Barbados

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Coordinates: 13°10′12″N 59°33′09″W

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the country in the Caribbean. For
other uses, see Barbados (disambiguation). Not to be
confused with Barbuda or Barbatos.

Barbados

Flag
 Coat of arms

Motto: "Pride and Industry"

Anthem: "In Plenty and In Time of

Need"
Duration: 1 minute and 39 seconds.1:39

Capital Bridgetown
and largest city 13°05′52″N 59°3
7′06″W

Official langua English

ges

Vernacular Bajan Creole

language

Ethnic groups 92.4% Black

3.1% multiracial
(2020[1]) 2.7% White
 1.3% Indian
0.3% others
Religion 75.6% Christianity
(2020) 20.6% no religion
2.0% Baha'i faith
1.1% Hinduism
0.7% others[1]
Demonym(s) Barbadian
Bajan (colloquial)
Government Unitary
parliamentary
republic
• President Sandra Mason
• Prime Minister Mia Mottley
Legislature Parliament
• Upper house Senate
• Lower house House of Assembly
Independence
from the United Kingdom
• Part of the West 3 January 1958 –
Indies 31 May 1962
Federation
• Sovereignty 30 November 1966
• Admitted to the 7 December 1966
UN
• Joined CARICO 1 August 1973
M at the Treaty
of Chaguaramas
• Republic 30 November 2021
established
 Area
• Total 439 km2 (169 sq mi
) (183rd)
• Water (%) Negligible
Population
• 2023 estimate 281,998[2] (174th)
• 2021 census 269,090[3] (174th)
• Density 660/km2 (1,709.4/
sq mi) (17th)
GDP (PPP) 2023 estimate
• Total $5.436
billion[4] (175th)
• Per capita $18,738[4] (90th)
GDP (nominal) 2023 estimate
• Total $6.220
billion[4] (165th)
• Per capita $21,442[4] (50th)
HDI (2022) 0.809[5]
very high (62nd)
Currency Barbadian
dollar ($) (BBD)
Time zone UTC−4 (AST)
Drives on left[6]
Calling code +1 -246
ISO 3166 code BB
Internet TLD .bb
Barbados (UK: /bɑːrˈbeɪdɒs/ bar-BAY-doss; US: /bɑːr
ˈbeɪdoʊs/ bar-BAY-dohss; locally /bɑːrˈbeɪdəs/ bar-BAY-
dəss) is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of
the West Indies, in the Caribbean region next to North
America and north of South America, and is the most
easterly of the Caribbean islands. It lies on the boundary
of the South American and the Caribbean Plates. Its
capital and largest city is Bridgetown.
Inhabited by Kalinago people since the 13th century, and
prior to that by other Indigenous peoples, Spanish
navigators took possession of Barbados in the late 15th
century, claiming it for the Crown of Castile. It first
appeared on a Spanish map in 1511.[7] The Portuguese
Empire claimed the island between 1532 and 1536, but
abandoned it in 1620 with their only remnants being an
introduction of wild boars for a good supply of meat
whenever the island was visited. An English ship,
the Olive Blossom, arrived in Barbados on 14 May 1625;
its men took possession of the island in the name of King
James I. In 1627, the first permanent settlers arrived
from England, and Barbados became an English and
later British colony.[8] During this period, the colony
operated on a plantation economy, relying on the labour
of African slaves who worked on the island's plantations.
Slavery continued until it was phased out through most
of the British Empire by the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.
On 30 November 1966, Barbados moved towards
political independence and assumed the status of
a Commonwealth realm, becoming a separate
jurisdiction with Elizabeth II as the Queen of Barbados.
On 30 November 2021, Barbados later transitioned to
a republic within the Commonwealth, replacing its
monarchy with a ceremonial president.[9][10]
Barbados's population is predominantly of African
ancestry. While it is technically an Atlantic island,
Barbados is closely associated with the Caribbean and is
ranked as one of its leading tourist destinations.[11]
Etymology
The name "Barbados" is from either
the Portuguese term os barbados or the Spanish
equivalent, los barbados, both meaning "the bearded
ones".[12][13] It is unclear whether "bearded" refers to the
long, hanging roots of the bearded fig-tree (Ficus
citrifolia), a species of banyan indigenous to the island,
or to the allegedly bearded Kalinago (Island Caribs) who
once inhabited the island, or, more fancifully, to a visual
impression of a beard formed by the sea foam that
sprays over the outlying coral reefs. In 1519, a map
produced by the Genoese mapmaker Visconte
Maggiolo showed and named Barbados in its correct
position.[citation needed] Furthermore, the island of Barbuda in
the Leewards is very similar in name and was once
named "Las Barbudas" by the Spanish.[citation needed]
The original name for Barbados in the Pre-Columbian
era was Ichirouganaim, according to accounts by
descendants of the indigenous Arawakan-speaking
tribes in other regional areas, with possible translations
including "Red land with white teeth"[14] or "Redstone
island with teeth outside (reefs)"[15] or simply "Teeth".[16][17]
[18]

Colloquially, Barbadians refer to their home island as

"Bim" or other nicknames associated with Barbados,
including "Bimshire". The origin is uncertain, but several
theories exist. The National Cultural Foundation of
Barbados says that "Bim" was a word commonly used
by slaves, and that it derives from
the Igbo term bém from bé mụ́ meaning "my home,
kindred, kind";[19] the Igbo phoneme [e] in the Igbo
orthography is very close to /ɪ/.[20] The name could have
arisen due to the relatively large percentage
of Igbo slaves from modern-day
southeastern Nigeria arriving in Barbados in the 18th
century.[21][22] The words "Bim" and "Bimshire" are
recorded in the Oxford English Dictionary and Chambers
Twentieth Century Dictionaries. Another possible source
for "Bim" is reported to be in the Agricultural Reporter of
25 April 1868, where the Rev. N. Greenidge (father of
one of the island's most famous scholars, Abel Hendy
Jones Greenidge) suggested that Bimshire was
"introduced by an old planter listing it as a county of
England". Expressly named were "Wiltshire, Hampshire,
Berkshire and Bimshire".[19] Lastly, in the Daily Argosy (of
Demerara, i.e. Guyana) of 1652, there is a reference to
Bim as a possible corruption of "Byam", the name of a
Royalist leader against the Parliamentarians. That
source suggested the followers of Byam became known
as "Bims" and that this became a word for all
Barbadians.[19]
History
Main article: History of Barbados
Geological history
Around 700,000 years ago, the island emerged from the
ocean as a body of soft rock known as a diapir rose from
the mantle beneath its present-day location. This
process is still ongoing, raising Barbados at an average
rate of 30 centimeters per thousand years.[23] Dozens of
inland sea reefs still dominate coastal features within
terraces and cliffs on the island.[24]
Pre-colonial period
Archeological evidence suggests humans may have first
settled or visited the island c. 1600 BC.[25][26][27] More
permanent Amerindian settlement of Barbados dates to
about the 4th to 7th centuries AD, by a group known as
the Saladoid-Barrancoid.[28] Settlements of Arawaks from
South America appeared by around 800 AD and again in
the 12th–13th century.[25] The Kalinago (called "Caribs"
by the Spanish) visited the island regularly, although
there is no evidence of permanent settlement.[29]
European arrival

