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Barbados Barbados

Barbados, See : Flags, Maps

A true & exact history of Barbados , Richard Ligon

Barbados (Central America and Caribbean)

Introduction ::Barbados

Background:

The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on the island until 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.

Geography ::Barbados


View Larger Map

Location:

Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates:
13 10 N, 59 32 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

East coast of Barbados

Area:

total: 430 sq km country comparison to the world: 200 land: 430 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

97 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (June to October)

Barbados Caraibi www.ideeperviaggiare.it

Terrain:

relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, fish, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 37.21%

permanent crops: 2.33%

other: 60.46% (2005)

Irrigated land:

50 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

0.1 cu km (2003)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.09 cu km/yr (33%/44%/22%)

per capita: 333 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards:

infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides

Environment - current issues:

pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

easternmost Caribbean island

People ::Barbados

Population:

285,653 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19.2% (male 27,383/female 27,352)

15-64 years: 71.3% (male 99,829/female 103,049)

65 years and over: 9.5% (male 10,464/female 16,512) (2010 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.2 years

male: 35.1 years

female: 37.2 years (2010 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.374% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Birth rate:

12.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Death rate:

8.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Net migration rate:

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 133

Urbanization:

urban population: 40% of total population (2008)

rate of urbanization: 1.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.012 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female

total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.09 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 138 male: 13.42 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 10.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.14 years country comparison to the world: 101 male: 71.88 years

female: 76.42 years (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.68 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.2% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,200 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 100 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Nationality:

noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)

adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)

Ethnic groups:

black 93%, white 3.2%, mixed 2.6%, East Indian 1%, other 0.2% (2000 census)

Religions:

Protestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%, Methodist 5.1%, other 11.3%), Roman Catholic 4.2%, other Christian 7%, other 4.8%, none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)

Languages:

English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population: 99.7%

male: 99.7%

female: 99.7% (2002 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 13 years

male: 13 years

female: 14 years (2001)

Education expenditures:

6.7% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 26

Government ::Barbados

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Barbados

Government type:

parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm

Capital:

name: Bridgetown

geographic coordinates: 13 06 N, 59 37 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

11 parishes and 1 city*; Bridgetown*, Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas

Independence:

30 November 1966 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

Constitution:

30 November 1966

Legal system:

English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS (since 1 June 1996)

head of government: Prime Minister Fruendel STUART (since 23 October 2010)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21 seats; members appointed by the governor general - 12 on the advice of the Prime Minister, 2 on the advice of the opposition leader, and 7 at his discretion) and the House of Assembly (30 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: House of Assembly - last held on 15 January 2008 (next to be called in 2012)

election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - DLP 52.5%, BLP 47.3%; seats by party - DLP 20, BLP 10

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Judicature consists of a High Court and a Court of
Appeal (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the
Judicial and Legal Services); Caribbean Court of Justice or CCJ is
the highest court of appeal; based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and
Tobago

Political parties and leaders:

Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party or
DLP [Freundel STUART]; People's Empowerment Party or PEP [David
COMISSIONG]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Barbados Secondary Teachers' Union or BSTU [Patrick FROST]; Barbados
Union of Teachers or BUT [Herbert GITTENS]; Congress of Trade Unions
and Staff Associations of Barbados or CTUSAB, (includes the BWU,
NUPW, BUT, and BSTU) [Leroy TROTMAN]; Barbados Workers Union or BWU
[Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMISSIONG];
National Union of Public Workers [Joseph GODDARD]

International organization participation:

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John BEALE

chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 939-9200
FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467

consulate(s) general: Miami, New York

consulate(s): Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d' Affaires D. Brent HARDT

embassy: U.S. Embassy, Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael BB 14006

mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown BB 11000; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055

telephone: [1] (246) 227-4399
FAX: [1] (246) 431-0179

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the band colors represent the blue of the sea and sky and the gold of the beaches; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)

National anthem:

name: "The National Anthem of Barbados"

lyrics/music: Irving BURGIE/C. Van Roland EDWARDS

note: adopted 1966; the anthem is also known as "In Plenty and In Time of Need"

Economy ::Barbados

Economy - overview:

Historically, the Barbadian economy was dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities. However, in recent years the economy has diversified into light industry and tourism with about three-quarters of GDP and 80% of exports being attributed to services. Growth has rebounded since 2003, bolstered by increases in construction projects and tourism revenues, reflecting its success in the higher-end segment, but the sector faced declining revenues in 2009 with the global economic downturn. The country enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the region. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners and thrive from having the same time zone as eastern US financial centers and a relatively highly educated workforce. The government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, to encourage direct foreign investment, and to privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. The public debt-to-GDP ratio rose to over 100% in 2009, largely because a sharp slowdown in tourism and financial services led to a wide budget deficit.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$6.196 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 154 $6.24 billion (2009 est.)

