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List of
Banks in the Caribbean
List of Banks in Barbados
Barbados is an island nation of the
Lesser Antilles, 34 kilometres (21 mi) in length and as much as 23
kilometres (14 mi) in width, amounting to 431 square kilometres (166 sq
mi). It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic Ocean and
100 kilometres (62 mi) east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean
Sea; therein, it is about 168 kilometres (104 mi) east of the islands
of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and 400 kilometres (250 mi) north-east
of Venezuela. Barbados is outside of the principal Atlantic hurricane
belt.
Once a Portuguese territorial possession known as os Barbados, in 1625
it became English, and later a British colony. The island has an
estimated population of 275,338 people, with around 80,000 living in
or around Bridgetown, the largest city and the country's capital. In
1966, Barbados became an independent nation and Commonwealth realm,
retaining Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State. Barbados is one of the
Caribbean's leading tourist destinations and is the most developed
island in the region, with an HDI number of 0.903. By this measure,
Barbados is the third most developed country that lies solely within the
western hemisphere (the first and second being Canada and the U.S
Alexander Touche Bank & Trust Corporation
Address: Stevmar House Rockley, Christ Church
Phone: (1-246) 435-9975
Fax: (1-246) 435-9555
Bank of Butterfield (Barbados) Ltd
Address: Mutual Building, #1 Beckwith Place, Lower Broad Street,
Bridgetown
Phone: (1-246) 431-4500
Fax: (1-246) 429-5734
Bank Of Montreal Insurance (Barbados) Ltd
Address: Culloden Office Complex, Francis Godson Drive, Culloden Road,
St. Michael
Phone: (1-246) 437-6972
Fax: (1-246) 426-7106
Barbados National Bank
Address: Broad Street, Bridgetown
Phone: (1-246) 431-5700
Fax: (1-246) 426-5037
Bayshore Bank & Trust (Barbados) Corporation
Address: P.O. Box 1132, Bridgetown
Phone: (1-246) 430-5348
Fax: (1-246) 430-5335
Caribbean Commercial Bank
Address: Broad Street, Bridgetown
Phone: (1-246) 431-2500
Fax: (1-246) 431-2530
Caribbean Financial Services Corporation
Address: Radley Court, Collymore Rock, St. Michael
Phone: (1-246) 431-6400
Fax: (1-246) 426-1869
Chase Manhattan Bank N A
Address: Caribbean Commercial Bank
Phone: (1-246) 431-2500
Citadel Bank & Trust
Address: Bridgetown
Phone: (1-246) 430-5350
Fax: (1-246) 430-5353
Citibank
Address: 2nd Fl, ITC Blgd Warrens, St. Michael
Phone: (1-246) 421-7887
Fax: (1-246) 421-7893
Citicorp Merchant Bank Limited
Address: 2nd FIoor ITC Building, Warrens Commercial Centre, Warrens, St.
Michael
Phone: (1-246) 421-7887
Fax: (1-246) 421-7893
Concorde Bank Ltd
Address: Ernst & Young Centre Bush Hill, St. Michael
Phone: (1-246) 430-5320
DGM Bank & Trust Inc
Address: Chancery House, High Street, Bridgetown
Phone: (1-246) 427-6364
Fax: (1-246) 431-3439
Dunhill Bank Caribbean Ltd
Address: Arrixtu, Club Morgan Ridge, Christ Church
Phone: (1-246) 436-4634
Fax: (1-246) 436-4638
Excelsior International Bank & Trust Corporation
Address: Tom Adams Financial Centre, Church Village, Bridgetown
Phone: (1-246) 435-3155
Fax: (1-246) 435-3157
First Caribbean International Bank (Barbados) Ltd (Formerly Barclays)
Address: Rendezvous, Christ Church
Mailing Address: P.O Box 301, Bridgetown
Phone: (1-246) 431-5294
Fax: (1-246) 429-4785
First Horizon Bank Inc.
Address: Enfield House, Collymore Rock, St. Michael
Phone: (1-246) 435-2978
Fax: (1-246) 435-3145
Intel Overseas Bank Inc
Address: Goding Hse Spry Street, Suite 7, Bridgetown
Phone: (1-246) 436-8826
Fax: (1-246) 436-8821
KFW Capital Bank Ltd.
Address: 13 Edgehill Heights, Whitten Place, Phase II
Phone: (1-246) 425-4754
Fax: (1-246) 425-4755
London Life Bank & Trust Corporation
Address: Sagicor Corporate Centre, Wildey, St. Michael
Phone: (1-246) 436-1300
Fax: (1-246) 430-0919
Ocean Commercial Bank Inc
Address: Trident Hse Broad Street, Bridgetown
Phone: (1-246) 228-8402
Pan Atlantic Bank And Trust Limited
Address: 3rd Floor, Musson Building, Hincks Street, Bridgetown
Phone: (1-246) 436-9756
Fax: (1-246) 228-1156
RBC Royal Bank of Canada (Barbados) Ltd
Address: 2nd Floor, Building 2, Chelston Park, St. Michael
Phone: (1-246) 429-4923
Fax: (1-246) 436-9675
The Bank Of Nova Scotia
Address: Broad Street, Bridgetown
Phone: (1-246) 426-7000
Fax: (1-246) 436-8980
The Victoria Bank (Barbados) Incorporated
Address: 4th Floor, Weymouth Corporate Centre, Roebuck Street,
Bridgetown
Phone: (1-246) 436-5423
Fax: (1-246) 436-5425
History
Main articles: History of Barbados and Timeline of Barbadian history
Etymology
According to accounts by descendants of the indigenous Arawakan-speaking
tribes in other regional areas, the original name for Barbados was
Ichirouganaim, with possible translations including: "Red Land with
White Teeth", "Redstone island with teeth outside (reefs)", or
simply "Teeth".