Spanish map of the island (1632)

It is uncertain which European nation arrived first in
Barbados, which probably would have been at some
point in the 15th century or 16th century. One lesser-
known source points to earlier revealed works antedating
contemporary sources, indicating it could have been the
Spanish.[7] Many, if not most, believe the Portuguese, en
route to Brazil,[30][31] were the first Europeans to come
upon the island. The island was largely ignored by
Europeans, though Spanish slave raiding is thought to
have reduced the native population, with many fleeing to
other islands.[25][32]
English settlement in the 17th century

George Washington House was

visited by George Washington in 1751, in what is
believed to have been his only trip outside the present-
day United States.[33]
The first English ship, which had arrived on 14 May
1625, was captained by John Powell. The first settlement
began on 17 February 1627, near what is
now Holetown (formerly Jamestown, after King James I
of England),[34] by a group led by John Powell's younger
brother, Henry, consisting of 80 settlers and 10
English indentured labourers.[35] Some sources state that
some Africans were amongst these first settlers.[25]
The settlement was established as a proprietary
colony and funded by Sir William Courten, a City of
London merchant who acquired the title to Barbados and
several other islands. The first colonists were actually
tenants, and much of the profits of their labour returned
to Courten and his company.[36] Courten's title was later
transferred to James Hay, 1st Earl of Carlisle, in what
was called the "Great Barbados Robbery".[citation
needed]
Carlisle then chose as governor Henry Powell, who
established the House of Assembly in 1639, in an effort
to appease the planters, who might otherwise have
opposed his controversial appointment.[25][37]
In the period 1640–1660, the West Indies attracted more
than two-thirds of the total number of English emigrants
to the Americas. By 1650, there were 44,000 settlers in
the West Indies, as compared to 12,000 on
the Chesapeake and 23,000 in New England. Most
English arrivals were indentured. After five years of
labour, they were given "freedom dues" of about £10,
usually in goods. Before the mid-1630s, they also
received 5 to 10 acres (2 to 4 hectares) of land, but after
that time the island filled and there was no more free
land. During the Cromwellian era (1650s) this included a
large number of prisoners-of-war, vagrants and people
who were illicitly kidnapped, who were forcibly
transported to the island and sold as servants. These
last two groups were predominantly Irish, as several
thousand were infamously rounded up by English
merchants and sold into servitude in Barbados and other
Caribbean islands during this period, a practice that
came to be known as being Barbadosed.[37][38] Cultivation
of sugar was thus handled primarily by European
indentured labour until it became difficult to bring more
indentured servants from England.[39]
Parish registers from the 1650s show that, for the white
population, there were four times as many deaths as
marriages. The mainstay of the infant colony's economy
was the growth export of tobacco, but tobacco prices
eventually fell in the 1630s as Chesapeake production
expanded.[37]
Effects of the English Civil War
Main articles: English overseas possessions in the Wars
of the Three Kingdoms and Restoration in the English
colonies
Around the same time, 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,
remaining 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 3 October 1650 prohibiting trade between
England and Barbados, 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.
Ayscue, with a smaller force that included Scottish
prisoners, surprised a larger force of Royalists, but had
to resort to spying and diplomacy ultimately. On 11
January 1652, the Royalists in the House of Assembly
led by Lord Willoughby surrendered, which marked the
end of royalist privateering as a major threat.[40] The
conditions of the surrender were incorporated into
the Charter of Barbados (Treaty of Oistins), which was
signed at the Mermaid's Inn, Oistins, on 17 January
1652.[41]
Irish people in Barbados
Main article: Irish people in Barbados
Starting with Cromwell, a large percentage of the white
labourer population were indentured servants and
involuntarily transported people from Ireland. Irish
servants in Barbados were often treated poorly, and
Barbadian planters gained a reputation for cruelty.[42]:
55
The decreased appeal of an indenture on Barbados,
combined with enormous demand for labour caused by
sugar cultivation, led to the use of involuntary
transportation to Barbados as a punishment for crimes,
or for political prisoners, and also to the kidnapping of
labourers who were deported to Barbados.[42]: 55 Irish
indentured servants were a significant portion of the
population throughout the period when white servants
were used for plantation labour in Barbados, and while a
"steady stream" of Irish servants entered the Barbados
throughout the 17th century, Cromwellian efforts to
pacify Ireland created a "veritable tidal wave" of Irish
labourers who were sent to Barbados during the 1650s.
[42]: 56
Due to inadequate historical records, the total
number of Irish labourers sent to Barbados is unknown,
and estimates have been "highly contentious".[42]: 56 While
one historical source estimated that as many as 50,000
Irish people were deported to either Barbados or Virginia
during the 1650s, this estimate is "quite likely
exaggerated".[42]: 56 Another estimate that 12,000 Irish
prisoners had arrived in Barbados by 1655 has been
described as "probably exaggerated" by historian
Richard B. Sheridan.[43]: 236 According to historian Thomas
Bartlett, it is "generally accepted" that approximately
10,000 Irish were deported to the West Indies and
approximately 40,000 came as voluntary indentured
servants, while many also travelled as voluntary, un-
indentured emigrants.[44]: 256
The sugar revolution

