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Barbados Quick Facts |
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PROFILE |
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Geography |
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Area:
431 sq. km. (166 sq. mi.); about three times the size of Washington,
DC. |
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People |
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Nationality:
Noun and adjective--Barbadian(s); also "Bajan(s)."
Population (1996): 264,500. Average annual growth rate (1996): 0.4%. Ethnic groups: African 80%, mixed 16%, European 4%. Religions: Anglican 70%, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, and Moravian. Language: English. Education: Attendance--primary school 100%, secondary school 93%. Adult literacy--99%. Health: Infant mortality rate (1995)--13/1,000. Life expectancy--75 yrs. men; 77 yrs. women. Work force (1995): 136,000. Sectors--commerce, tourism, government, manufacturing, agriculture, and fishing. Unemployment (1999): 19.7%. |
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About
80% of Barbados' population is of African descent, 4% European descent,
and 16% mixed. About 70% of Barbadians are Anglican, and the rest
mostly Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, and Moravian. There also
are small Jewish and Muslim communities. Barbados' population growth
rate has been very low, less than 1% since the 1960s, largely due
to family planning efforts and a high emigration rate. |
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POLITICAL
CONDITIONS |
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The
three political parties--the Barbados Labor Party (BLP), the Democratic
Labor Party (DLP), and the National Democratic Party (NDP)--are
all moderate and have no major ideological differences; electoral
contests and political disputes often have personal overtones. The
major political problems facing Barbados today are in promoting
economic growth: creating jobs, encouraging agricultural diversification,
attracting small industry, and promoting tourism. |
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In
parliamentary elections held October 6, 1994, the BLP won a decisive
victory over the DLP of former Prime Minister Erskine Sandiford.
The BLP won 19 seats to the DLP's eight; one seat went to the NDP.
The new Prime Minister, Owen Arthur, who also serves as Minister
of Finance, has given a high priority to economic development. The
main opposition party, the DLP, is led by David Thompson. |
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Principal
Government Officials |
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Head
of State--Queen Elizabeth II Governor General--Sir Clifford Straughn Husbands Prime Minister--Owen Arthur Ambassador to the U.S. and the OAS--Dr. Courtney Blackman Ambassador to the UN--Carlston Boucher |
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Barbados
maintains an embassy in the United States located at 2144 Wyoming
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-939-9200), a consulate
general in New York City at 800 2nd Avenue, 18th Floor, New York,
NY 10017 (tel. 212-867-8435), and a consulate general in Miami at
150 Alhambra Circle, Suite 1270, Coral Gables, FL 33134 (tel. 305-442-1994).
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FOREIGN
RELATIONS |
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As
a small nation, the primary thrust of Barbados' diplomatic activity
has been within international organizations. The island is a member
of the Commonwealth and participates in its activities. Barbados
was admitted to the United Nations in December 1966. Barbados joined
the Organization of American States (OAS) in 1967. |
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On
July 4, 1973, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Jamaica
signed a treaty in Trinidad to found the Caribbean Community and
Common Market (CARICOM). In May 1974, most of the remaining English-speaking
Caribbean states joined CARICOM, which now has 14 members. Barbados
is also a member of the Caribbean Development Bank, established
in 1970, with headquarters in Bridgetown. The eastern Caribbean's
Regional Security System, which associates Barbados with six other
island nations, is also headquartered in Barbados. In July 1994,
Barbados joined the newly established Association of Caribbean States
(ACS). |
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As
a member of CARICOM, Barbados supported efforts by the United States
to implement UN Security Council Resolution 940, designed to facilitate
the departure of Haiti's de facto authorities from power. The country
agreed to contribute personnel to the multinational force, which
restored the democratically elected government of Haiti in October
1994. |
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In
May 1997, Prime Minister Owen Arthur hosted President Clinton and
14 other Caribbean leaders during the first-ever U.S.-regional summit
in Bridgetown, Barbados. The summit strengthened the basis for regional
cooperation on justice and counternarcotics issues, finance and
development, and trade. |
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| Barbados
has diplomatic missions headed by resident ambassadors or high commissioners
in Canada, the U.K., the U.S., and Venezuela, and at the European
Union (Brussels) and the UN. It also has resident consuls general
in Toronto, Miami, and New York City. Australia, Brazil, Cuba, Canada,
Colombia, China, Guatemala, the U.K., the U.S., and Venezuela have
ambassadors or high commissioners resident in Barbados. |
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| Within
USA or Canada call Toll Free: 1-888-254-0637 Give Promo Code 8862 when calling. |
Cheap
flight to Barbados |
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Travelling
Times |
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| London UK |
8 |
| Florida USA |
4 |
| Central Europe |
10 |
| Canada |
6 |
| BOUGAINVILLEA
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