The reason for the later name "Barbados" is controversial. The
Portuguese, en route to Brazil or the Spanish were the first
Europeans to come upon the island and they named it Barbados. The word
Barbados means "bearded ones", but it is a matter of conjecture whether
"bearded" refers to the long, hanging roots of the bearded fig-tree (Ficus
citrifolia), indigenous to the island; to the bearded Caribs once
inhabiting the island as supported by Dr. Richard Allsopp, a Caribbean
linguist; or to the foam spraying over the outlying reefs giving the
impression of a beard. In 1519, a map produced by the Genoese mapmaker
Visconte Maggiolo showed and named Barbados in its correct position.
Another name associated with Barbados or her people is "Bim","Bimshire"
and De rock. The origin is uncertain but several theories abound, the
National Cultural Foundation of Barbados follows the Dr. Richard Allsopp
theory, which is that "Bim" was a word commonly used by slaves and that
it derives from the phrase "bi mu" or either ("bem", "Ndi bem", "Nwanyi
ibem" or "Nwoke ibem") from an Igbo phrase, meaning "my people." In
colloquial or literary contexts, "Bim" can also take a more deific tone,
referring to the "goddess" Barbados.
The word Bim and Bimshire are recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary
and the Chamber's Twentieth Century Dictionaries. Another possible
source for "Bim" is reported to be in the Agricultural Reporter of 25
April 1868, The Rev. N Greenidge (father of one of the island's most
famous scholars, Abel Hendy Jones Greenidge) suggested the listing of
Bimshire as a county of England. Expressly named were "Wiltshire,
Hampshire, Berkshire and Bimshire". Lastly in the Daily Argosy (of
Demerara i.e. Guyana) of 1652 it referred to Bim as a possible
corruption of the word "Byam", who was a Royalist leader against the
Parliamentarians. That source suggested the followers of Byam became
known as Bims and became a word for all Barbadians.
Early history
The first indigenous people are thought to be Amerindians who arrived
from Venezuela around approximately 350–400 B.C. The Arawak people were
the second wave of migrants, arriving from South America around 800. In
the 13th century, the Caribs arrived from South America in the third
wave, displacing both the Arawak and the Salodoid-Barrancoid culture.
For the next few centuries, the Caribs—like the Arawak and the Salodoid-Barrancoid—lived
in isolation on the island.
The Portuguese briefly claimed Barbados from the mid-16th to the 17th
centuries, and may have seized the Caribs on Barbados and used them as
slave labour. Other Caribs are believed to have fled to neighbouring
islands. Apart from possibly displacing the Caribs, the Portuguese left
little impact and by the 1610s left for South America, leaving the
island almost uninhabited. Some Arawaks still live in Barbados.[by
whom?]
British colonial rule
English sailors who landed on Barbados in 1625 arrived at the site of
present-day Holetown. The English then took possession of Barbados in
the name of James I. From the arrival of the first English settlers in
1627–1628 until independence in 1966, Barbados was under uninterrupted
British governance (and was the only Caribbean island that did not
change hands during the colonial period). Nevertheless, Barbados always
enjoyed a large measure of local autonomy. Its House of Assembly began
meeting in 1639. Among the initial important figures was Anglo-Dutchman
Sir William Courten.
Fighting during the War of the Three Kingdoms and the Interregnum
spilled over into Barbados and Barbadian territorial waters. The island
was not involved in the war until after the execution of Charles I, when
the island's government fell under the control of Royalists (ironically
the Governor, Philip Bell remained loyal to Parliament while the
Barbadian House of Assembly, under the influence of Humphrey Walrond,
supported Charles II). To try to bring the recalcitrant colony to heel,
the Commonwealth Parliament passed an act on October 3, 1650 which
prohibited trade between England and the island, and because the island
also traded with the Netherlands, further navigation acts were passed
prohibiting any but English vessels trading with Dutch colonies. These
acts were a precursor to the First Anglo-Dutch War. The Commonwealth of
England sent an invasion force under the command of Sir George Ayscue
which arrived in October 1651. After some skirmishing, the Royalists
supporters in the Barbados House of Assembly led by Lord Willoughby
surrendered. The conditions of surrender were incorporated into the
Charter of Barbados (Treaty of Oistins) which was signed in the
Mermaid's Inn, Oistins on 17 January 1652.
With the increased implementation of slave codes, which created
differential treatment between Africans and the white workers and
planters, the island became increasingly unattractive to poor whites.
Black or slave codes were implemented in 1661, 1676, 1682, and 1688. In
response to these codes, several slave rebellions were attempted or
planned during this time, but none succeeded. However, an increasingly
repressive legal system caused the gap between the treatment of
typically white indentured servants and black slaves to widen. Imported slaves became much more attractive for the rich
planters who would increasingly dominate the island not only
economically but also politically.
Nevertheless, poor whites who had or acquired the means to emigrate
often did so. Planters expanded their importation of African slaves to
cultivate sugar cane. The inhabitants of Barbados turned from mainly
English and Scots-Irish in the 17th century to overwhelmingly black by
the end of the 18th century.
Barbados eventually had one of the world's biggest sugar industries
after starting sugar cane cultivation in 1640. One group which was
instrumental for ensuring the early success of the sugar cane industry
were the Sephardic Jews, who originally been expelled from the Iberian
peninsula to end up in Dutch Brazil. This quickly replaced tobacco
plantations on the islands which were previously the main export. As the
sugar industry developed into its main commercial enterprise, Barbados
was divided into large plantation estates that replaced the
smallholdings of the early English settlers. Some of the displaced
farmers moved to other English colonies in the Americas, most notably
North and South Carolina, and British Guiana, as well as Panama. To work
the plantations, planters imported enslaved West Africans to Barbados
and other Caribbean islands.
