system has resulted in relatively short reigns, which the guilds tend to prefer.
Today the country has all the modern makings of a state but still has the unusual system of guilds in place. Instead of paying an income tax, both self-employed, freelancers and employees pay their annual guild fees (spread out across quarters or months, if so desired) and the guilds pay their share to the Senate, which disburses the sums to the relevant ministries and authorities. Other taxes, such as corporate tax, are levied by Finans Swart Baai, the finance ministry.
ECONOMY
Swart Baai is a bustling global metropolis with the world's busiest airport: Baai Transcontinental Skyport. It's a place where people come to meet and goods come to be traded. Major industries include finance, law, consultancy, shipping, construction, mining, precious metal and precious stone processing, petroleum product refinement and petrochemicals, luxury textiles, software services, etc.
Currency:
florijn (SBF) (florin) (ƒ) - 100 rappen make up 1 florijn
Banknotes: 10 rappen; florijnen: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 1000, 10,000
There are no coins. Banknotes gradually increase in size the larger the denomination with colourful depictions of famous guild members and quotes. The backside is the same colour for all banknotes: purple and depicts the current reigning prince. It has the international nickname of purpleback.
The florijn is legal tender in Swart Baai Goudkust Overseas Dominion. It's also commonly used as an unofficial currency for border communities in Petit-Pays and Serennière where many people commute to SB for work. For global travellers the SB florijn is a commonly used currency in major cities and airports. For illegal trading, such as drug and weapons smuggling, SB florins are often used.
Approximately one third of global cross-border invoices are issued in SB florins. Many banks offer SBF business or personal accounts.
Banks with global footprints (including retail banking):
Swart Baai Bank en Handelsmaatskappy (SBBH)
Overzeese Commersiële Bankcorporatie (OCBC)
Baai Bank
BoetBank
Other banks:
Postbankie
JijBank
Spaarbankie
Goudkust Bank
Major shipping firms:
ZIM Shipping
Devries Shipping
Major airlines:
Swart Baai Lugweg
LekkerLug
IMMIGRATION
Swart Baai has maintained a liberal and unique immigration policy for centuries. No nationals require a visa to enter Swart Baai. they may simply present their passport at a border checkpoint and receive a 180-day social pass, entitling them to a visit for tourism or business purposes. To undertake paid work or studies, various passes are available and can be applied for online or in-person at a dienspunt (service point), which is a one-stop-government office.
Immigration Passes
SOCIAL NORMS
SB is generally a progressive and tolerant place with some exceptions. Social pressures to marry and have children are high, even for same-sex couples. A large minority of ultraorthodox Jews has resulted in an unusual tolerance for conservative religions so long as other social norms are respected. This has resulted in problems between the ultraorthodox Jewish community and the government with fights often erupting over education policies.
Most drugs are illegal and selling and manufacturing drugs, along with smuggling, is often punishable with heavy fines, caning and in some instances even capital punishment. Marijuana is tolerated for use in private settings and it's taxed and sold similarly to tobacco, but with a markup.
Alcohol and tobacco products are checked for safety and quality by the government and can be sold at any commercial outlet. The excise taxes are comparably low compared to neighbouring countries, as well as petrol. Large petrol stations and shopping centres on the borders with Petit-Pays and Serenièrre cater to cross-border shopping trips to fill up the tank and stock up on alcohol, tobacco, chocolate and other items that are considerably cheaper in SB.
MILITARY
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES
PLACEHOLDER FOR MORE
Capital: Swart Baai
Language: Baais (a mix of Dutch, Afrikaans and some flavouring from other languages)
Demonym: Swart Baaiser / Black Bayer
Currency: Florijn (florin) (ƒ)
Drives on: left, trains and automobiles
Internet code: .sb
Telephone code: +99
Pop.: 23 million, Swart Baai Goudkust : 32 million
Swart Baai Goudkust - Black Bay Goldcoast (Overseas Dominion)
Capital: Windhoek
In short, I will be RPing a hyper capitalistic mostly city-state (small hinterland with some agriculture, mining and industry and smaller towns) with a diverse population struggling under the strains of rapid immigration that has gone unchecked for too long, resulting in social discourse.
