Barbados'''Barbados''' is an island nation located towards the east of the Caribbean Sea and the west of the Atlantic Ocean, part of the eastern islands of the Lesser Antilles, with the nations of Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines being its closest neighbors. The island is 430 km2 (166 square miles), and is primarily low, with some hills in the island's interior. It is located 13º north of the Equator and 59º west of the Prime Meridian, about 434.5 km (270 miles) northeast of Venezuela. Barbados is mainly composed of coral and limestone. It is tropical with constant tradewinds and consists of some marshes and mangrove swamps. Some parts of the island's interior are also dotted with large sugarcane estates and wide pastures with many good views to the sea. {| border=1 align=right cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=300 style="margin: 0 0 1em 1em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" |+<big><big>'''Barbados'''</big></big> |- | style="background:#efefef;" align="center" colspan=2 | {| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" |- | align="center" width="140px" | image:Barbados_flag_large.png|125px| | align="center" width="140px" | Image:Barbados_coa.png |- | align="center" width="140px" | (Flag of Barbados|In Detail) | align="center" width="140px" | (Coat of Arms of Barbados|Full size) |} |- | align="center" colspan=2 | ''National motto: Pride and Industry'' |- | align=center colspan=2 | image:LocationBarbados.png |- | '''Official language''' || English language|English |- | '''Capital''' || Bridgetown |- | '''Queen''' | Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II |- | '''Governor General''' | Sir Clifford Husbands |- | '''Prime Minister''' | Owen Arthur |- | '''Area'''  - Total  - % water | List of countries by area|Ranked 181st 1 E8 m2|430 km² Negligible |- | '''Population'''  - Total (2002)  - Population density|Density | List of countries by population|Ranked 170th 276,607 642/km² |- | '''Independence''' -Date | From the United Kingdom|UK November 30, 1966 |- | '''Gross Domestic Product|GDP''' (Purchasing power parity|PPP)  - Total (2002)  - GDP/head | List of countries by GDP|Ranked 170th 4,000 millions $ 14,457 $ |- | '''Currency''' || Barbadian dollar (BBD) |- | '''Time zone''' | Coordinated Universal Time|UTC -4 |- | '''National anthem''' || ''In Plenty and In Time of Need'' |- | '''Top-level domain|Internet TLD''' || .bb |- | '''List_of_country_calling_codes|Calling Code''' | 1-246 |} Barbados has one of the highest standards of living and literacy rates in the world and is currently according to the UN's UNDP, the #1 developing country in the world. The island is a major tourist destination. ==History== {{main|History of Barbados}} The earliest inhabitants of Barbados were Amerindian nomads. Three waves of migrants moved north toward North America. The first wave was of the Saladoid-Barrancoid group, who were farmers, fishermen, and ceramists that arrived by canoe from South America (Venezuela's Orinoco Valley) around 350|350 CE. The Arawak people were the second wave of migrants, arriving from South America around 800. Arawak settlements on the island include Stroud Point, Chandler Bay, Saint Luke's Gully, and Mapp's Cave. According to accounts by descendants of the aboriginal Arawak tribes on other local islands, the original name for Barbados was '''Ichirouganaim'''. In the 13th century, the Caribs arrived from South America in the third wave, displacing both the Arawak and the Salodoid-Barrancoid. For the next few centries, the Caribs—like the Arawak and the Salodoid-Barrancoid—lived in isolation on the island. The name "Barbados" comes from a Portuguese colonization of the Americas|Portuguese explorer named Pedro Campos in 1536, who originally called the island '''Os Barbados''' ("The Bearded Ones"), upon seeing the appearance of the island's fig trees, whose long hanging aerial roots he thought resembled beards. Between Campos' sighting in 1536 and 1550, Spanish colonization of the Americas|Spanish conquistadors seized many Caribs on Barbados and used them as Slavery|slave labor on plantations. Other Caribs fled the island, moving elsewhere. British sailors who landed on Barbados in the 1620s at the site of present-day Holetown on the Caribbean coast found the island uninhabited. From the arrival of the first British settlers in 1627–1628 until independence in 1966, Barbados was under uninterrupted British control. Nevertheless, Barbados always enjoyed a large measure of local autonomy. Its House of Assembly began meeting in 1639. Among the initial important British figures was Sir William Courten. As