Barbados, situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent island nation in the western Atlantic Ocean. At roughly 13° North and 59° West, the country lies in the southern Caribbean region, where it is a
part of the Lesser Antilles island-chain. Barbados is relatively close to the South American continent, around 434 kilometres (270 miles) northeast of Venezuela. Its closest island neighbours are Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the west, Grenada to the south-west, and Trinidad and Tobago
to the south, with which Barbados now shares a fixed official maritime boundary.

Barbados has one of the highest standards of living and literacy rates in the world. Despite its small size, Barbados constantly ranks in the top 30 (or 31) countries in the Human Development Index (HDI) rankings. It is currently ranked third in the Americas. The island is also a major tourist destination.

Geography

A relatively flat island, rising gently to the central highland region, the highest point being Mount Hillaby, in the Scotland district, at 336 metres (1,100 ft) above sea level. The island is located in a
slightly excentric position in the Atlantic Ocean, to the east of the other Caribbean islands. The climate is tropical, with a rainy season from June to October.

Barbados is often spared the worst effects of the region’s tropical storms and hurricanes during the rainy season as its far eastern location in the Atlantic Ocean puts it just outside the principal hurricane
belt. The island does get brushed or hit about every three years and the average time between direct hurricane hits is about 26 years. Barbados’ total land area is about 430 square kilometres, (166 square miles), and is primarily low-lying, with some higher regions in the island’s interior. The organic composition of Barbados is thought to be of non-volcanic origin and is predominantly composed of limestone-coral.

In the parish of Saint Michael lies Barbados’ capital and main city, Bridgetown. Locally Bridgetown is sometimes referred to as “The City,” but the most common reference is simply “Town”. Other towns scattered across the island include Holetown, in the parish of Saint James; Oistins, in the parish of Christ Church; and Speightstown, in the parish of Saint Peter.

It is geologically composed of coral (90 m thick). The land falls in a series of “terraces” in the west and goes into an incline in the east. Most of Barbados is circled by coral reefs.Also the geography serves as a setting for a moderate tropical climate with only two seasons; dry and wet. The dry season (Dec-May)
and wet (June- Nov) leaves the precipitation with about 40-90 inches of rain with all the different land types included.

Politics

Barbados has been an independent state in the Commonwealth since November 30, 1966, and as such functions as a parliamentary democracy modelled on the British Westminster system. Its Parliament comprises thirty seats. The present government is proposing that Barbados become a republic
within the Commonwealth of Nations, with a ceremonial president replacing the British Sovereign. This issue is still being hotly debated, as the island has been governmentally autonomous for decades and the Crown’s position is strictly nominal.

Barbados is a full and participating member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Caribbean (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy (CSME), the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which currently pertains only to Barbados and Guyana but is expected to replace the UK Privy Council for the entire
English-speaking Caribbean eventually, and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).

Barbados has been represented by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) for fourteen years, since the year 1993. It is commonly referred to as the Owen Arthur Administration.

Economy

Historically, the economy of Barbados had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but in recent years it has diversified into the manufacturing and tourism sectors. Offshore finance and information services have become increasingly important foreign exchange earners, and there is a healthy light manufacturing sector. In recent years the Government has been seen as business-friendly and economically sound. Since the late 1990s the island has seen a construction boom, with the development and redevelopment of hotels, office complexes, and homes.

The government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, encourage direct foreign investment, and privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. Unemployment has been reduced from around 14 percent in the past to under 10 percent currently.

The economy contracted in 2001 and 2002 due to slowdowns in tourism, consumer spending and the impact of the September 11, 2001 attacks attacks, but rebounded in 2003 and has shown growth since 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 C$25 billion in investment holdings, placing it as one of Canada’s top five destinations for Canadian Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Businessman Eugene Melnyk of Toronto, Canada, is said to be

Barbados’ richest permanent resident. In 2004, it was announced that Barbados’ Kensington Oval would be one of the final venues hosting the 2007 Cricket World Cup.It is thought that the year 2006 will turn out to have been one of the busiest years for building construction ever in Barbados, as the building-boom on the island has entered a final stage for several multi-million dollar projects across the island. [1]. Barbados could also be said to be a market economy based largely on tourism, and like said before, sugar. The use of agriculture is only a very small percentage of the work force.

Characteristics and tourist information

The island of Barbados has a single major airport, the Sir Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) (IATA identifier BGI). It 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. It is currently undergoing a US$100 million upgrade and expansion.

The island is well developed, and there are internationally-known hotels offering world-class accommodation. Time-shares are available, and many of the smaller local hotels and private villas which dot the island have space available if booked in advance. The southern and western coasts of Barbados are popular, with the calm light blue Caribbean sea and their fine white and pinkish sandy beaches. Along the island’s 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. The ‘Soup Bowl’ near to Bathsheba is a very popular spot with surfers all year round.

Shopping districts are popular in Barbados, with ample
duty-free shopping. There is also a festive night-life in mainly tourist areas
such as the Saint Lawrence Gap. Other attractions include wildlife reserves,
jewellery stores, scuba diving, helicopter rides, golf, festivals (the largest
being the annual crop over festival July/Aug), sightseeing, cave exploration,
exotic drinks and fine clothes shopping.

Transport

Transport on the island is good, with ‘route taxis’, called
“ZR’s” (pronounced “Zed-Rs” not “Zee-Rs”),
travelling to most points on the island. These small buses can at times be
crowded, but will usually take the more scenic routes to destinations. They
generally depart from the capital Bridgetown or from Speightstown in the
northern part of the island.