The British abolished the slave trade in 1807 but not the institution
itself. In 1816, slaves arose in the largest major slave rebellion in
the island's history. Twenty thousand slaves from over seventy
plantations rebelled. They drove whites off the plantations, but
widespread killings did not take place. This was later termed “Bussa's
Rebellion” after the slave ranger Bussa, who with his assistants hated
slavery, found the treatment of slaves on Barbados to be “intolerable,”
and believed the political climate in the UK made the time ripe to
peacefully negotiate with planters for freedom (Davis, p. 211; Northrup,
p. 191). Bussa's Rebellion failed. One hundred and twenty slaves died in
combat or were immediately executed; another 144 were brought to trial
and executed; remaining rebels were shipped off the island (Davis, pp.
212–213).
Slavery was finally abolished in the British Empire eighteen years later
in 1834. In Barbados and the rest of the British West Indian colonies,
full emancipation from slavery was preceded by an apprenticeship period
that lasted four years.
Statue of Lord Nelson in National Heroes Square which predates the more
famous Nelson's Column by some 27 years.In 1884, the Barbados
Agricultural Society sent a letter to Sir Francis Hincks requesting his
private and public views on whether the Dominion of Canada would
favourably entertain having the then colony of Barbados admitted as a
member of the Canadian Confederation. Asked of Canada were the terms of
the Canadian side to initiate discussions, and whether or not the island
of Barbados could depend on the full influence of Canada in getting the
change agreed to by the United Kingdom. Then in 1952 the Barbados
Advocate newspaper polled several prominent Barbadian politicians,
lawyers, businessmen, the Speaker of the Barbados House of Assembly and
later as first President of the Senate, Sir Theodore Branker, Q.C. and
found them to be in favour of immediate federation of Barbados along
with the rest of the British Caribbean with complete Dominion Status
within five years from the date of inauguration of the West Indies
Federation with Canada.
However, plantation owners and merchants of British descent still
dominated local politics, owing to the high income qualification
required for voting. More than 70% of the population, many of them
disenfranchised women, were excluded from the democratic process. It was
not until the 1930s that the descendants of emancipated slaves began a
movement for political rights. One of the leaders of this movement, Sir
Grantley Adams, founded the Barbados Labour Party in 1938, then known as
the Barbados Progressive League.
While being a staunch supporter of the monarchy, Adams and his party
also demanded more rights for the poor and for the people. Progress
toward a more democratic government in Barbados was made in 1942, when
the exclusive income qualification was lowered and women were given the
right to vote. By 1949 governmental control was wrested from the
planters and, in 1958, Adams became Premier of Barbados.
From 1958 to 1962, Barbados was one of the ten members of the West
Indies Federation, an organisation doomed by nationalistic attitudes and
by the fact that its members, as British colonies, held limited
legislative power. Adams served as its first and only "Premier", but his
leadership failed in attempts to form similar unions, and his continued
defence of the monarchy was used by his opponents as evidence that he
was no longer in touch with the needs of his country. Errol Walton
Barrow, a fervent reformer, became the new people's advocate. Barrow had
left the BLP and formed the Democratic Labour Party as a liberal
alternative to Adams' conservative government. Barrow instituted many
progressive social programmes, such as free education for all
Barbadians, and the School Meals system. By 1961, Barrow had replaced
Adams as Premier and the DLP controlled the government.
With the Federation dissolved, Barbados had reverted to its former
status, that of a self-governing colony. The island negotiated its own
independence at a constitutional conference with the United Kingdom in
June 1966. After years of peaceful and democratic progress, Barbados
finally became an independent state on 30 November 1966, with Errol
Barrow its first Prime Minister. Upon independence Barbados maintained
historical linkages with Britain by establishing membership to the
Commonwealth of Nations grouping, a year later Barbados' International
linkages were expanded by obtaining membership to the United Nations and
the Organization of American States.
Government and politics
Parliament Building.Main articles: Government of Barbados and Politics
of Barbados
Barbados has been an independent country since 30 November 1966. It
functions as a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy,
modelled on the British Westminster system, with Elizabeth II, Queen of
Barbados, as head of state represented locally by the Governor-General,
Clifford Husbands and the Prime Minister as the head of the government.
The number of representatives within the House of Assembly has gradually
increased from twenty-four at independence, to its present composition
of thirty seats.
Barbados functions as a two-party system, the two dominant parties being
the ruling Democratic Labour Party and the opposition, Barbados Labour
Party. The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) had been in government for
fifteen years, since 1993 until the 2008 general election. Under this
administration, the former Prime Minister, The Right Honourable Owen S.
Arthur acted as the Regional Leader of the CSM (Caribbean Single
Market). The Honourable David Thompson is the Prime Minister of
Barbados.
Barbados has had several third parties over a period of time since
Independence: The People's Pressure Movement formed in the early 1970s
and contested the 1976 elections; The National Democratic Party which
contested the 1994 elections; and the People's Democratic Congress which
contested the 2008 elections. Apart from these there were several
independents who contested the elections, but independents are yet to
win a seat in Parliament.
Currently the leading party of the country is the DLP, Democratic Labour
Party. The DLP defeated the BLP, Barbados Labour Party, in the last
election in 2008. This was a surprise since the BLP had political power
for over 14 years.
Law
The Constitution of Barbados is the supreme law of the nation. The
Chief Justice heads the independent judiciary. Historically, Barbadian
law was based entirely on English common law with a few local
adaptations. At the time of independence, the British Parliament ceased
having the ability to change local legislation at its own discretion.