the sugar industry developed into the main commercial enterprise, Barbados was divided into large plantation estates which replaced the small holdings of the early British settlers. Some of the displaced farmers relocated to British colonies in North America, most notably South Carolina. To work the plantations, slaves were brought from Africa; the slave trade ceased a few years before the abolition of slavery throughout the British empire in 1834. Local politics were dominated by plantation owners and merchants of British descent. It was not until the 1930s that a movement for political rights was begun by the descendants of emancipated slaves. One of the leaders of this movement, Sir Grantley Adams, founded the Barbados Labour Party in 1938. Progress toward more democratic government for Barbados was made in 1951, when universal adult suffrage was introduced. This was followed by steps toward increased self-government, and in 1961, Barbados achieved internal autonomy. From 1958 to 1962, Barbados was one of 10 members of the West Indies Federation, and Sir Grantley Adams served as its first and only prime minister. When the federation was terminated, Barbados reverted to its former status as a self-governing colony. Following several attempts to form another federation composed of Barbados and the Leeward and Windward Islands, Barbados negotiated its own independence at a constitutional conference with the United Kingdom in June 1966. After years of peaceful and democratic progress, Barbados became an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations on November 30, 1966. ==Politics== {{main|Politics of Barbados}} Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is head of state, and is represented by a Governor General. In Barbados the Queen is styled "By the Grace of God, Queen of Barbados and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth." The present government is proposing that Barbados become a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth, with a ceremonial president replacing the Queen. Executive branch|Executive power however is in the hands of the prime minister and his cabinet (government)|cabinet. The prime minister is usually the leader of the winning party in the elections for the House of Assembly, the lower house of parliament, which has 28 seats. Its members are elected every five years. The Senate has 21 members, and its members are appointed by the governor general. Barbados is a full and participating member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). ==Geography== {{main|Geography of Barbados}} Image:Barbados map.png|right|Map of Barbados Barbados is a relatively flat island, rising gently to central highland region, the highest point being Mount Hillaby at 336 m. It is located in a slightly eccentric position in the Atlantic Ocean compared to other Caribbean islands. The climate is tropical, with a rainy season from June to October. Though one might assume the island deals with severe tropical storms and hurricanes during the rainy season it actually does not. The island gets brushed or hit every 3.09 years and the average number of years between direct hurricane hits is once every 26.6 years. In the parish of Saint Michael Parish, Barbados|Saint Michael lies Barbados' chief city Bridgetown, which is the nation's capital. Locally Bridgetown is sometimes referred to as "The City" or "B-town". Other towns include Holetown, in the parish of Saint James Parish, Barbados|Saint James and Speightstown, Barbados|Speightstown, in the parish of Saint Peter Parish, Barbados|Saint Peter. The island is 23 km (14 miles) at its widest point, and about 34 km (21 miles) long. ==Parishes== {{main|Parishes of Barbados}} Barbados is divided into eleven parishes: Christ_Church_Parish,_Barbados|Christ Church, Saint_Andrew_Parish,_Barbados|Saint Andrew, Saint_George_Parish,_Barbados|Saint George, Saint_James_Parish,_Barbados|Saint James, Saint_John_Parish,_Barbados|Saint John, Saint_Joseph_Parish,_Barbados|Saint Joseph, Saint_Lucy_Parish,_Barbados|Saint Lucy, Saint_Michael_Parish,_Barbados|Saint Michael, Saint_Peter_Parish,_Barbados|Saint Peter, Saint_Philip_Parish,_Barbados|Saint Philip, and Saint_Thomas_Parish,_Barbados|Saint Thomas. ==Economy== {{main|Economy of Barbados}} Historically, the economy of Barbados had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years has been diversified into the manufacturing and tourism sectors. Offshore finance and information services have become increasingly important foreign exchange earners, and there is also a healthy interest into the island's light manufacturing sector. In the last ten years the