Barbados Facts and Culture

What is Barbados famous for?

• Cultural Attributes: Informal English phrases are common. More
• Family: Extended family is important and members may live with or near one another. The mother's role in rearing children is... More
• Personal Apperance: Bajan cuisine combines African and English traditions. Fast foods and Pizza are becoming popular. More
• Recreation: Cricket is the national sport. The coral reefs encourage diving with sunken ships close for exploration. Dominoes is the... More
• Food and Recipes: Steamed Flying Fish combined with Cou-Cou is considered the national dish of Barbados.  Salt cod or codfish preserved with salt... More
• Visiting: Bajans usually visit on weekends with a favorite time for men to gather being Sunday Morning. Cricket matches are important... More

What is the capital of Barbados?

Capital	Bridgetown
Government Type	parliamentary republic; a Commonwealth realm
Currency	Barbadian dollars (BBD)
Total Area	166 Square Miles 430 Square Kilometers
Location	The Caribbean, an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Language	English
GDP - real growth rate	1.7%
GDP - per capita (PPP)	$17,200.00 (USD)

What is the population of Barbados?

Ethnic Groups	Black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%
Nationality Noun	Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
Population	294,560
Population Growth Rate	0.34%
Population in Major Urban Areas	BRIDGETOWN (capital) 122,000
Urban Population	44.400000

What type of government does Barbados have?

Executive Branch	chief of state: President Sandra MASON (since 30 November 2021) previous Queen ELIZABETH II (6 February 1952 - 8 September 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 25 May 2018) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: president elected by an electoral college of both Houses of Parliament for a 4-year renewable term; election last held on 20 October 2021; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister election results: Sandra MASON elected as first president on 20 October 2021
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal
Citizenship	citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
National Holiday	Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Constitution	history: adopted 22 November 1966, effective 30 November 1966; Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021 establishes Barbados as a republic and revokes the earlier Order in Council amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as citizenship, fundamental rights and freedoms, and the organization and authorities of the branches of government requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of Parliament; passage of other amendments only requires a majority vote of both houses; amended several times, last in 2021 note: following the transition to a republic in November 2021, the Government of Barbados in February 2022 began the process of establishing a constitution commission to review a new draft constitution
Independence	30 November 1966 (from the UK)

YouTube: Anne Martin The Island of Barbados: History and Ecology

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What environmental issues does Barbados have?

Overview	Barbados lies about 270 miles northeast of Venezuela and 1,612 miles southeast of Miami. The island is 21 miles long and 14 miles wide with an area of 166 square miles. Constant westward tradewinds temper the tropical climate throughout the year. Situated 100 miles to the east of the Caribbean Windward Island chain, Barbados is distinct from those islands by the fact that it is a coral island, rather than volcanic, and relatively flat. Mt. Hillaby, the highest point, is only 1,104 feet above sea level. Bridgetown, the capital, is located on the southwest corner of the island. The west and south coast areas are densely populated, with hotels, residential, and commercial areas intermingling. The rugged, windswept East Coast boasts the scenic Scotland District. The currents on the East Coast are very dangerous, and swimming is forbidden on many of its beaches. The interior of the island rises gently and sugarcane fields are interspersed with villages, farms, and the occasional plantation Great House.
Climate	The temperature in Barbados varies little during the year, averaging about 77°F (25°C) and rarely rising above 89°F (32°C) or falling below 65°F (18°C). However, the intensity of the sun this near to the Equator often makes it seem much hotter, especially when combined with high humidity. During July through October, the rainy season as well as the hurricane season, high humidity levels make the weather quite uncomfortable. During the dry winter months from November through May, which is the tourist season, it is more comfortable and can even become cool in the evenings. However, even in these months a significant amount of rain can fall.
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
Terrain	Relatively flat; rises gently to a central highland region

How big is the Barbados economy?

Economic Overview	Barbados is the wealthiest and one of the most developed countries in the Eastern Caribbean and enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the region. 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. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners, boosted by being in the same time zone as eastern US financial centers and by a relatively highly educated workforce. Following the 2008-09 recession, external vulnerabilities such as fluctuations in international oil prices have hurt economic growth, raised Barbados' already high public debt to GDP ratio - which stood at 105% of GDP in 2016 - and cut into its international reserves.
Industries	Tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export
Currency Name and Code	Barbadian dollars (BBD)
Export Partners	Trinidad and Tobago 22.5%, United States 11.8%, St. Lucia 9.2%, St. Vincent and the Grenadines 5.7%, Antigua and Barbuda 4.7%, St. Kitts and Nevis 4.4%, Guyana 4.2%
Import Partners	Trinidad and Tobago 39%, United States 31.1%

What current events are happening in Barbados?
Source: Google News

What makes Barbados a unique country to travel to?

Country Description

Barbados is an independent Caribbean island nation with a developed economy. The capital is Bridgetown. Facilities for tourism are widely available. The U.S. Embassy in Barbados has consular responsibility for Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts, and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines, as well as the British dependent territories of Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, and Montserrat, and the French islands of Martinique, Guadeloupe, St. Barthélemy and St. Martin.

Crime

Crime in Barbados is characterized primarily by petty theft and street crime. Incidents of violent crime, including rape, do occur. Visitors should be especially vigilant on the beaches at night. In 2012 several female tourists were reportedly sexually assaulted in separate attacks while walking alone in the Holetown area on the West Coast of Barbados.

As always, visitors to and residents in Barbados should always be aware of their surroundings and exercise caution, especially when walking alone and even during the day. If walking alone, avoid secluded areas. Always secure valuables in a hotel safe, and always lock and secure a hotel room and rental home doors and windows.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, but if you purchase them you may be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Barbados, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Barbados, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Persons violating Barbados laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs in Barbados are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Medical Facilities and Health Information

The main medical facility in Barbados is Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Medical care is good for the region, but medical transport can take hours to respond and ambulance attendants are prohibited from applying lifesaving techniques during transport. Minor problems requiring a visit to the emergency room can involve a wait of several hours; private clinics and physicians offer speedier service. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars. Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health services, and U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

While in Barbados, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Driving in Barbados is on the left-hand side of the road. Registered taxis and large public buses are generally safe. Private vans and small buses are often crowded and tend to travel at excessive speeds. Travelers are cautioned against riding in private mini-buses, known as “Z buses”, as the owners frequently drive erratically. Night driving should be done with caution because of narrow roads with no shoulders and pedestrian/bicycle traffic. Visitors are warned to be extremely careful when driving, riding in a vehicle, or crossing roads on foot.