BRIEF HISTORY
As an early adopter of free trade, Swart Baai declared itself an independent city-state republic in the 1400s and opened its doors to all. If you wanted to trade and make money, you were warmly welcomed and there were few restrictions, just a tidy, simple tax to keep services running smoothly. The population boomed and by the late 1600s the city was one of the largest in the region and had expanded inland to incorporate some needed agricultural land.
A unique system of governance-via-guild had formed over the centuries. Essentially, every profession or grouping of similar professions belonged to a guild. Members paid annual membership fees, which were pooled and used to maintain the Guild Hall, a sort of club for members to meet and swap stories and tradecraft. The guilds established De Senaat, The Senate, where each guild sent members based on the size of the guild's annual revenue. Richer guilds, such as those involved in the trade of oriental spices, tea and gold, were naturally larger and thus more powerful. The Senate began to take on a more powerful role in the day-to-day running of the city and hinterlands.
By 1779 the competition between the guilds had reached an inflection point: who is really in charge? To avoid a civil war, the Guildmaster of the Silk Merchants Guild proposed establishing a constitutional monarchy with a prince acting as intermediary between the guilds and the Senate. The Prince would have special powers to dissolve the Senate if he believed it was not acting in the best interests of the majority of guilds. This proposal was agreeable to most, including the many senators who hay by then retained ties to their guilds in name only and behaved more like politicians in other countries.
Peter van Lamberti, the guildmaster who came up with this compromise, was elected as the first Prince of Swart Baai. His family had emigrated from Radilo a century prior and quickly amassed wealth in the silk trade thanks to their rich network of silk producers and traders across Europe. The Lamberti family remains in power with a system of hereditary rule in which the eldest male is prince. This means that if a Prince dies but has a younger brother, the younger brother accedes to the throne and not the son of the prince. This system has resulted in relatively short reigns, which the guilds tend to prefer.
Today the country has all the modern makings of a state but still has the unusual system of guilds in place. Instead of paying an income tax, both self-employed, freelancers and employees pay their annual guild fees (spread out across quarters or months, if so desired) and the guilds pay their share to the Senate, which disburses the sums to the relevant ministries and authorities. Other taxes, such as corporate tax, are levied by Finans Swart Baai, the finance ministry.
ECONOMY
Swart Baai is a bustling global metropolis with the world's busiest airport: Baai Transcontinental Skyport. It's a place where people come to meet and goods come to be traded. Major industries include finance, law, consultancy, shipping, construction, mining, precious metal and precious stone processing, petroleum product refinement and petrochemicals, luxury textiles, software services, etc.
Currency:
florijn (SBF) (florin) (ƒ) - 100 rappen make up 1 florijn
Banknotes: 10 rappen; florijnen: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 1000, 10,000
There are no coins. Banknotes gradually increase in size the larger the denomination with colourful depictions of famous guild members and quotes. The backside is the same colour for all banknotes: purple and depicts the current reigning prince. It has the international nickname of purpleback.
The florijn is legal tender in Swart Baai Goudkust Overseas Dominion. It's also commonly used as an unofficial currency for border communities in Petit-Pays and Serennière where many people commute to SB for work. For global travellers the SB florijn is a commonly used currency in major cities and airports. For illegal trading, such as drug and weapons smuggling, SB florins are often used.
Approximately one third of global cross-border invoices are issued in SB florins. Many banks offer SBF business or personal accounts.