Government has been seen as business-friendly and economically sound. Since the late 1990's the island has seen an increasing construction boom, the island began to see new hotels, redevelopments, new homes, office complexes, condos, and mansions being developed across the island. The government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, encourage direct foreign investment, and privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. Unemployment has been reduced from high levels of around 14 percent in the past to only under 10%. The economy contracted in 2001 and 2002 due to slowdowns in tourism, consumer spending and the impact of the September 11, 2001 attacks, but the economy rebounded in 2003 and showed growth for 2004. Traditional trading partners include Canada, the Caribbean Community (especially Trinidad and Tobago), the United Kingdom, and the United States. Business links and investment flows have become substantial, as of 2003 the island saw from Canada CAN$25 Billion in investment holdings, placing it as one of Canada's top five destinations of Canadian Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). [http://www.asiapacificbusiness.ca/data/trade/general_dataset5_toworld.cfm Canadian Outward Foreign Direct Investment to the World]. Businessman Eugene Melnyk of Toronto in Ontario, Canada is said to be Barbados' richest permanent resident. In 2004 it was announced that Barbados' Kensington Oval|Kensington Oval will be one of the final venues hosting the 2007 cricket World Cup|2007 Cricket World Cup. ==Characteristics and tourist information== The island of Barbados has a single major airport, the ''Grantley_Adams_International_Airport| Sir Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) ''(IATA identifier BGI). The ''Grantley Adams'' Airport receives daily flights by several major airlines, from points around the globe, as well as several smaller regional commercial airlines and charters. The airport serves as the main air-transportation hub for the Eastern Caribbean. The airport is currently under-going a US$100 Million upgrade and expansion. The island is well developed and there are many local quality-hotels known internationally which offer world-class accommodations. Timeshares are available, and many of the smaller local hotels and private vilas which dot the island have space available if booked months in advanced. The southern and western coasts of Barbados are popular, with its calm light blue Caribbean sea and fine white and pinkish sandy beaches. Along the islands' east coast the Atlantic Ocean side are tumbling waves which are perfect for light surfing, but a little bit risky due to under-tow currents. Shopping districts are another treat in Barbados, with ample duty-free shopping. There is also a festive nightlife available in mainly tourist areas like the Saint Lawrence Gap. Other attractions include wildlife reserves, jewelry stores, scuba diving, helicopter rides, golf, festivals, sight seeing, cave exploration, exotic drinks and fine clothes shopping. === Attractions, Landmarks and Points of Interest === Name / Parish Location: {| valign=top |- |width=200 valign=top style="font-size:90%;"| - '''Christ Church''' * Barbados Historical Museum * Garrison Savanna * Graeme Hall Swamp - '''St. Andrew''' * Cheery Tree Hill * Morgan Lewis Windmill |width=200 valign=top style="font-size:90%;"| - '''St. James''' * Folkestone Marine Park - '''St. Joseph''' * Andromeda Gardens * Flower Forest * Hackleton's Cliff |width=200 valign=top style="font-size:90%;"| - '''St. Lucy''' * Animal Flower Cave * Mount Gay|Mount Gay Rum Distilleries - '''St. Michael''' * Bridgetown Synagogue|Bridgetown Synagogue and Cemetery * Bussa Emancipation Statue * Kensington Oval * Sharon Moravian Church |width=200 valign=top style="font-size:90%;"| - '''St. Peter''' * Barbados Wildlife Reserve * Farley Hill National Park - '''St. Philip''' * Sunbury Plantation - '''St. Thomas''' * Harrison's Cave |} ''For cities and towns see: List of cities in Barbados'' ==Transportation== Transportation on the island is good, with public taxis, called "ZRs" (pronounced "Zed-R")s, traveling to most points on the island. These public taxis as they are known can at times be crowded, but will usually take the more scenic routes to destinations. These buses generally depart from the capital Bridgetown or from Speightstown, Barbados|Speightstown in the northern part of the island. Buses are abundant in Barbados. There are three bus companies running seven days a week, and a ride on any of them costs $1.50 BDS. The two smaller buses can make change; the larger, Barbados Transport bus cannot. Many