The introduction of sugar cane from Dutch Brazil in 1640

completely transformed society, the economy and the
physical landscape. Barbados eventually had one of the
world's biggest sugar industries.[45] One group
instrumental in ensuring the early success of the industry
was the Sephardic Jews, who had originally been
expelled from the Iberian peninsula, to end up in Dutch
Brazil.[45] As the effects of the new crop increased, so did
the shift in the ethnic composition of Barbados and
surrounding islands.[37] The workable sugar plantation
required a large investment and a great deal of heavy
labour. At first, Dutch traders supplied the equipment,
financing, and African slaves, in addition to transporting
most of the sugar to Europe.[37][25] In 1644 the population
of Barbados was estimated at 30,000, of which about
800 were of African ancestry, with the remainder mainly
of English ancestry. These English smallholders were
eventually bought out and the island filled up with large
sugar plantations worked by African slaves.[25] By 1660
there was near parity with 27,000 blacks and 26,000
whites. By 1666 at least 12,000 white smallholders had
been bought out, died, or left the island, many choosing
to emigrate to Jamaica or the American
Colonies (notably the Carolinas).[25] As a result, Barbados
enacted a slave code as a way of legislatively controlling
its black slave population.[46] The law's text was influential
in laws in other colonies.[47]
By 1680 there were 20,000 free whites and 46,000
enslaved Africans;[25] by 1724, there were 18,000 free
whites and 55,000 enslaved Africans.[37]
18th and 19th centuries
 Statue of Bussa, Bridgetown. Bussa led
the largest slave rebellion in Barbadian history.
The harsh conditions endured by the slaves resulted in
several planned slave rebellions, the largest of which
was Bussa's rebellion in 1816 which was rapidly
suppressed by the colonial authorities.[25] In 1819,
another slave revolt broke out on Easter Day. The revolt
was put down in blood, with heads being displayed on
stakes. Nevertheless, the brutality of the repression
shocked even England and strengthened the abolitionist
movement.[48] Growing opposition to slavery led to its
abolition in the British Empire in 1833.
[25]
The plantocracy class retained control of political and
economic power on the island, with most workers living
in relative poverty.[25]
The 1780 hurricane killed more than 4,000 people on
Barbados.[49][50] In 1854, a cholera epidemic killed more
than 20,000 inhabitants.[51]
20th century before independence
Deep dissatisfaction with the situation on Barbados led
many to emigrate.[25][52] Things came to a head in the
1930s during the Great Depression, as
Barbadians began demanding better conditions for
workers, the legalisation of trade unions and a widening
of the franchise, which at that point was limited to male
property owners.[25] As a result of the increasing unrest
the British sent a commission, called the West Indies
Royal Commission, or Moyne Commission, in 1938,
which recommended enacting many of the requested
reforms on the islands.[25] As a result, Afro-Barbadians
began to play a much more prominent role in the
colony's politics, with universal suffrage being introduced
in 1950.[25]
Prominent among these early activists was Grantley
Herbert Adams, who helped found the Barbados Labour
Party (BLP) in 1938.[53] He became the first Premier of
Barbados in 1953, followed by fellow BLP-founder Hugh
Gordon Cummins from 1958 to 1961. A group of left-
leaning politicians who advocated swifter moves to
independence broke off from the BLP and founded
the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) in 1955.[54][55] The DLP
subsequently won the 1961 Barbadian general
election and their leader Errol Barrow became premier.
[citation needed]

Full internal self-government was enacted in 1961.

[25]
Barbados joined the short-lived British West Indies
Federation from 1958 to 1962, later gaining full
independence on 30 November 1966.[25] Errol Barrow
became the country's first prime minister. Barbados
opted to remain within the Commonwealth of Nations.
The effect of political independence meant that the
United Kingdom government ceased to having
sovereignty over Barbados, Elizabeth II, instead,
reigning in the country became the Queen of Barbados.
The monarch then was represented locally by
a governor-general.[56]
Post-independence era
The Barrow government sought to diversify the economy
away from agriculture, seeking to boost industry and the
tourism sector. Barbados was also at the forefront of
regional integration efforts, spearheading the creation
of CARIFTA and CARICOM.[25] The DLP lost the 1976
Barbadian general election to the BLP under Tom
Adams. Adams adopted a more conservative and
strongly pro-Western stance, allowing the Americans to
use Barbados as the launchpad for their invasion of
Grenada in 1983.[57] Adams died in office in 1985 and
was replaced by Harold Bernard St. John; however, St.
John lost the 1986 Barbadian general election, which
saw the return of the DLP under Errol Barrow, who had
been highly critical of the US intervention in Grenada.
Barrow, too, died in office, and was replaced by Lloyd
Erskine Sandiford, who remained Prime Minister until
1994.[citation needed]
Owen Arthur of the BLP won the 1994 Barbadian
general election, remaining prime minister until 2008.
[58]
Arthur was a strong advocate of republicanism, though
a planned referendum to replace Queen Elizabeth as
Head of State in 2008 never took place.[59] The DLP won
the 2008 Barbadian general election, but the new Prime
Minister David Thompson died in 2010 and was replaced
by Freundel Stuart. The BLP returned to power in
2018 under Mia Mottley, who became Barbados's first
female prime minister.[60]
Transition to republic
Main article: Republicanism in Barbados
The Government of Barbados announced on 15
September 2020 that it intended to become a republic by
30 November 2021, the 55th anniversary of its
independence, resulting in the replacement of
the Barbadian monarchy with a president elected
through electoral college.[61][62] Barbados would then
cease to be a Commonwealth realm, but could maintain
membership in the Commonwealth of Nations,
like Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.[63][64][65][66]
On 20 September 2021, just over a full year after the
announcement for the transition was made,
the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021 was
introduced to the Parliament of Barbados. Passed on 6
October, the Bill made amendments to the Constitution
of Barbados, introducing the office of the president of
Barbados to replace the role of Elizabeth II as Queen of
Barbados.[67] The following week, on 12 October 2021,
incumbent Governor-General of Barbados Sandra
Mason was jointly nominated by the Prime Minister and
Leader of the Opposition as candidate to be the
first president of Barbados,[68] and was
subsequently elected on 20 October.[69] Mason took office
on 30 November 2021.[70] Prince Charles, the heir
apparent to the Barbadian Crown at the time, attended
the swearing-in ceremony in Bridgetown at the invitation
of the Government of Barbados.[71]
Queen Elizabeth sent a message of congratulations to
President Mason and the people of Barbados, saying:
"As you celebrate this momentous day, I send you and
all Barbadians my warmest good wishes for your
happiness, peace and prosperity in the future."[72]
A survey that was conducted between 23 October 2021
and 10 November 2021, by the University of the West
Indies showed 34% of respondents being in favour of
transitioning to a republic, while 30% were indifferent.
Notably, no overall majority was found in the survey; with
24% not indicating a preference and the remaining 12%
being opposed to the removal of Queen Elizabeth.[73][74]
On 20 June 2022, a Constitutional Review Commission
was formed and sworn in by Jeffrey Gibson (who at the
time was serving temporarily as Acting President of
Barbados) to review the Constitution of Barbados.[75]
The commission was given a 15-month timeline to
complete its work, which included consulting the public
about the new republic and drafting a constitution.
[76]
Thus, the CRC engaged the public in a number of
public meetings, lectures, and Twitter Spaces.[77] The
report was announced delayed by August 2023,[78] with
the final report submitted 30 June 2024.[79]
Geography and climate
Main article: Geography of Barbados