$6.603 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.963 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-0.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 197 -5.5% (2009 est.)

-0.2% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$21,700 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 60 $21,900 (2009 est.)

$23,300 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6%

industry: 16%

services: 78% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

175,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 10%

industry: 15%

services: 75% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate:

10.7% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Public debt:
NA (2009)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Central bank discount rate:

7% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 45 10% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.25% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 10.03% (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$1.793 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 123 $1.748 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of broad money:

$4.563 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 124 $4.618 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit:

$4.554 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 $4.124 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 81 $4.964 billion (31 December 2008)

$5.599 billion (31 December 2007)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, vegetables, cotton

Industries:

tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export

Industrial production growth rate:

-3.2% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Electricity - production:

1.003 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Electricity - consumption:

939.9 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Oil - production:

765 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Oil - consumption:

9,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Oil - exports:

1,750 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Oil - imports:

10,390 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Oil - proved reserves:

1.79 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Natural gas - production:

29.17 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Natural gas - consumption:

29.17 million cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

Natural gas - proved reserves:

113.3 million cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Current account balance:

-$254 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Exports:

$385 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 172

Exports - commodities:

manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components

Exports - partners:

Trinidad and Tobago 17.48%, Jamaica 15.63%, US 8.93%, Saint Lucia 8.13%, UK 5.36%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5.04%, Antigua and Barbuda 4.12% (2009)

Imports:

$1.586 billion (2006) country comparison to the world: 159

Imports - commodities:

consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components

Imports - partners:

Trinidad and Tobago 28.52%, US 27.96%, Colombia 7.13%, China 4.76%,
UK 4.39% (2009)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$620 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 117

Debt - external:

$668 million (2003) country comparison to the world: 155

Exchange rates:

Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)

Communications ::Barbados

Telephones - main lines in use:

135,700 (2009) country comparison to the world: 136

Telephones - mobile cellular:

337,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 168

Telephone system:

general assessment: island-wide automatic telephone system

domestic: fixed-line teledensity of roughly 50 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular telephone density approaching 125 per 100 persons

international: country code - 1-246; landing point for the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) submarine cable with links to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean extending from the British Virgin Islands to Trinidad; satellite earth stations - 1 (Intelsat -Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia (2009)

Broadcast media:

government-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) operates the lone terrestrial television station; CBC also operates a multi-channel cable TV subscription service; roughly a dozen radio stations, consisting of a CBC-operated network alongside privately-owned radio stations, in operation (2007)

Internet country code:

.bb

Internet hosts:

1,508 (2010) country comparison to the world: 159

Internet users:

188,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 143

Transportation ::Barbados

Airports:

1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 233

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1

over 3,047 m: 1 (2010)

Roadways:

total: 1,600 km country comparison to the world: 176 paved: 1,600 km (2004)

Merchant marine:

total: 95 country comparison to the world: 52 by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 55, chemical tanker 9, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned: 89 (Canada 13, Greece 14, Iran 4, Lebanon 2, Norway 41, Sweden 6, Syria 1, Turkey 1, UK 7)

registered in other countries: 1 (unknown 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

Bridgetown

Military ::Barbados

Military branches:

Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, Barbados Coast Guard (2010)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (younger volunteers require parental consent); no conscription (2009)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 74,418

females age 16-49: 74,450 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 58,532

females age 16-49: 58,542 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 1,897

female: 1,884 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.8% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 151

Military - note:

the Royal Barbados Defense Force includes a land-based Troop Command and a small Coast Guard; the primary role of the land element is to defend the island against external aggression; the Command consists of a single, part-time battalion with a small regular cadre that is deployed throughout the island; it increasingly supports the police in patrolling the coastline to prevent smuggling and other illicit activities (2007)

Transnational Issues ::Barbados

Disputes - international:

Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the April 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive economic zone; joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs:

one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for Europe and the US; offshore financial center

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