British law and various legal statutes within British law at this time,
and other prior measures adopted by the Barbadian parliament became the
basis of the modern-day law system.
More recently however, local Barbadian legislation may be shaped or
influenced by such organisations as the United Nations, the Organization
of American States, or other International fora which Barbados has
obligatory commitments by treaty. Additionally, through international
cooperation, other institutions may supply the Barbados parliament with
key sample legislation to be adapted to meet local circumstance, before
crafting it as local law.
Laws are passed by the Barbadian Parliament, whereby upon their passage,
are given official vice-regal assent by the Governor-General to become
law.
In Barbados, camouflage clothing is reserved for military use and
forbidden for civilians to wear.
Courts
The local court system of Barbados is made-up of:
Magistrate's Court: Covering Criminal, Civil, Domestic, Domestic
Violence, and Juvenile matters. But can also take up matters dealing
with Corornor's Inquests, Liquor Licences, and civil marriages. Further,
the Magistrates court deals with Contract and Tort law where claims do
not exceed $10,000.00.
The Supreme Court: is made up of High Court and Court of Appeals.
High Court: Consisting of Civil, Criminal, and Family law divisions.
Court of Appeals: Handles appeals from the High Court and Magistrate's
Court. It will hear appeals in both the civil, and criminal law
jurisdictions. It may consist of a single Justice of Appeal sitting in
Chambers; or as Full Court, will consist of 3 Justices of Appeals.
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), (based in Port Of Spain, Trinidad
and Tobago), is the court of last resort (final jurisdiction) over
Barbadian law. It replaced the London-based Judicial Committee of the
Privy Council (JCPC). The CCJ may resolve other disputed matters dealing
with the Caribbean (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Foreign relations
Main article: Foreign relations of Barbados
Barbados is a full and participating member of the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM), Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), and the
Association of Caribbean States (ACS). Organization of American
States (OAS), Commonwealth of Nations, and the Caribbean Court of
Justice (CCJ), which currently pertains only to Barbados and Guyana. In
2001 the Caribbean Community heads of government voted on a measure
declaring that the region should work towards replacing the UK's
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of
Justice.
Barbados is an original Member (1995) of the World Trade
Organisation(WTO), and participates actively in its work. It grants at
least MFN treatment to all its trading partners. As of December, 2007
Barbados is linked by an Economic Partnership Agreement with the
European Commission. The pact involves the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM)
subgroup of the Group of African, Caribbean, and Pacific states (ACP).
CARIFORUM presently the only part of the wider ACP-bloc that has
concluded the full regional trade-pact with the European Union.
Trade policy has also sought to protect a small number of domestic
activities, mostly food production, from foreign competition, while
recognizing that most domestic needs are best met by imports. This
protection, and limited competition in certain domestic sectors have
weighed on the competitiveness of the leading service activities by
restricting their access to inputs at the lowest cost.
Geography and climate
Main article: Geography and climate of Barbados
Map of Barbados
Beach near Bridgetown, Barbados.Barbados is the easternmost island in
the Lesser Antilles. It is flat in comparison to its island neighbours
to the west, the Windward Islands. The island rises gently to the
central highland region, with the highpoint of the nation being Mount
Hillaby, in the Scotland District, 340 metres (1,120 ft) above sea
level. The island is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, east of the other
West Indies isles.
Geologically composed of coral (90 m/300 ft thick), the land falls in a
series of "terraces" in the west and goes into an incline in the east.
Much of the country is circled by coral reefs.
In the parish of Saint Michael lies Barbados' capital and main city,
Bridgetown. Other major 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.
The climate is moderate tropical, with a wet season (June–November) and
a more dry season (December–May). The annual precipitation ranges
between 40 inches (1,000 mm) and 90 inches (2,300 mm).
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 strike zone. On average a hurricane may strike about once
every 26 years. The last significant hit from a hurricane to cause
severe damage to Barbados was Hurricane Janet in 1955.
Parishes
Main article: Parishes of Barbados
Map of the parishes of BarbadosBarbados is divided into eleven parishes:
1.Christ Church
2.Saint Andrew
3.Saint George
4.Saint James
5.Saint John
6.Saint Joseph
7.Saint Lucy
8.Saint Michael
9.Saint Peter
10.Saint Philip
11.Saint Thomas
St. George and St. Thomas located in the middle of the country are the
only two parishes without coastlines.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Barbados
Barbados is the 51st richest country in the world in terms of GDP (Gross
domestic product) per capita, has a well-developed mixed economy, and
a moderately high standard of living. According to the World Bank,
Barbados is classified as being in its 66 top High income economies of
the world.
Historically, the economy of Barbados had been dependent on sugarcane
cultivation and related activities, but in the late 1970s and early
1980s it has diversified into the manufacturing and tourism sectors.
Offshore finance and information services have become important foreign
exchange earners, and there is a healthy light manufacturing sector.
Since the 1990s the Barbados Government has been seen as
business-friendly and economically sound. The island
has seen a construction boom, with the development and redevelopment of
hotels, office complexes, and homes.
Recent government administrations have continued efforts to reduce
unemployment, encourage foreign direct investment, and privatise
remaining state-owned enterprises. Unemployment has been reduced from
around 14 percent in the past to under 10 percent.
The economy contracted in 2001 and 2002 due to slowdowns in tourism,
consumer spending and the impact of the September 11, 2001 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 CA$ 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.
It has been reported that the year 2006 would have been one of the
busiest years for building construction ever in Barbados, as the
building-boom on the island entered the final stages for several
multi-million dollar commercial projects.
The European Union is presently assisting Barbados with a €10 million
programme of modernisation of the country's International Business and
Financial Services Sector.