Map of Barbados
Barbados is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, east of the
other West Indies Islands. Barbados is the easternmost
island in the Lesser Antilles. It is 34 kilometres (21 miles)
long and up to 23 km (14 mi) wide, covering an area of
439 km2 (169 sq mi).[80] It lies about 168 km (104 mi) east
of both the countries of Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines; 180 km (110 mi) south-east
of Martinique and 400 km (250 mi) north-east of Trinidad
and Tobago. It is flat in comparison to its island
neighbours to the west, the Windward Islands. The
island rises gently to the central highland region known
as Scotland District, with the highest point being Mount
Hillaby 340 m (1,120 ft) above sea level.[25]
In the parish of Saint Michael lies Barbados's capital and
main city, Bridgetown, containing one third of the
country's population.[25] 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.[citation needed]
Geology
Barbados lies on the boundary of the South
American and the Caribbean Plates.[81] The subduction of
the South American plate beneath the Caribbean plate
scrapes sediment from the South American plate and
deposits it above the subduction zone forming
an accretionary prism. The rate of this depositing of
material allows Barbados to rise at a rate of about
25 mm (1 in) per 1,000 years.[82] This subduction
means geologically the island is composed
of coral roughly 90 m (300 ft) thick, where reefs formed
above the sediment. The land slopes in a series of
"terraces" in the west and goes into an incline in the
east. A large proportion of the island is circled by coral
reefs.[25]
The erosion of limestone in the northeast of the island, in
the Scotland District, has resulted in the formation of
various caves and gullies. On the Atlantic east coast of
the island coastal landforms, including stacks, have been
created due to the limestone composition of the area.
Also notable in the island is the rocky cape known
as Pico Teneriffe[83] or Pico de Tenerife, which is named
after the fact that the island of Tenerife in Spain is the
first land east of Barbados according to the belief of the
locals.[citation needed]
Climate
 Bathsheba, Saint Joseph
The country generally experiences two seasons, one of
which includes noticeably higher rainfall. Known as the
"wet season", this period runs from June to December.
By contrast, the "dry season" runs from December to
May. Annual precipitation ranges between 1,000 and
2,300 mm (40 and 90 in). From December to May the
average temperatures range from 21 to 31 °C (70 to
88 °F), while between June and November, they range
from 23 to 31 °C (73 to 88 °F).[84]
On the Köppen climate classification scale, much of
Barbados is regarded as a tropical monsoon
climate (Am). However, breezes of 12 to 16 km/h (7 to
10 mph) abound throughout the year and give Barbados
a climate which is moderately tropical.[citation needed]
Infrequent natural hazards include
earthquakes, landslips, and hurricanes. Barbados lies
outside the Main Development Region for tropical
cyclone activity in the Atlantic, and is often spared the
worst effects of the region's storms during the rainy
season. On average, a major hurricane makes landfall in
Barbados about once every 26 years. The last significant
hit from a hurricane to cause severe damage to
Barbados was Hurricane Janet in 1955; in 2010 the
island was struck by Hurricane Tomas, but this caused
only minor damage across the country as it was only at
Tropical Storm strength at the time of impact.[85]
Environmental issues

Barbados, seen from

the International Space Station

Barbados is the twentieth most water stressed country in
the world.
Barbados is susceptible to environmental pressures. As
one of the world's most densely populated isles, the
government worked during the 1990s[86] to aggressively
integrate the growing south coast of the island into the
Bridgetown Sewage Treatment Plant to reduce
contamination of offshore coral reefs.[87][88] As of the first
decade of the 21st century, a second treatment plant has
been proposed along the island's west coast. Being so
densely populated, Barbados has made great efforts to
protect its underground aquifers.[89]
As a coral-limestone island, Barbados is highly
permeable to seepage of surface water into the earth.
The government has placed great emphasis on
protecting the catchment areas that lead directly into the
huge network of underground aquifers and streams.
[89]
On occasion illegal squatters have breached these
areas, and the government has removed squatters to
preserve the cleanliness of the underground springs
which provide the island's drinking water.[90]
The government has placed a huge emphasis on
keeping Barbados clean with the aim of protecting the
environment and preserving offshore coral reefs which
surround the island.[91] Many initiatives to mitigate human
pressures on the coastal regions of Barbados and seas
come from the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU).
[92][93]
Barbados has nearly 90 kilometres (56 miles) of
coral reefs just offshore and two protected marine parks
have been established off the west coast.[94] Overfishing
is another threat which faces Barbados.[95]
Although on the opposite side of the Atlantic, and some
4,800 kilometres (3,000 miles) west of Africa, Barbados
is one of many places in the American continent that
experience heightened levels of mineral dust from
the Sahara Desert.[96] Some particularly intense dust
episodes have been blamed partly for the impacts on the
health of coral reefs[97] surrounding Barbados
or asthmatic episodes,[98] but evidence has not wholly
supported the former claim.[99]
Access to biocapacity in Barbados is much lower than
world average. In 2016, Barbados had 0.17 global
hectares[100] of biocapacity per person within its territory,
much less than the world average of 1.6 global hectares
per person.[101] In 2016 Barbados used 0.84 global
hectares of biocapacity per person - their ecological
footprint of consumption. This means they use
approximately five times as much biocapacity as
Barbados contains. As a result, Barbados is running a
biocapacity deficit.[100]
Wildlife
Main article: Fauna of Barbados
Barbados is host to four species of nesting turtles (green
turtles, loggerheads, hawksbill turtles, and leatherbacks)
and has the second-largest hawksbill turtle-breeding
population in the Caribbean.[102] The driving of vehicles on
beaches can crush nests buried in the sand and such
activity is discouraged in nesting areas.[103]
Barbados is also the host to the green monkey. The
green monkey is found in West Africa from Senegal to
the Volta River. It has been introduced to the Cape
Verde islands off north-western Africa, and the West
Indian islands of Saint Kitts, Nevis, Saint Martin, and
Barbados. It was introduced to the West Indies in the late
17th century when slave trade ships travelled to the
Caribbean from West Africa. The green monkey is
considered a very curious and mischievous/troublesome
animal by locals.[104][105]
Demographics
Main articles: Demographics of
Barbados and Barbadians