There are three bus systems running seven days a week
(though less frequently on Sundays), and a ride on any of them costs $1.50 BDS.
The smaller buses from the two privately-owned systems (”ZRs” and
“minibuses”) can give change; the larger blue buses from the
government-operated Barbados Transport Board system cannot. Most routes require
a connection in Bridgetown. Some drivers within the competitive privately owned
systems are reluctant to advise you to use competing services, even if those
would be more suitable.

Competition for patrons extends to the bus terminals
(sometimes just a parking lot full of buses); it is normal for the ‘ZR’ bus
conductors to attempt to escort you to their vehicle and engage in loud
altercations with other drivers and conductors, in competition for your
patronage.

Some hotels also provide visitors with shuttles to points of
interest on the island from outside the hotel lobby. The island also has plenty
of taxis for hire, though they can be expensive. Visitors also have the option
of transport by car, presuming that they have a driver’s licence (issued in
their native country). There are several locally-owned and -operated vehicle
rental agencies in Barbados but there are no multi-national car-rental agencies
such as Avis, Europcar or Hertz.

Demographics

Barbados has a population of about 279,000 and a population
growth rate of 0.33% (Mid-2005 estimates). Close to 90 percent of all
Barbadians (also known colloquially as Bajan) are of African descent
(”Afro-Bajans”), mostly descendants of the slave labourers on the
sugar plantations. The remainder of the population includes groups of Europeans
(”Anglo-Bajans” / “Euro-Bajans”) mainly from Britain,
Ireland, Chinese locally known as Bajan-Chiney, Bajan Hindus from India and
Muslims from Bangladesh and Pakistan, and an influential
“Arab-Bajans” group mainly of Syrian and Lebanese descent. On the
island are many people of Creole descent, a mixture of Afro-Caribbean and
European descent, and many Afro-Bajans do have some British or Scottish
antecedents.

Other groups in Barbados include people from the United
States, Canada, United Kingdom and expatriates from Latin America. Barbadians
who return after years of residence in the U.S. are called “Bajan
Yankees”; this term is considered derogatory by some.

The country’s official language is British English, the
local dialect of which is referred to as Bajan, spoken by most. In religion,
most Barbadians are Protestant Christians (67%), chiefly of the Anglican
Church, but there are other Protestant, Roman Catholic, Jehovah’s Witness,
Hindu and Muslim minorities. Barbados is currently a chief destination for
emigrants from the South American nation of Guyana. The biggest communities
outside the Afro-Caribbean community are:

1. The
Indo-Guyanese, an important part of the economy due to the increase of
immigrants from partner country Guyana. There are reports of a growing
Indo-Bajan diaspora originating from Guyana and India. They introduced
Soca-Chutney, Roti and many Indian dishes to Barbados’ culture. Mostly from
southern India and Hindu states, these ‘Desi’ peoples are growing in size but
smaller than the equivalent communities in Trinidad & Guyana; Hinduism is
one of Barbados’ growing religions.

2. Euro-Bajans have
settled in Barbados since the 1500s, originating from England, Ireland and
Scotland. More commonly they are known as “White Bajans”, although
some carry Afro-Caribbean traces. Euro-Bajans introduced folk music, such as
Irish music and Highland music, and certain place names, such as
“Scotland”, a mountainous region, and “Trafalgar Square” in
Bridgetown, now renamed .

3. Latinos and
Hispanics: a very small minority. They come from countries such as Puerto Rico
and Dominican Republic and have been steadily on the increase while Brazilians
and Venezuelans have been in Barbados since as far back as the 1800s. Some
Columbians have also been relocating to the island to escape poverty as well as
Panamanians, Belizeans and Cubans. Some Samba, Merengue and Reggaeton has been
introduced by the Latin Americans as a sub-culture.

4.
Chinese-Barbadians (or, as they are known on the island,
“Bajan-Chineys”) are a small portion of Barbados’ Asian demographics,
smaller than the equivalent communities of Jamaica and Trinidad. Most if not
all first arrived in the 1940s during the Second World War, originating mainly
from the then British territory of Hong Kong. Many Chinese-Bajans have the
surnames Chin, Chynn or Lee, although other surnames prevail in certain areas
of the island. Chinese food and culture is becoming part of everyday Bajan
culture.

5. Lebanese and
Syrians are the middle eastern community on the island and make up for 89% of
the Muslim population. Middle-Eastern Barbadians are often perceived to be the
most successful group in business, along with the Chinese Bajans. During the
Arab Israeli Wars, many Syrians and Lebanese headed for the West Indies to
escape conflict and poverty in the Middle East. Also Jewish people arrived in
Barbados around the same time, creating the biggest synagogue in the West
Indies.

Culture

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 Barbadians; Barbados’
residents, however, 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 largest carnival-like cultural event which takes place
on the island is the Crop Over festival, second only in size to the carnival
held in Trinidad and Tobago.[citation needed]

As in many other Caribbean and Latin American countries,
Crop Over 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 Crop Over festival includes various musical competitions
and other traditional activities. It gets under way from the beginning of July,
and ends with the costumed parade on Kadooment Day, held on the first Monday of
August.

Sports in Barbados

Several sports are played in Barbados. As in other Caribbean
countries, cricket is a favourite sport. In addition to several warm-up matches
and six “Super Eight” matches, Barbados hosted the final of the 2007
Cricket World Cup.

In golf, the Barbados Open is an annual stop on the European
Seniors Tour. In December 2006 the WGC-World Cup took place at the country’s
Sandy Lane resort on the Country Club course, an eighteen-hole course designed
by Tom Fazio.

Barbados also has a national football team.