routes require a connection in Bridgetown. However, if you wait long enough, you might find a bus that bypasses the capital and takes you right to your destination. Drivers are happy to help you get where you're going. Unfortunately, they are generally not willing to tell you how or when to use the competing bus companies, even if they're your only choice. In a bus terminal (sometimes just a parking lot full of buses), it is normal for a driver's assistant to attempt to escort you to his vehicle. This can sometimes cause arguments between drivers, because every driver will want you on his bus; nevertheless, it is prudent to stay with the first person who talks to you (though the arguments seem to be in the spirit of friendly competition). Some hotels also provide visitors with shuttles to points of interest on the island. Hotel shuttles generally leave right outside of the hotel's lobby. The island also has an abundance of taxis-for-hire, visitors staying on the island may find this an expensive option, most hired-taxis will take you to points of interest but they can be expensive, visitors also have the option of car and vehicles rentals in Barbados, presuming they have a valid drivers license from their native country. ==Demographics== {{main|Demographics of Barbados}} Between 80 to 90 percent of all Barbadians (also known colloquially as ''Bajan'') are of African descent, mostly descendants of the slaves and workers on the sugar plantations. The remainder of the population includes small groups of Europeans and Asians, including the ''Redlegs''. The official language is English language|English and while most Barbadians are Protestant Christians, chiefly of the Anglican Church, there are other Protestant, Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic, Hinduism|Hindu and Islam|Muslim minorities. ==Culture== {{main|Culture of Barbados}} The influence of the English on Barbados is more noticeable than on other islands in the West Indies. A good example of this is the island's national sport: cricket. Barbados has brought forth several great cricket players, including Garfield Sobers and Frank Worrell. Citizens are officially called Barbadian, however residents of Barbados colloquially refer to themselves or the products of the country as "Bajan". The term "Bajan", may have come from a localized pronunciation of the word Barbadian which at times can sound more like "Bar-bajan". The term Barbadian, is used less frequently than is "Bajan". The largest Carnival cultural events which take place in Barbados are the ''Congaline Festival'' and ''Crop Over Festival'' as known internationally. As is the case in many of the other Caribbean and Latin American countries, Carnival is an important event for many people on the island, as well as the thousands of tourists that flock to the island to participate in the annual events. The smaller of the two events is the ''Congaline Festival'', which takes place during the last week of March. The ''Crop Over'' Carnival which includes various musical competitions, and other traditional activities usually kicks into high gear from the beginning of July, and ends in its entirety during the first week of August. The Crop Over festival closes with a large parade in the final days of the festivities. :''See also: Music of Barbados'' ==National symbols== Image:Flower4.JPG|thumb|100px|A yellow and red Poinciana The national flower is the Poinciana (''Caesalpinia pulcherrima'' (L.) Sw. , Barbados Pride), which grows across the island of Barbados. Image:Barbados_coa_large.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Barbados' Coat of Arms ===Golden Shield=== The Golden Shield in the Coat of Arms carries two "Pride of Barbados" flowers and the "Bearded" Fig Tree (ficus Citrifolia) which was common on the island at the time of its settlement by the British and contributed to Barbados being so named. ===Coat of Arms=== The coat of arms depicts two animals which are supporting the shield, On the left: is a dolphin (dexter); symbolic of the fishing industry and sea-going past of Barbados. On the right: is a Pelican (sinister); symbolic of a small island named Pelican Island that once existed off the coast of Bridgetown. Above the shield is the helmet of Barbados with an extended arm clutching two sugar-cane stalks. The "cross" formation made by the cane stalks represents the cross which Saint Andrew was crucified. On the base of the Coat of Arms reads "Pride and Industry" in reference to the motto of the country. == International rankings== * [http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html CIA World Factbook - GDP] - (Purchasing power parity|PPP) per