A bus stop in Barbados

The 2010 national census conducted by the Barbados
Statistical Service reported a resident population of
277,821, of which 144,803 were female and 133,018
were male.[106]
The life expectancy for Barbados residents as of 2020 is
80 years. The average life expectancy is 83 years for
females and 79 years for males (2020).[1] Barbados and
Japan have the highest per capita occurrences
of centenarians in the world.[107]
The crude birth rate is 12.23 births per 1,000 people, and
the crude death rate is 8.39 deaths per 1,000 people.
The infant mortality rate was 11.057 infant deaths per
1,000 live births in 2021, according to UNICEF.[108][109]
Ethnicity

People shopping in the capital

Bridgetown
Close to 90% of all Barbadians (also known colloquially
as "Bajan") are of Afro-Caribbean ancestry ("Afro-
Bajans") and mixed ancestry. The remainder of the
population includes groups of Europeans ("Anglo-
Bajans" / "Euro-Bajans") mainly from the United
Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, and Italy.[citation needed] Other
European groups consisted of the French, Austrians,
Spaniards, and Russians. Asians, predominantly from
Hong Kong and India (both Hindu and Muslim) make up
less than 1% of the population. Other groups in
Barbados include people from the United States and
Canada. Barbadians who return after years of residence
in the United States and children born in America to
Bajan parents are called "Bajan Yankees", a term
considered derogatory by some.[110] Generally, Bajans
recognise and accept all "children of the island" as
Bajans, and refer to each other as such.[citation needed]
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[clarification needed] Guyana. There are reports
of a growing Indo-Bajans diaspora originating from
Guyana and India starting around 1990.
Predominantly from southern India, they are
growing in size but are smaller than the equivalent
communities in Trinidad and Guyana.[111][25] The
Muslim Barbadians of Indian origin are largely
of Gujarati ancestry. Many small businesses in
Barbados are run and operated by Muslim-Indian
Bajans.[112][113]
2.Euro-Bajans (5% of the population)[1] have settled in
Barbados since the 17th century, originating from
England, Ireland, Portugal, and Scotland. In 1643,
there were 37,200 whites in Barbados (86% of the
population).[114] More commonly they are known as
"White Bajans". Euro-Bajans introduced folk music,
such as Irish music and Highland music, and certain
place names, such as "Scotland District", a hilly
region in the parish of St. Andrew. Among White
Barbadians there exists an underclass known
as Redlegs comprising followers of the Duke of
Monmouth after his defeat at the Battle of
Sedgemoor, as well as the descendants
of Irish indentured labourers and prisoners imported
to the island.[115] Many additionally moved on to
 become the earliest settlers of modern-
day North and South Carolina in the United States.
Today the Redlegs number only around 400.[116]
3.Chinese-Barbadians are a small portion of
Barbados's wider Asian population.[25] Chinese food
and culture is becoming part of everyday Bajan
culture.[citation needed]
4.Lebanese and Syrians form the
island's Arab Barbadian community.[25]
5.Jews arrived in Barbados just after the first settlers
in 1627. Bridgetown is the home of Nidhe Israel
Synagogue, one of the oldest Jewish synagogues in
the Americas, dating from 1654, though the current
structure was erected in 1833, replacing one ruined
by the hurricane of 1831.[117] Tombstones in the
neighbouring cemetery date from the 1630s. Now
under the care of the Barbados National Trust,
[118]
the site was deserted in 1929 but was saved and
restored by the Jewish community beginning in
1986.[citation needed]
6.In the 17th century, Romani people were sent from
the United Kingdom to work as slaves in the
plantations in Barbados.[119]
Languages
English is the 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 vocabulary, pronunciations, spellings, and
conventions akin to, but not exactly the same as, those
of British English. For most people, however, Bajan
Creole is the language of everyday life. It does not have
a standardised written form, but it is used by over 90% of
the population.[citation needed]
Religion
Main article: Religion in Barbados

Cathedral Church of Saint Michael

and All Angels, Bridgetown
Christianity is the largest religion in Barbados, with the
largest denomination being Anglican (23.9% of the
population in 2019).[120] Other Christian denominations
with significant followings in Barbados are the Catholic
Church (administered by Roman Catholic Diocese of
Bridgetown), Pentecostals (19.5%), Jehovah's
Witnesses, the Seventh-day Adventist
Church and Spiritual Baptists.[25] The Church of
England was the official state religion until its legal
disestablishment by the Parliament of Barbados
following independence.[120][121] As of 2019, 21% of
Barbadians report having no religion, making the non-
religious the second largest group after Anglicans.
[122]
Smaller religions in Barbados
include Hinduism, Islam, the Baháʼí Faith,
[123]
and Judaism.[25]
The state is considered secular, guaranteeing freedom of
religion or belief to all and featuring only symbolic
allusions to a higher power in the preamble to the
constitution.[122]
Government and politics
Main articles: Government of Barbados and Politics of
Barbados