Barbados maintains the third largest stock exchange in the Caribbean
region. At present, officials at the stock exchange are investigating
the possibility of augmenting the local exchange with an International
Securities Market (ISM) venture.
Transport
Main article: Transport in Barbados
Typical ZR-van with markings indicating that it serves the number 11
route.Transport on the island is relatively convenient, with 'route
taxis', called "ZRs" (pronounced "Zed-Rs"), travelling to most points on
the island. These small buses can at times be crowded, as passengers are
generally never turned down, regardless of the number. However, they
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.
Old Barbados Transport Board bus in Bridgetown.Including the ZRs there
are three bus systems running seven days a week (though less frequently
on Sundays). There's ZRs, the yellow minibuses and the blue Transport
Board buses. A ride on any of them costs $1.50 BBD. 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. Children in school uniform ride for free
on the Government buses and for $1.00 on the minibuses and ZRs. Most
routes require a connection in Bridgetown. Some drivers within the
competitive privately owned systems are reluctant to advise persons to
use competing services, even if those would be more suitable.
A Mini Moke at Speightstown beachSome hotels also provide visitors with
shuttles to points of interest on the island from outside the hotel
lobby. There are several locally owned and operated vehicle rental
agencies in Barbados but there are no multi-national companies.
The island of Barbados's lone airport is the Sir Grantley Adams
International Airport (GAIA) 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 undergoing
a US$100 million upgrade and expansion.
There is also a helicopter shuttle service, which offers air taxi
services to a number of sites around the island, mainly on the West
Coast tourist belt. Air and water traffic is regulated by the Barbados
Port Authority.
Tourism
Due to its relatively high levels of development and its favourable
location, Barbados has become one of the prime tourist destinations in
the Caribbean.[neutrality is disputed] Numerous
internationally known hotels offering world-class accommodation can be
found on the island. 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,
which faces the Atlantic Ocean, there are tumbling waves which are
perfect for light surfing. Some areas remain risky due to under-tow
currents.
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, jewelry 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.
Attractions, landmarks and points of interest
Tourism accounts for almost one half of the economy. Name / Parish
Location:
– Christ Church
Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary
St. Lawrence Gap
Grantley Adams International Airport
Chancery Lane Swamp
Christ Church Foundation School (1809)
Ocean Park,Barbados
Crane Beach
– St. Andrew
Chalky Mount potteries
Cherry Tree Hill
Morgan Lewis Windmill
Barclays Park
– St. George
Francia Great House
Gun Hill Signal Station
Orchid World
– St. James
St. James Parish Church
Folkestone Marine Park
Lancaster Great House Gallery and Gardens
Queen's College
– St. John
Codrington College
Conset Bay
St. John Parish Church & church yard
Massiah Street
– St. Joseph
Andromeda Gardens
Flower Forest
Hackleton's Cliff
Bathsheba
– St. Lucy
Animal Flower Cave
Little Bay
– St. Michael
Barbados Historical Museum
Bridgetown Synagogue and Cemetery
Bussa Emancipation Statue
Ilaro Court
Garrison Savannah
Kensington Oval
Mount Gay Rum
Barbados National Museum
George Washington House
The Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters
– St. Peter
Barbados Wildlife Reserve
Farley Hill National Park
St Nicholas Abbey
– St. Philip
Sunbury Plantation
– St. Thomas
Clifton Hill Moravian Church
Harrison's Cave
Sharon Moravian Church
Welchman Hall Gully
List of: Cities, towns and villages in Barbados.
Bridgetown
Holetown
Oistins
Six Cross Roads
Speightstown
St Lawrence
Warrens
Black Rock, Barbados
Bank Hall
Demographics
Main articles: Demographics of Barbados and Barbadian people
A bus stop in Barbados
High StreetBarbados has a population of about 281,968 and a population
growth rate of 0.33% (Mid-2005 estimates). Close to 90% of all
Barbadians (also known colloquially as Bajan) are of African descent
("Afro-Bajans"). The remainder of the population includes groups of
Europeans ("Anglo-Bajans" / "Euro-Bajans") mainly from the United
Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Chinese, Bajan Muslims from India.
Other groups in Barbados include people from the United Kingdom, United
States and Canada. Barbadians who return after years of residence in the
U.S. and children born in America to Bajan parents are called "Bajan
Yankees", this term is considered derogatory by some.
Barbados is 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.
2.Euro-Bajans (4% of the population) have settled in Barbados since
the 16th century, originating from England, Ireland and Scotland. In
1643, there were 37,200 whites in Barbados (86% of the population).
More commonly they are known as "White Bajans", although some carry
Afro-Caribbean traces and vice-versa. 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 "Heroes Square". Among White Barbadians there exists an
underclass known as Redlegs; the descendants of indentured servants, and
prisoners imported to the island. Many additionally moved on to
become the earliest settlers of modern-day North and South Carolina in
the United States.
3.Chinese are a minute portion of Barbados' Asian demographics, far
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.
4.Lebanese and Syrians form the Middle Eastern community on the island
and make up a small percentage of the Muslim population. The majority of
the Lebanese and Syrians arrived in Barbados due to trade opportunities.
Although in the numbers are dwindling due to emigration and immigration
to other countries.
5.Jewish people arrived in Barbados just after the first settlers in
1627. Bridgetown is the home of the oldest Jewish Synagogue in the
Western Hemisphere, dating from 1654, though the current structure was
erected in 1833 replacing one ruined by the hurricane of 1831.
Tombstones in the neighboring cemetery date from the 1630s. Now under
the care of the Barbados National Trust the site was deserted in 1929,
but was subsequently saved and restored by the Jewish community in 1983.