Banks with global footprints (including retail banking):
Swart Baai Bank en Handelsmaatskappy (SBBH)
Overzeese Commersiële Bankcorporatie (OCBC)
Baai Bank
BoetBank
Other banks:
Postbankie
JijBank
Spaarbankie
Goudkust Bank
Major shipping firms:
ZIM Shipping
Devries Shipping
Major airlines:
Swart Baai Lugweg
LekkerLug
IMMIGRATION
Swart Baai has maintained a liberal and unique immigration policy for centuries. No nationals require a visa to enter Swart Baai. they may simply present their passport at a border checkpoint and receive a 180-day social pass, entitling them to a visit for tourism or business purposes. To undertake paid work or studies, various passes are available and can be applied for online or in-person at a dienspunt (service point), which is a one-stop-government office.
Immigration Passes
| Pass Type | Purpose | Requirements | Duration | Pathway to PR or Citizenship | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sosialePas | Leisure/business | None - present passport at any Immigration and Checkpoints Authority | 180 days for all nationals/364 days for nationals of Petits-Pays | No | |
| stuPas | Study at any government-recognised institution of secondary, tertiary or vocational learning | Valid passport, letter of acceptance from educational institution, medical exam at SB polyclinic | 365 days; can be renewed up to 7 times | Half of time spent in country studying can count towards PR minimum | |
| werkPas (Tempo) | Blue collar and low-skilled work - temporary | Valid passport, medical exam at SB polyclinic, younger than 65 years | 3 years; can be renewed indefinitely up until age 65 | No | Holders are referred to as tempos |
| execPas | White collar workers | Valid passport, exam at SB polyclinic, younger than 70 years, curriculum vitae | 5 years; can be renewed indefinitely up until age 70 | Yes: can apply for permPas after 4 years | |
| permPas (PR) | Permanent residency | Minimum 4 years working on an execPas; half of time spent on stuPas counts towards 4-year minimum; minimum B1 baais language level | Once received no expiry | Yes: can apply for SB citizenship after having held PR for 5 years | permPas holders must pay into the sentrale voorsorgfonds (SVF - central provident fund) and must complete military service if under 35 years old (3 years for males, 2 years for females). Army Reserves required 3 weeks annually until age 50. |
| vlugtelingPas | Asylum and refugee status | Passport or other form of ID (may be expired); biometric deposits (fingerprints, iris scans, blood drawing) | 2-year minimum; may be renewed indefinitely | Not directly but can be changed to permPas after receiving a clear bill of integration from immigration judge | A special justice ministry division handles all asylum and refugee applications. Rejected claims result in expeditious deportation. |
| SB Burgerskap (citizenship) | Full SB citizenship | Minimum 5 years on permPas; minimum B2 baais language level | Permanent. Can be revoked within 10 years if citizen has other citizenship. Can be revoked at any time if person convicted of treason or terrorism (this can result in a stateless person but treason and terrorism convictions are punishable by death in SB) | N/A | Considered one of the most influential and 'powerful' passports due to the many countries where visa-free travel is granted. Popular with wealthy individuals who 'collect' passports as SB allows citizens to hold other citizenships. |
SOCIAL NORMS
SB is generally a progressive and tolerant place with some exceptions. Social pressures to marry and have children are high, even for same-sex couples. A large minority of ultraorthodox Jews has resulted in an unusual tolerance for conservative religions so long as other social norms are respected. This has resulted in problems between the ultraorthodox Jewish community and the government with fights often erupting over education policies.
Most drugs are illegal and selling and manufacturing drugs, along with smuggling, is often punishable with heavy fines, caning and in some instances even capital punishment. Marijuana is tolerated for use in private settings and it's taxed and sold similarly to tobacco, but with a markup.
Alcohol and tobacco products are checked for safety and quality by the government and can be sold at any commercial outlet. The excise taxes are comparably low compared to neighbouring countries, as well as petrol. Large petrol stations and shopping centres on the borders with Petit-Pays and Serenièrre cater to cross-border shopping trips to fill up the tank and stock up on alcohol, tobacco, chocolate and other items that are considerably cheaper in SB.
MILITARY
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES
PLACEHOLDER FOR MORE
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