The Barbados parliament building in

Bridgetown
Barbados has been an independent country since 30
November 1966.[124] It functions as a parliamentary
republic modelled on the British Westminster system.
The head of state is the President of Barbados –
presently Sandra Mason – elected by the Parliament of
Barbados for a term of four years, and advised on
matters of the Barbadian state by the Prime Minister of
Barbados, who is head of government. There are 30
representatives within the House of Assembly, the lower
chamber of Parliament. In the Senate, the upper
chamber of Parliament, there are 21 senators.[125]
The Constitution of Barbados is the supreme law of the
country.[126] Legislation is passed by the Parliament of
Barbados but does not have the force of law unless the
President grants her assent to that law. The right to
withhold assent is absolute and cannot be overridden by
Parliament.[127] The Attorney General heads the
independent judiciary.[citation needed]
During the 1990s, at the suggestion of Trinidad and
Tobago's Patrick Manning, Barbados attempted
a political union with Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.
The project stalled after the then prime minister of
Barbados, Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, became ill and
his Democratic Labour Party lost the next general
election.[128][129] Barbados continues to share close ties with
Trinidad and Tobago and with Guyana, claiming the
highest number of Guyanese immigrants after the United
States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Barbados is a party to the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court.[130]
Political culture
Main article: Elections in Barbados
Barbados functions as a two-party system. The dominant
political parties are the Democratic Labour Party and the
incumbent Barbados Labour Party. Since independence
on 30 November 1966, the Democratic Labour Party
(DLP) has governed from 1966 to 1976; 1986 to 1994;
and from 2008 to 2018; and the Barbados Labour Party
(BLP) has governed from 1976 to 1986; 1994 to 2008;
and from 2018 to present.[citation needed]
Foreign relations
Main article: Foreign relations of Barbados
Barbados follows a policy of nonalignment and seeks
cooperative relations with all friendly states. Barbados is
a full and participating member of the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM), CARICOM Single Market and
Economy (CSME), the Association of Caribbean
States (ACS),[131] the Organization of American
States (OAS), the Commonwealth of Nations, and
the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). In 2005, Barbados
replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council with
the Caribbean Court of Justice as its final court of
appeal.[132]
Barbados has been a member of The Forum of Small
States (FOSS) since the group's founding in 1992.[133]
World Trade Organization, European Commission, CARIFORUM

Barbados is an original member (1995) of the World

Trade Organization (WTO) and participates actively in its
work. It grants at least MFN treatment to all its trading
partners. European Union relations and cooperation with
Barbados are carried out both on a bilateral and a
regional basis. Barbados is party to the Cotonou
Agreement, through which, As of December 2007, it is
linked by an Economic Partnership Agreement with
the European Commission. The pact involves the
Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) subgroup of
the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of
States (ACP). CARIFORUM is the only part of the wider
ACP-bloc that has concluded the full regional trade-pact
with the European Union. There are also ongoing EU-
Community of Latin American and Caribbean
States (CELAC) and EU-CARIFORUM dialogues.[134]
Trade policy has also sought to protect a small number
of domestic activities, mostly food production, from
foreign competition, while recognising that most
domestic needs are best met by imports.[135]
The Double Taxation Relief (CARICOM) Treaty 1994

On 6 July 1994, at the Sherbourne Conference Centre,

St. Michael, Barbados, representatives of eight countries
signed the Double Taxation Relief (CARICOM) Treaties
1994. The countries which were represented were:
Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, St.
Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.[136]
On 19 August 1994, a representative of the Government
of Guyana signed a similar treaty.[137]
Military and law enforcement
The Barbados Defence Force has roughly 800 members.
Within it, service members aged 14 to 18 years make up
the Barbados Cadet Corps. The defence preparations of
the island nation are closely tied to defence treaties with
the United Kingdom, the United States, the People's
Republic of China,[138] and other eastern Caribbean
countries.
The Barbados Police Service is the sole law enforcement
agency on the island of Barbados.[139]
Administrative divisions
Main article: Parishes of Barbados
Barbados is divided into 11 parishes:
1.Christ
Church
2.Saint
Andrew
3.Saint
George
4.Saint
James
5.Saint
John
6.Saint
Joseph
7.Saint Atlantic Ocean
Lucy Saint Lucy
8.Saint
Michael Saint
9.Saint Peter
Peter Saint
10. Sai Andrew
nt Philip
11. Sai Saint
James
nt
Thomas Saint
Thomas
Saint
 Joseph
Saint
John
Saint
George
Saint
Michael
Christ
Church
Saint
Philip
BARBADOS
Economy
Main article: Economy of Barbados

1 oz Silver Caribbean Seahorse –

Sovereign coin backed by the Barbados government
Barbados is the 52nd richest country in the world in
terms of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita,
 has a well-developed mixed economy, and a
[140]