6.Indians from Gujarat in India make up majority of the Muslim
population. Muslim-Indian Barbadians are often perceived to be the most
successful group in business, along with the Chinese Bajans.
The average life expectancy is 77 years for both males and
females. Barbados and Japan have the distinction of
having highest number of centenarians (on a per capita basis) in the
world.
Languages
English is the root official language of Barbados, and is used for
communications, administration, and public services all over the island.
In its capacity as the official language of the country, the standard of
English tends to conform to the vocabulary, pronunciations, spellings,
and conventions akin to, but not exactly the same as, those of British
English. A regional variant of English, referred to locally as Bajan, is
spoken by most Barbadians in everyday life, especially in informal
settings. In its full-fledged form, Bajan sounds markedly different from
the Standard English heard on the island.
The degree of intelligibility between Bajan and general English changes
depending on the speakers' origins and the "rawness" of one's accent. In
rare instances, a Bajan speaker may be completely unintelligible to an
outside English speaker if sufficient slang terminology is present in a
sentence. Bajan is somewhat differentiated from, but highly influenced
by other Caribbean English dialects; it is a fusion of British English
and elements borrowed from the languages of West Africa. Hindi and
Bhojpuri are also spoken on the island by a small Indo-Bajan minority.
Spanish is considered the most popular second language on the island,
followed by French.
Religion
Main article: Religion in Barbados
Most Barbadians of African and European descent are Christians (95%),
chiefly Anglicans (40%). Other Christian denominations with significant
followings in Barbados are the Roman Catholic Church, Jehovah's
Witnesses and Spiritual Baptists. The Church of England was the official
state religion until its legal disenfranchisement by the Parliament of
Barbados following independence. Religious minorities include
Hindus, Muslims, the Baha'i Faith, and Jews.
Healthcare
Similar to other nations within the Commonwealth of Nations all
Barbadian citizens are covered by national healthcare. Barbados has over
twenty polyclinics throughout the country in addition to the Queen
Elizabeth Hospital (General Hospital) located in Bridgetown.
Education
Main article: Education in Barbados
Education in Barbados is fashioned after the British model. The
government of Barbados spends roughly 20% of its annual national budget
on education. All young people in the country must
attend school until age sixteen. Barbados' literacy rate is ranked close
to 100%, with the Minister of Education stating that Barbados was in the
top 5 countries worldwide for literacy rate. thus placing the
country alongside many of the industrialised nations of the world.
Barbados has over 70 primary schools, and over 20 secondary schools
throughout the island. There are also a number of private schools
catering to various teaching models including Montessori and
International Baccalaureate. Degree level education in the country is
provided by the Barbados Community College, the Samuel Jackman Prescod
Polytechnic, and a local Cave Hill campus of the University of the West
Indies
Culture
Main article: Culture of Barbados
See also: Music 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
cricketers, including Garfield Sobers and Frank Worrell.
Citizens are officially called Barbadians; Bajans (pronounced: "bay"
"jan" ), The term "Bajan" may have come from a localised 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. 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 festival includes musical
competitions and other traditional activities. The male and female
Barbadian that harvested the most sugarcane are also crowned as the King
and Queen of the crop. 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.
Barbados retains a strong British influence and is referred to by its
neighbours as "Little England".
Sports
Main article: Sport in Barbados
As in other Caribbean countries of British colonial heritage, cricket is
very popular on the island. Barbadians play on the West Indies cricket
team. In addition to several warm-up matches and six "Super Eight"
matches, and the country hosted the final of the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
They have had many great cricketers such as Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir
Frank Worrell, Joel Garner and Sir Clyde Walcott.
Obadele Thompson is a world class sprinter from Barbados; he won a
bronze medal at Olympic Games over 100m in 2000. Ryan Brathwaite, a
hurdler, reached the 2008 Olympic semi-finals in Beijing. Brathwaite
also earned Barbados its first ever medal at the world championships in
Berlin, Germany on August 20, 2009, when he won the men's 110 meter
hurdles title. The 21-year-old timed a national record of 13.14 seconds
to win the Gold Medal.
Polo is very popular amongst the rich 'elite' on the island and the
'High-Goal' Apes Hill team is based in the St James's Club. It is
also played at the private Holders Festival ground.
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. The Barbados Golf Club is the other main course
on the island. Sanctioned by the PGA European Tour to host a PGA Seniors
Tournament in 2003 and it has also hosted the Barbados Open on several
occasions.
Basketball is a popular sport played at school or college and is
increasing in popularity, as is volleyball, though volleyball is mainly
played indoors.
Motorsports also play a role, with Rally Barbados occurring each summer
and currently being listed on the FIA NACAM calendar.
The presence of the trade winds along with favourable swells make the
southern tip of the Island an ideal location for wave sailing (an
extreme form of the sport of windsurfing).
Netball is also popular with women in Barbados.
Barbadian team The Flyin' Fish, are the 2009 Segway Polo World
Champions.
National symbols
Flower
A yellow and red Pride of Barbados.The national flower is the Pride of
Barbados or Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw., which grows across the
island.
Flag
The trident centred within the flag is a representation of the
mythological Neptune, god of the sea. The trident in its original
unbroken form was taken from the former colonial seal, which itself was
replaced by the current coat of arms. Used within the national flag, the
left and right shafts of the trident were then designed as 'broken'
representing the nation of Barbados breaking away from its historical
and constitutional ties as a former colony.
The three points of the trident represent in Barbados the three
principles of democracy—"government of, for and by the people." The
broken trident is set in a centred vertical band of gold representing
the sands of Barbados' beaches. The gold band itself is surrounded on
both sides by vertical bands of ultramarine (blue) representing the sea
and sky of Barbados.
