Barbados
Pride and Industry
About Barbados
Barbados is a small island nation located in the south-eastern Caribbean Sea. It lies east of the Windward Islands, with Saint Lucia to the north, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the west, and Trinidad and Tobago to the south. The island is relatively flat overall, though Mount Hillaby, the country’s highest point, rises to approximately 336 metres through a series of terraced tablelands. Barbados is also encircled by extensive coral reefs that support its coastal ecosystems.
Quasi Cabinet Portfolio Allocation
Single Market and Economy (including Monetary Union)
About Barbados
Key facts
Date of Membership in CARICOM: 1 Aug 1973
Also Known as:Land Of The Flying Fish
Status of Independence:Independent November 30th 1966
Area: 431 km2 (166.4 miles2)
Capital City: Bridgetown
Population: 285,000 (2013)
Currency: Barbados Dollar Bds$
Highest National Award: Knight or Dame of St. Andrew
Economy
GDP Growth: 0.9% p.a. 1990–2013
GNI: US$4.2bn
GNI PC: US$15,172
Key dates in history
SOME KEY DATES IN HISTORY
1536 Sighted by Portuguese explorer, Pedro a Campos. Island named `Os Barbados’ after bearded fig trees which grew on beaches
1627 Occupied by British settlers
1639 House of Assembly founded
1958 Joined West Indies Federation
1965 CARIFTA Agreement signed at Dickenson Bay, Antigua. Barbados among the first signatories
1966 Independence achieved. Errol Barrow, first Prime Minister
2021 Republic Status
Key Dates in History
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1966
Barbados gains Independence
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1968
Barbados joins CARIFTA
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1973
Barbados becomes a founding signatory of CARICOM
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1975
Barbados hosts important early CARICOM economic consultations
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1989
Supports the Grand Anse Declaration for deeper integration
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1997
CARICOM Charter of Civil Society signed in Barbados
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2001
Barbados signs Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas
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2005
Barbados becomes one of the first states to accede to the Caribbean Court of Justice
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2006
Barbados participates in formal launch of the CARICOM Single Market
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2021
Barbados transitions to a republic while remaining committed to CARICOM integration