moderately high standard of living. According to the

World Bank, Barbados is one of 83 high income
economies in the world.[141] Despite this, a 2012 self-study
in conjunction with the Caribbean Development
Bank revealed 20% of Barbadians live in poverty, and
nearly 10% cannot meet their basic daily food needs.[142]
Historically, the economy of Barbados had been
dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related
activities, but since the late 1970s and early 1980s it has
diversified into the manufacturing and tourism sectors.
[25]
Offshore finance and information services have
become important foreign exchange earners.[143]
Partly due to the staging of the 2007 Cricket World Cup,
the island saw a construction boom, with the
development and redevelopment of hotels, office
complexes, and homes.[144] This slowed during the 2008
to 2012 world economic crisis and the recession.[145]
There was a strong economy between 1999 and 2000
but the economy went into recession in 2001 and 2002
due to slowdowns in tourism, consumer spending and
the impact of the 11 September 2001 attacks in the
United States and the 7 July 2005 London bombings in
the United Kingdom. The economy rebounded in 2003
and has shown growth since 2004 which continued right
through to 2008. The economy went into recession again
from 2008 to 2013 before showing growth from 2014 to
2017. Then it declined to another recession from 2017 to
2019 during the world economic crisis. There were 23
downgrades by both Standard & Poor's and Moody's in
2016, 2017 and 2018. The economy showed signs of
recovery with 3 upgrades from Standard and Poor's and
Moody's in 2019. From 1 January to 31 March 2020 the
economy had started to grow, but then it experienced
another decline due to the COVID-19 economic
recession.[citation needed]
Traditional trading partners include Canada,
the Caribbean Community (especially Trinidad and
Tobago), the United Kingdom and the United States.
Recent government administrations have continued
efforts to reduce unemployment, encourage foreign
direct investment, and privatise remaining state-owned
enterprises. Unemployment was reduced to 10.7% in
2003.[1] However, it has since increased to 11.9% in
second quarter, 2015.[146]
The European Union is assisting Barbados with a €10
million program of modernisation of the country's
International Business and Financial Services Sector.[147]
Barbados maintains the third largest stock exchange in
the Caribbean region. As of 2009, officials at the stock
exchange were investigating the possibility of
augmenting the local exchange with an International
Securities Market (ISM) venture.[148]
Sovereign default and restructuring
By May 2018, Barbados's outstanding debt climbed
to US$7.5 billion, more than 1.7 times the
country's GDP. In June 2018 the government defaulted
on its sovereign debt when it failed to make a coupon
on Eurobonds maturing in 2035. Outstanding bond debt
of Barbados reached US$4.4 billion.[149]
In October 2019, Barbados concluded restructuring
negotiations with a creditor group including investments
funds Eaton Vance Management, Greylock Capital
Management, Teachers Advisors and Guyana Bank for
Trade and Industry. Creditors will exchange existing
bonds for a new debt series maturing in 2029. The new
bonds involve a principal "haircut" of approximately 26%
and include a clause allowing for deferment of principal
and capitalization of interest in the event of a natural
disaster.[150][151]
Health
The main hospital on the island is the Queen Elizabeth
Hospital; however, Barbados has eight polyclinics across
five parishes. There are also well-known medical care
centres in Barbados such as Bayview Hospital, Sandy
Crest Medical Centre and FMH Emergency Medical
Clinic.[citation needed]
Education
Main article: Education in Barbados
 Schoolchildren in Saint Philip, Barbados
The Barbados literacy rate is ranked close to 100%.[152]
[25]
The mainstream public education system of Barbados
is fashioned after the British model. The government of
Barbados spends 6.7% of its GDP on education (2008).[1]
All young people in the country must attend school until
age 16. Barbados has over 70 primary schools and over
20 secondary schools throughout the island. There are a
number of private schools, including those
offering Montessori and International
Baccalaureate education. Student enrolment at these
schools represents less than 5% of the total enrolment of
the public schools.[citation needed]
Certificate-, diploma- and degree-level education in the
country is provided by the Barbados Community College,
the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of
Technology, Codrington College, and the Cave Hill
campus and Open Campus of the University of the West
Indies. Barbados is also home to several overseas
medical schools, such as Ross University School of
Medicine and the American University of Integrative
Sciences, School of Medicine.[citation needed]
Educational testing
Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination:
Children who are 11 years old on 1 September in the
year of the examination are required to write the
examination as a means of allocation to secondary
school.[citation needed]
Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC)
examinations are usually taken by students after five
years of secondary school and mark the end of standard
secondary education. The CSEC examinations are
equivalent to the Ordinary Level (O-Levels) examinations
and are targeted toward students 16 and older.[153]
Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE)
are taken by students who have completed their
secondary education and wish to continue their studies.
Students who sit for the CAPE usually possess CSEC or
an equivalent certification. The CAPE is equivalent to the
British Advanced Levels (A-Levels), voluntary
qualifications that are intended for university entrance.[154]
Culture
Main article: Culture of Barbados
Barbados is a blend of West African, Portuguese,
Creole, Indian and British cultures. Citizens are officially
called Barbadians, but are colloquially known as
"Bajans" (pronounced ˈbājənz). This term evolved from
"Badian" (a shortening of "Barbadian") during the 19th-
century.[155][156]
The largest carnival-like cultural event that takes place
on the island is the Crop Over festival, which was
established in 1974. 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 there to participate in
the annual events.[25] The festival includes musical
competitions and other traditional activities, and features
the majority of the island's homegrown calypso and soca
music for the year. The male and female Barbadians
who harvested the most sugarcane are crowned as the
King and Queen of the crop.[157] Crop Over gets under
way at the beginning of July and ends with the costumed
parade on Kadooment Day, held on the first Monday of
August. New calypso/soca music is usually released and
played more frequently from the beginning of May to
coincide with the start of the festival.[citation needed]
Art
Barbadian art has evolved over the centuries, influenced
by the island's complex history, which includes
indigenous cultures, colonial periods, and the
subsequent emergence of a vibrant post-colonial identity.
The interplay of African, European, and Caribbean
influences has given rise to a unique artistic heritage that
continues to inspire contemporary artists.[citation needed]
The latter part of the 20th century and into the 21st
century witnessed a cultural renaissance in Barbadian
art now documented by Raskal Magazine Archived 4
December 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Artists began
to explore diverse mediums and techniques, blending
traditional practices with contemporary expressions. This
period of experimentation contributed to the dynamic and
multifaceted nature of Barbadian art, reflecting the
island's openness to cultural exchange and adaptation.
Barbadian artists, mindful of their place within the global
art community, began to engage with international artistic
trends. This global perspective led to a cross-pollination
of ideas, as artists drew inspiration from diverse sources
while simultaneously contributing to the broader
discourse on Caribbean and diasporic art.
Media
Main article: Mass media in Barbados
 Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
Cuisine
Main article: Barbadian cuisine

Mount Gay Rum visitors centre

Bajan cuisine is a mixture
of African, Indian, Irish, Creole and British influences. A
typical meal consists of a main dish of meat or fish,
normally marinated with a mixture of herbs and spices,
hot side dishes, and one or more salads. A common
Bajan side dish could be pickled cucumber, fish cakes,
bake, etc. The meal is usually served with one or more
sauces.[158] The national dish of Barbados is cou-
cou and flying fish with spicy gravy.[159] Another traditional
meal is pudding and souse, a dish of pickled pork with
spiced sweet potatoes.[160] A wide variety of seafood and
meats are also available.[citation needed]
The Mount Gay Rum visitor's centre in Barbados claims
to be the world's oldest remaining rum company, with the
earliest confirmed deed from 1703. Cockspur
Rum and Malibu are also from the island. Barbados is
home to the Banks Barbados Brewery, which brews
Banks Beer, a pale lager, as well as Banks Amber Ale.
[161]
Banks also brews Tiger Malt, a non-alcoholic malted
beverage. 10 Saints beer is brewed in Speightstown, St.
Peter in Barbados and aged for 90 days in Mount Gay
'Special Reserve' Rum casks. It was first brewed in 2009
and is available in certain Caricom nations.[162]
Music
Further information: Music of Barbados
 International pop star Rihanna, a native
of Barbados, is a nine-time Grammy Award winner and
one of the best-selling music artists of all time, selling
over 200 million records worldwide.
The music of Barbados includes distinctive national
styles of folk and popular music, including elements
of Western classical and religious music. The culture of
Barbados is a syncretic mix of African and British
elements, and the island's music reflects this mix through
song types and styles, instrumentation, dances, and
aesthetic principles.
Barbadian folk traditions include
the Landship movement, which is a satirical, informal
organization based on the Royal Navy, tea meetings, tuk
bands and numerous traditional songs and dances. In
modern Barbados, popular styles
include calypso, spouge, contemporary folk and world
music. Barbados is, along with Guadeloupe, Martinique,
Trinidad, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, one
of the few centres for Caribbean jazz.
In 2009, Rihanna was appointed as an Honorary
Ambassador of Youth and Culture for Barbados by the
late Prime Minister David Thompson.[163]
Sports
Main article: Sport in Barbados