The design for the flag was created by Grantley W. Prescod and was
chosen from an open competition arranged by the Barbados government.
Over a thousand entries were received.
Golden Shield
The Golden Shield in the coat of arms carries two "Pride of Barbados"
flowers and the "bearded" fig tree (Caesalpinia pulcherrima), which was
common on the island at the time of its settlement by the British and
may have 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" which is symbolic of the fishing industry. On
the right is a pelican which is 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
saltire cross upon which Saint Andrew was crucified. On the base of the
Coat of Arms reads "Pride and Industry".
National heroes
Main article: Barbadian national heroes
On April 1998, the Order of National Heroes Act was passed by the
Parliament of Barbados. According to the government, the act established
that 28 April (the centenary of the birth of Sir Grantley Adams) would
be celebrated as National Heroes' Day. The act also declared that there
are ten national heroes of Barbados, all of whom would be elevated to
the title of "The Right Excellent".
The ten official National Heroes of Barbados are:
Bussa (–1816)
Sarah Ann Gill (1795–1866)
Samuel Jackman Prescod (1806–1871)
Dr. Charles Duncan O’Neal (1879–1936)
Clement Osbourne Payne (1904–1941)
Sir Grantley Herbert Adams (1898–1971)
Rt. Hon. Errol Walton Barrow (1920–1987)
Sir Hugh Worrell Springer (1913–1994)
Sir Garfield St. Aubyn Sobers (1936–)
Sir Frank Walcott (1916–1999)
See also
Caribbean portal
Commonwealth realms portal
Main article: Outline of Barbados
Index of Barbados-related articles
Notes
1.^ a b Barbados: People. World Factbook of CIA
2.^ a b c d e "Barbados". International Monetary Fund.
http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2010/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2007&ey=2010&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=316&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=49&pr.y=16.
Retrieved 2010-04-21.
3.^ Chapter 4 - The Windward Islands and Barbados - U.S. Library of
Congress
4.^ Secretariat "Barbados - History" Commonwealth of Nations
http://www.thecommonwealth.org/YearbookInternal/145147/history/
5.^ Staff (2008) "Latest Socio-Economic Indicators" Barbados Statistical
Service http://www.barstats.gov.bb/
6.^ Staff (2008) "Places of interest - BRIDGETOWN" Government of
Barbados http://www.barbados.gov.bb/places0.htm
7.^ HRM Queen Elizabeth II (2010) "History and present government -
Barbados" The Royal Household
http://www.royal.gov.uk/MonarchAndCommonwealth/TheQueenandBarbados/Historyandpresentgovernment.aspx.
Retrieved 10 May 2010
8.^ Staff writer (25 March 2010) "BARBADOS: Latest figures show tourism
is the lead foreign exchange earner" Caribbean Media Corporation
Caribbean Daily News http://www.caribbeandailynews.com/?p=9382.
Retrieved 10 May 2010
9.^ "Barbados country profile" British Broadcasting Corporation
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1154116.stm.
Retrieved 10 May 2010
10.^ Barbados the Red Land with White Teeth: Home of the Amerindians
Barbados Museum & Historical Society 1998 http://www.barbmuse.org.bb/.
Retrieved 14 May 2010 "A temporary exhibit which examined some of the
preliminary excavations conducted at the dig site at Heywoods, St.
Peter."
11.^ Barbados - Geography / History Fun 'N' Sun Publishing Inc. 2008
http://www.coucouandflyingfish.com/main/where.html. Retrieved 14 May
2010
12.^ Faria, Norman (17) "Guyana Consul (Barbados) Visit to Former
Amerindian Village Site in B'dos" Guyana Chronicle newspaper Pan-Tribal
Confederacy of Indigenous Tribal Nations p. Pg 2.
http://www.pantribalconfederacy.com/confederacy/News/pdf/guyana_consul_visit.pdf.
Retrieved 14 May 2010 "Adjacent to the park, there is still a fresh
water stream. This as a main reason the village was here. A hundred or
so metres away is the sea and a further five hundred metres out across a
lagoon was the outlying reef where the Atlantic swells broke on the
coral in shallow waters. As an aside, the word "Ichirouganaim", said to
be an Arawak word which the Amerindians used to dsecribe Barbados, is
thought to refer to the imagery of "teeth" imagery of the waves breaking
on the reefs off most of southern and eastern coasts."
13.^ [|Drewett, Dr. Peter] (1991) Prehistoric Barbados Barbados Museum
and Historical Society ISBN 1873132158
14.^ [|Drewett, Dr. Peter] (April) Prehistoric Settlements in the
Caribbean: Fieldwork on Barbados, Tortola and the Cayman Islands
Archetype Publications Ltd. ISBN 1873132220
15.^ "AXSES Systems Caribbean Inc., The Barbados Tourism Encyclopaedia".
Barbados.org. 2007-02-08. http://www.barbados.org/history1.htm.
Retrieved 2010-07-04.
16.^ "Britannica Encyclopaedia: History of Barbados". Britannica.com.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/52655/Barbados/54603/History.
Retrieved 2010-07-04.
17.^ "The Commonwealth of Nations: Barbados – History".
Thecommonwealth.org. 1966-11-30.
http://thecommonwealth.org/YearbookInternal/145147/history/. Retrieved
2010-07-04.
18.^ National Cultural Foundation[dead link]
19.^ a b c Carrington, Sean (2007). A~Z of Barbados Heritage. Macmillan
Caribbean Publishers Limited. p. 25. ISBN 0-333-92068-6.
20.^ a b UCTP
21.^ Karl Watson, The Civil War in Barbados, British History in-depth ,
BBC, 5 November 2009
22.^ a b Barbados: Just Beyond Your Imagination. Hansib Publishing
(Caribbean) Ltd. 1997. p. 46, 48. ISBN 1870518543.