capita: ** 2004: ranked 59th of 232 countries & territories -- $ 15,700 [http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html 59th] * The Economist|Economist, The, Worldwide quality-of-life index: ** 2005 ranked 33 out of 111 countries [http://www.economist.com/theworldin/international/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3372495&d=2005 33rd] * Heritage Foundation/The Wall Street Journal, Index of Economic Freedom [http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/ countries]: ** 2005 ranked 32 of 155 countries [http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/country.cfm?id=Barbados 32nd] * Reporters_without_borders|Reporters without borders: ** 2004: N/A [http://www.rsf.fr/article.php3?id_article=11715] * Save_the_Children|Save the Children, State of the World’s Mothers: ** 2004: N/A [http://www.savethechildren.org/mothers/report_2004/images/pdf/SOWM_2004_final.pdf] * Transparency_International|Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index: ** 2004: ranked 21 out of 146 countries surveyed [http://www.transparency.org/pressreleases_archive/2004/2004.10.20.cpi.en.html 21st] * UN, Human_Development_Index|Human Development Index (HDI): ** 2004: ranked 29th out of 177 countries [http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2004/pdf/presskit/HDR04_PKE_HDI.pdf 29th] (3rd in the Americas, after Canada and the United States ** 2003: ranked 27th out of 175 countries [http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2003/pdf/presskit/HDR03_PKE_HDI.pdf 27th] ** 2002: ranked 31st out of 173 countries [http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2002/en/pdf/HDR%20PR_HDI.pdf 31st] ** 2001: ranked 31st out of 162 countries [http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2001/en/pdf/hdi.pdf 31st] ** 2000: ranked 30th out of 174 countries [http://www.undp.org/hdr2000/english/presskit/hdi.pdf 30th] ** 1999: ranked 29th out of 174 countries [http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/1999/en/pdf/hdr_1999_back1.pdf 29th] ** 1998: N/A * World Economic Forum, Global Competitiveness Report/Growth Competitiveness Index: ** 2004-2005: N/A [http://www.weforum.org/site/homepublic.nsf/Content/Global+Competitiveness+Programme%5CGlobal+Competitiveness+Report] * World Bank: ** Total List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|GDP per capita *** 2003 (World Bank): ranked 38 -- $ 15,712 ** Total List of countries by GDP (nominal)|GDP (nominal) *** 2003: ranked 138 -- $ 2,628 {{CIA WFB 2000}} {{CIA WFB 2003}} ==See also== * Communications in Barbados * Foreign relations of Barbados * List of Eastern Caribbean people#Barbados|List of Barbadians * Military of Barbados * Transportation in Barbados * List of cities in Barbados ==External links== * [http://www.barbados.gov.bb/ Barbados Government Information Network] - The official website of the government of Barbados * [http://www.hurricanecity.com/city/barbados.htm Hurricane History of Barbados] * [http://www.parliamentbarbados.gov.bb/ Official Website of the Parliament of Barbados] * [http://www.visitbarbados.org/ Official website of The Barbados Tourism Authority] * [http://barbados.allinfoabout.com/ All Info About Barbados - General Info on Barbados] * [http://www.centralbank.org.bb/ Website of the Central Bank of Barbados] * [http://www.foreign.gov.bb/ideal.htm Min. of Foreign Affairs - All About Barbados] * [http://www.bcslbarbados.com/barbados.aspx Points and places of Interest when in Barbados] * [http://www.accessbarbados.com Barbados Vacation Travel Guide & Business Directory] * [http://www.bookingsbarbados.com/ Barbados Vacations - Search for resort, Compare Costs and Book on-line] * [http://www.Realholidays.com/ Barbados Holiday Planner - Design and book your own package: "Holidays made to measure"] {{maplr|13.16|-59.55|Barbados}} See also MapQuest zoom levels 8, 9, and 10. {{West_Indies}} {{caricom}} Category:Barbados Category:CARICOM_member_states Category:Caribbean countries Category:Caribbean islands Category:Monarchies Category:Island nations Category:Members of the Commonwealth of Nations an:Barbados bg:Барбадос bn:বার্বাডোস ca:Barbados da:Barbados de:Barbados et:Barbados es:Barbados eo:Barbado fr:Barbade gl:Barbados id:Barbados ia:Barbados it:Barbados he:ברבדוס ks:बार्बाडोस lv:Barbadosa lt:Barbadosas ms:Barbados na:Barbados nl:Barbados nds:Barbados ja:バルバドス no:Barbados oc:Barbados pl:Barbados pt:Barbados ru:Барбадос sa:बार्बाडोस sk:Barbados sl:Barbados fi:Barbados sv:Barbados tr:Barbados zh:巴巴多斯 zh-min-nan:Barbados First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

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