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The easternmost island of the West Indies is the small nation of Barbados which has a size of
14 miles wide and 21 miles long
and an area of 166 square miles, It lies in the Atlantic Ocean at 13 degrees north and 59.3
degrees west, 100 miles east of the Windward Islands. Its highest point is Mount Hillaby at 1100
feet.
It is populated by approximately 260 000 people.
It has Eleven Parishes:
Its capital is Bridgetown located in St. Michael and there are 3 other towns: Oistins in
Christ Church, Holetown in St. James and Speightstown in St. Peter.
It was discovered in 1536 by Portuguese explorer Pedro a Campos and colonized in 1627 by the
English. It became
independent on November 30, 1966.
Its current Prime Minister is The Rt. Honorable Owen Arthur and its Governor General is Sir
Clifford Husbands.
The National flag is the Broken Trident in Black on a central gold panel flanked by two panels
of ultramarine.
It Is a member of the United Nations and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
Sugar cane being its chief industrial crop. Flying Fish is the most important catch of
Barbadian fisheries. Its leading exports are sugar, rum and molasses and Tourism is its major
source of income
This is evidenced by Bridgetown's modern Deep Water Habour, completed in 1961 at a cost of $30
million and expanded 17 years later at a cost of $22 million and the new terminal at Grantley
Adams International Airport which was opened in 1979 at an estimated cost of $28 million. The
airport can handle any type of commercial aircraft including
the Concorde.
Barbados has its own currency issued by the Central Bank of Barbados (BDS-$) or one hundred
cents, with parity of BDS $2.00 to the U.S. $1.00. The Notes are issued in Six denominations -
$2, $5, $10, $20, $100 and were first
issued in December, 1973 while the $2.00 was issued in March, 1980. The denominations of
Barbados coins in normal circulation are one cent, five cents, twenty-five cents and one
dollar.
Postal Services in Barbados are exceptionally good and medical services are excellent. The
600-bed Queen Elizabeth Hospital
was opened in 1964. There are also several private Clinics and a small private
general Hospital; Bay View Hospital at Beckles Road, St. Michael.
Fifty (50) cycle A.C. electricity is supplied by the Barbados Light & Power Company Limited.
The supply is 110 and 220 volt. In some areas 115 and 230 volt supply is available.
A natural gas pipeline supplies many Barbadian homes provided by the National Petroleum
Corporation.
Island water supply provided by the Barbados Water Authority is pure and abundant
Cable and Wireless BARTEL provides voice and data services to handle traffic that has doubled
in the past five years. And for tomorrow it has invested in equipment and services that will keep
Barbados tuned in to the world's communications network; stimulating trade, fostering growth and
helping people communicate with each other.
Thanks for visiting Barbados By Rommel, This entire website was designed by: Rommel C. Beckles as a contribution to the tourism of Barbados. Feel free to drop me a line anytime concerning this website. Thanks again for visiting.
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