23.^ "Caribbean: News in the Caribbean - Caribbean360.com".
Caribbean360.com<!.
http://www.caribbean360.com/News/Stories/2008/01/16/NEWS0000005329.html.
Retrieved 2009-12-30.
24.^ The official Constitution of Barbados (2006) version.
25.^ a b "Law Courts of Barbados". Lawcourts.gov.bb.
http://www.lawcourts.gov.bb/Aboutus.html. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
26.^ BarbadosBusiness.gov.bb, The Barbados Government's Regional and
International affiliations]
27.^ World Bank – Country Groups.. Retrieved October 05, 2009.
28.^ Morris, Roy (2006-01-02). "Builders paradise". The Nation
Newspaper. Archived from the original on 2009-01-04.
http://web.archive.org/web/20060104024455/http://www.nationnews.com/story/285076846570648.php.
Retrieved 2009-07-29. "Industry sources are warning, however, that while
the boom will bring many jobs and much income, ordinary Barbadians
hoping to undertake home construction or improvement will be hard
pressed to find materials or labour, given the large number of massive
commercial projects with which they will have to compete. [ . . . ]
Construction magnate Sir Charles 'COW' Williams, agreeing that this year
will be "without doubt" the biggest ever for the island as far as
construction was concerned, revealed that his organisation was in the
final stages of the construction of a new $6 million plant at Lears, St
Michael to double its capacity to produce concrete blocks, as well as a
new $2 million plant to supply ready-mixed concrete from its fleet of
trucks. "The important thing to keep in mind is that the country will
benefit tremendously from a massive injection of foreign exchange from
people who want to own homes here," Sir Charles said."
29.^ Lashley, Cathy (2009-07-24). "Barbados signs agreement with EU".
Caribbean Net News.
http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/news-17865--26-26--.html. Retrieved
2009-07-29.
30.^ H, R (2009-07-28). "Treaty network an advantage in securities
trading". Barbados Advocate.
http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=business&NewsID=5140.
Retrieved 2009-07-28.
31.^ Population, Slavery and Economy in Barbados, BBC.
32.^ The Irish in the Caribbean 1641–1837: An Overview, By Nini Rodgers,
Society for Irish Latin American Studies
33.^ www.redspider.biz, Rajkumar Singh (2006-01-20). "Parliament: Act of
Parliament concerning the Anglican church". Caricomlaw.org.
http://www.caricomlaw.org/doc.php?id=179Barbados. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
34.^ "Welcome to the Barbados Baha’i Website". Bci.org.
http://bci.org/barbados/Bahai/The_Bahais_Of_Barbados.html. Retrieved
2010-07-04.
35.^ B., Y. (9 September 2009). "'Our literacy rating in Top 5'". Nation
Newspaper.
http://www.nationnews.com/story/jones-on-literacy-copy-for-web.
Retrieved 11 September 2009. "Mere days after deputy principal of the
Erdiston Teachers' Training College, Dr Patricia Saul, suggested the
touted 98 per cent literacy rate was a myth, Minister of Education and
Human Resources Development Ronald Jones said the country was ranked
among the highest in the world. "In a world where there are still some
776 million adults who are illiterate, and some 75 million children who
are out of school, we are proud to say that we have free education from
the nursery to tertiary level and our literacy rate is still among the
highest in the world—fourth in the world, and that is exceptionally
high," Jones said. Speaking at yesterday's Literacy Fair in Queen's
Park, Jones said teachers, principals, parents, students and all those
involved in the process needed to be applauded for "keeping us on that
edge"." [dead link]
36.^ "Crop Over Festival". 2camels.com.
http://www.2camels.com/crop-over-festival.php. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
37.^ http://www.apeshillclub.com/Polo/
38.^ Harris, Alan (2009-07-26). "Barbados Segway Polo team 2009 World
Champions". Barbados Advocate.
http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=sports&NewsID=5079.
Retrieved 2009-07-26.
39.^ "Government of Barbados National Flag". Barbados.gov.bb.
2003-11-12. http://www.barbados.gov.bb/natflag.htm. Retrieved
2010-07-04.
40.^ Government of Barbados – National HeroesHistory of Barbados, The
Parliament of Barbados
References
Burns, Sir Alan 1965. History of the British West Indies. George Allen
and Unwin Ltd, London England.
This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World
Factbook document "2000 edition".
This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World
Factbook document "2003 edition".
Davis, David Brion. Inhuman Bondage: The Rise and Fall of Slavery in the
New World. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. ISBN 0-19-514073-7
Frere, Samuel, A short history of Barbados: from its first discovery and
settlement, to the end of the year 1767, published by J. Dodsley,
London, 1768, download pdf from archive.org
Gragg, Larry Dale, 2003. Englishmen transplanted: the English
colonization of Barbados, 1627–1660. Oxford University Press, ISBN
0-19-925389-7
Hamshere, Cyril 1972. The British In the Caribbean. Harvard University
Press, Massachusetts USA. ISBN 0-674-08235-4
Northrup, David, ed. The Atlantic Slave Trade, Second Edition. Boston,
Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. ISBN 0-618-11624-9
O'Shaughnessy, Andrew Jackson 2000. An Empire Divided: The American
Revolution and the British Caribbean. University of Pennsylvania Press,
Philadelphia ISBN 0-8122-1732-2
Rogozinski, January 1999. A Brief History of the Caribbean: From the
Arawak and Carib to the Present. Revised version New York, USA. ISBN
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Scott, Caroline 1999. Insight Guide Barbados. Discovery Channel and
Insight Guides; fourth edition, Singapore. ISBN 0-88729-033-7
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