| Motto:
|
Pride
and Industry |
|
|
|
Coat
of Arms |
National
Flower (Dwarf Poinciana or Flower Fence)
|
Flag |
|
| Location: |
Most easterly of the Caribbean islands, immediately
east of the Windward Islands and 460 km [285.7
miles] northwest of Venezuela. |
| History: |
Barbados, first sighted by the Portuguese, was
settled by the English in 1627 and remained under
British Control until independence in 1966. The
Barbados House of Assembly is the third oldest
legislature in the Americas, dating from 1639. |
| Elections: |
Last elections were held in 2003. Next elections
due 2008. |
| Ruling
Party: |
Barbados Labour Party |
| Major
Political Parties: |
Barbados
Labour Party (BLP), Democratic Labour Party (DLP),
National Democratic Party (NDP) |
| Head
of State: |
Hon.
Sir Clifford Husbands, GCMG, KA., Governor-General |
| Head
of Government: |
|
| |
The
Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur
Prime Minister
DATE
OF BIRTH: 17 October 1949
MARITAL
STATUS: Married
EDUCATION:
- 1971:
B.A. (Upper Second Class Honours) Economics
and History, UWI.
- 1974:
M.Sc. Economics, UWI
PROFESSIONAL/POLITICAL
CAREER:
- 1979-81:
Director of Economics, Jamaica Bauxite Institute.
- 1981-82:
Chief Project Analyst - Ministry of Finance
and Planning.
- 1983-84:
Member of The Barbados Senate
- 1985-86:
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Finance
and Planning.
- 1981-82:
Member, Board of Directors, Barbados Industrial
Development Corporation.
- 1983-84:
Member, Board of Directors, Central Bank of
Barbados.
Chairman, Barbados Agricultural Development
Corporation.
- 1993:
Leader of the Opposition
- 1994:
Prime Minister
- 1999:
Re-elected Prime Minister
- 2003:
Re-elected Prime Minister
|
| Economic
Summary: |
Tourism
is the main industry of this broad-based economy,
accounting for an estimated 15.4 per cent of GDP
and 50.6 per cent of foreign-exchange earnings
in 1996. Off-shore financing and informatics are
also important foreign-exchange earners.
There is a light manufacturing sector which is
focused mainly at the local market although there
is some exporting to other Caribbean countries.
The products include foodstuff, beer, flour, animal
feeds and chemicals. The main agro-industries
are sugar refining and rum distilling, each with
substantial export production. The
construction sector is basically tourism-related
and has recorded an average growth of 4.3 per
cent in 1993-6. Cement is produced locally and
is a substantial boost to the industry.
|
| Airport: |
Grantley Adams International |
| Status: |
Independent - 30 November 1966 |
| Capital: |
Bridgetown |
| Area: |
431
km2 (166.4 miles2) |
| Population: |
250,010 (2000) |
| Currency: |
Barbados Dollar |
| GDP
Per Capita (at current prices): |
EC$25,170.9m
(1999)
|
| Total
Exports: |
EC$736.7m (2000) |
| Total
Imports: |
EC$3,121.3m (2000) |
| Intra-Regional
Exports: |
EC$327.7m
(2000) |
| Intra-Regional
Imports: |
EC$619.8m (2000) |
| Business
Hours: |
Commercial:
08:00-16:00 hrs Monday to Friday; 08:00-13:00
hrs Saturday
Government: 08:15-16:30 hrs Monday
to Friday |
| National
Holidays: |
New
Year's Day (01 January); Errol Barrow Day (21
January); Good Friday, Easter Monday, National
Heroes Day (28 April), Labour Day (01 May); Whit
Monday (01 June); Emancipation Day (01 August);
Kadooment Day (First Monday in August); Independence
Day (30 November); Christmas Day (25 December);
Boxing Day (26 December).
Holidays that fall on a Sunday are observed the
following Monday |
| National
Anthem: |
In
plenty and in time of need
When this fair land was young
Our brave forefathers sowed the seed
From which your pride is sprung,
A pride that makes no wanton boast
Of what it has withstood
That binds our hearts from coast to coast
The pride of nationhood.
Chorus:
We loyal sons and daughters all
Do hereby make it known
These fields and hills beyond recall
Are now our very own.
We write our names on history's page
With expectations great,
Strict guardians of our heritage,
Firm craftsmen of our fate.
The
Lord has been the people's guide
For the past three hundred years.
With Him still on the people's side
We have no doubts or fears.
Upwards and onward we shall go,
Inspired, exulting, free,
And greater will our nation grow
In strength and unity
(Words
by Irvine Burgie; music by Van Roland Edwards)
|
| National
Pledge |
I
pledge allegiance to my country Barbados and to
my flag,
To uphold and defend their honour,
And by my living to do credit
to my nation wherever I go.
by: Lester Vaughan |
| Highest
National Award: |
Knight of St. Andrew |
| Favourite
Dish: |
Cou-Cou
and Flying Fish, Jug Jug |
| Date
of CARICOM Membership: |
1 August, 1973 |
| Government
web page: |
http://www.barbados.gov.bb
|
|