A horse and rider at Garrison

Savannah
As in other Caribbean countries of British colonial
heritage, cricket is very popular on the island. The West
Indies cricket team usually includes several Barbadian
players. In addition to several warm-up, group stage and
few "Super Eight" matches, the country hosted the final
of the 2007 Cricket World Cup and 2024 ICC Men's T20
World Cup. Barbados has produced many great
cricketers including Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Frank
Worrell, Sir Clyde Walcott, Sir Everton Weekes, Gordon
Greenidge, Wes Hall, Charlie Griffith, Joel
Garner, Desmond Haynes and Malcolm Marshall.[164]
In Track and Field, sprinter Obadele Thompson won a
bronze medal in the 100m at the 2000 Summer Olympic
Games. As of August 2022, he was the first Olympics
medalist in the Barbados.[165]
Ryan Brathwaite[166] won a gold medal in the 110 metres
hurdles at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics in
Berlin.[167]
Rugby is also popular in Barbados.[168]
Horse racing takes place at the Historic Garrison
Savannah close to Bridgetown. Spectators can pay for
admission to the stands. Admission to the Grand Stand
costs between US$2.50 and US$5.00.[169]
Basketball is an increasingly popular sport, played at
school or college. The Barbados men's national
team has additionally shown some international success,
including a fifth-place finish in the 2006 Commonwealth
Games.[170]
Polo is very popular amongst the rich elite on the island
and the "High-Goal" Apes Hill team is based at the St
James's Club.[171]

Kensington
Oval in Bridgetown hosted the 2007 Cricket World Cup
final. Cricket is one of the most followed games in
Barbados and Kensington Oval is often referred to as the
"Mecca in Cricket" due to its significance and
contributions to the sport.
In golf, the Barbados Open, played at Royal
Westmoreland Golf Club, was an annual stop on
the European Seniors Tour from 2000 to 2009. In
December 2006 the WGC-World Cup took place at the
country's Sandy Lane resort on the Country Club course,
an 18-hole course designed by Tom Fazio. The
Barbados Golf Club is another course on the island.
Volleyball is also popular and is mainly played indoors.[172]
Tennis is gaining popularity and Barbados is home
to Darian King, who has achieved a career-high ranking
of 106 in May 2017 and has played in the 2016 Summer
Olympics and the 2017 US Open.[173]
Motorsports also play a role, with Rally Barbados
occurring each summer and being listed on the FIA
NACAM calendar. Also, the Bushy Park Circuit hosted
the Race of Champions in 2014.[174]
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).
Barbados also hosts several international surfing
competitions.[175]
Netball is also popular with women in Barbados.[176]
Several players in the National Football League (NFL)
are from Barbados, including Robert Bailey, Roger
Farmer, Elvis Joseph, Ramon Harewood and Sam
Seale.[177]
Transport
Main article: Transport in Barbados

A Hino ACME Minibus B 163 in

Speightstown, St. Peter, Barbados
Although Barbados is about 34 km (21 mi) across at its
widest point, a car journey from Six Cross Roads in St.
Philip (south-east) to North Point in St. Lucy (north-
central) can take one and a half hours or longer due to
traffic. Barbados has half as many registered cars as
citizens. In Barbados, drivers drive on the left side of the
road.[178]
Barbados is known for its many roundabouts. One
famous roundabout is located east of Bridgetown and
holds the Emancipation Statue of the slave Bussa.[179]
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.
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.[180]
Including the ZRs, there are three bus systems running
seven days a week (though less frequently on Sundays).
There are ZRs, the yellow minibuses and the
blue Transport Board buses. A ride on any of them costs
Bds$ 3.5.[181] 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, but
do give receipts. The Barbados Transport Board buses
travel in regular bus routes and scheduled timetables
across Barbados. Schoolchildren in school uniform
including some Secondary schools ride for free on the
government buses and for Bds$ 2.5 on the ZRs. Most
routes require a connection in Bridgetown. Barbados
Transport Board's headquarters are located at Kay's
House, Roebuck Street, St. Michael, and the bus depots
and terminals are located in the Fairchild Street Bus
Terminal in Fairchild Street and the Princess Alice Bus
Terminal (which was formerly the Lower Green Bus
Terminal in Jubilee Gardens, Bridgetown, St. Michael) in
Princess Alice Highway, Bridgetown, St. Michael; the
Speightstown Bus Terminal in Speightstown, St. Peter;
the Oistins Bus Depot in Oistins, Christ Church; and the
Mangrove Bus Depot in Mangrove, St. Philip. In July
2020, the Barbados Transport Board received
33 BYD electric buses which were obtained not only to
add to the aging fleet of diesel buses but also to assist
the Government in their goal of eliminating the use
of fossil fuels by 2030.[182][183]
Some 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.[citation needed]
The island's lone airport is the Grantley Adams
International Airport. It receives daily flights by several
major airlines from points around the globe,[184][185] as well
as several smaller regional commercial airlines and
charters.[186][187] The airport serves as a southern air-
transportation hub for the Caribbean.[188] It underwent
a US$100 million upgrade and expansion from 2003 to
2006.[189] In 2023, it began conversion of its former
Concorde terminal and museum to a new departure
terminal,[190] and in December 2023, Prime Minister Mia
Mottley announced the negotiations for a US$300
million for additional airport development.[191]
The Bridgetown seaport is the primary port of call for
commercial container and cruise traffic.[192][193]
There was also a helicopter shuttle service, which
offered air taxi services to a number of sites around the
island, mainly on the West Coast tourist belt. Air and
maritime traffic was regulated by the Barbados Port
Authority.[citation needed]