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Barbados
Overview
‘The perfect beach holiday’
If you’re looking for the perfect beach holiday, somewhere you can really relax, look no further – with pristine beaches, crystal clear water and vibrant flora – Barbados has it all. This laid-back English colony combines beach life with great music, a hopping night scene, delicious food and a strong sense of history and culture.
The handsome colonial buildings of the capital, Bridgetown, date mainly from the 18th century, while the later buildings of the suburbs sprawl inland. Many of the island’s mixed race population are descendants of the African slaves, brought over to work the colonial sugar plantations. Back at the beach, warm Caribbean waters are teeming with colourful fish swimming in vibrant coral reefs. Sailing, water-skiing, windsurfing, snorkelling and scuba diving are just some of the watersports available. Hire a car, scooter, bicycle or moke (open-air jeep) to venture further afield, and visit underwater caves, lush tropical gardens, sugar-cane factories, rum distilleries or plantation houses.
The island has a lively nightlife with floorshows of limbo dancers and pulsing reggae music – a perfect accompaniment to the Bajun cuisine of spicy seafood, tropical fruits and vegetables, washed down with rum cocktails and fresh fruit juices. It may all sound too good to be true – but this is Barbados.
Sally McFall
General Information
Area: 430 sq km (166 sq miles).
Population: 267,900 (official estimate 1999).
Population Density: 623.0 per sq km.
Capital: Bridgetown. Population: 5928 (1990).
GEOGRAPHY: Barbados is the most easterly of the Caribbean chain of islands. It lies well to the east of the West Indies. To the west, beaches are made of fine white sand and there are natural coral reefs. Along the east coast there is a lively surf as the sea pounds the more rocky shoreline. Barbados is predominantly flat with only a few gently rolling hills to the north. The coral structure of the island acts as a natural filter and the waters of Barbados are amongst the purest in the world.
Government: Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1966. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Sir Clifford Husbands since 1996. Head of Government: Prime Minister Owen S Arthur since 1994.
Language: The official language is English. Local Bajan dialect is also spoken.
Religion: Mainly Christian, with an Anglican majority, Roman Catholic minority, plus small Jewish, Hindu and Muslim communities.
Time: GMT - 4 (- 5 in the summer).
Electricity: 110 volts AC, 50Hz. American-style two-pin plugs are in use.
Communications:
Telephone
Inward IDD service is available and outward IDD is available from most telephones. Country code: 1 246. Outgoing international code: 011. Hotels have telephones available to both residents and non-residents. There are cardphones at the airport, the seaport, the university campus, in Bridgetown and at the offices of Barbados External Telecommunications (BET) in Wildey and Bridgetown. Payphones exist throughout the island, although it may be better to use cardphones for overseas calls. Overseas calls may also be made from the offices of BET at Wildey, St Michael. Local calls are free when calling from a residence. Collect overseas calls can be made from cardphones and payphones.
Mobile telephone
TDMA and GSM 1900 networks. Network provider is Cable & Wireless Caribbean Cellular (website: www.caribcell.com). Unregistered roaming is available – visitors with TDMA handsets can make calls without registering, provided they can give a credit card number.
Fax
Available at hotels. BET provides services for members of the public.
Internet
There are about 20 Internet cafes throughout Barbados. The major ISPs are Cable & Wireless BET (website: www.cwwionline.com), CaribSurf (website: www.caribsurf.com), Sunbeach, and CariAccess.
Telegram
Services are provided by Barbados External Telecommunications (BET). The Cable & Wireless office is at Lower Broad Street (Mon-Fri 0700-1900, Sat 0700-1300). There is a 24-hour service at Wildey, St Michael.
Post
Deliveries are made twice a day in Bridgetown and once a day in rural areas. Post boxes, which are red, are plentiful. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700 at Bridgetown main office; other branches are open Mon 0730-1200 and 1300-1500, Tues-Fri 0800-1200 and 1300-1515.
Press
The main dailies are The Barbados Advocate, The Nation and East Caribbean News. Foreign newspapers are also available.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Passport/Visa
| | Passport Required? | Visa Required? | Return Ticket Required? | | British | Yes | No/2 | Yes | | Australian | Yes | No/3 | Yes | | Canadian | 1 | No/3 | Yes | | USA | 1 | No/3 | Yes | | OtherEU | Yes | No/2 | Yes | | Japanese | Yes | No/4 | Yes |
PASSPORTS: Passport valid for duration of intended stay required by all except: 1. nationals of the USA and Canada, holding a valid return ticket, who have travelled direct from their home country for stays not exceeding six months, provided they have a naturalisation certificate or original birth certificate accompanied by one of the following: (a) Driver’s licence with photograph. (b) Senior Citizen’s Card with photograph. (c) University or college acceptance identification with photograph. (d) Employment identification with photograph.
VISAS: Tourist visas are required by all except the following:
(a) 2. nationals of EU countries for a stay of up to six months (except nationals of Portugal for stays of up to 28 days);
(b) 3. nationals of Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Iceland, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea (Dem Rep), Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Papua New Guinea, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe for stays of up to six months;
(c) 4. nationals of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Guyana, Japan, Korea (Rep) and Uruguay for a stay of up to 90 days;
(d) nationals of Costa Rica for a stay of up to 30 days;
(e) nationals of Albania, Bulgaria, CIS, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Estonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Surinam and Venezuela for stays of up to 28 days;
(f) all other nationals entering the country for touristic purposes for stays of up 28 days.
Types of visa and cost: Tourist: £18 (single-entry); £22 (multiple-entry).
Application to: Consulate (or Consular Section at Embassy or High Commission); see Contact Addresses section.
Application requirements: (a) One application form. (b) One passport-size photo. (c) Valid passport. (d) Evidence of return or onward flight. (e) Company letter where required. (f) Fee; payable by cash or postal order. (g) Special delivery, addressed envelope for postal applications.
Working days required: Two days (in person and by post).
Temporary residence: Enquire at the Immigration Office in Barbados.
Money
Currency: Barbados Dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of Bd$100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of Bd$1, and 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.
Note: The Barbados Dollar is tied to the US Dollar.
Currency exchange: The best exchange rates are available at commercial banks. The island is served by the Barbados National Bank and a range of at least six international banks, each with a main office in Bridgetown and further branches in Hastings, Worthing, Holetown and Speightstown. ATMs are available.
Credit & debit cards: Diners Club, Visa, American Express, Barclaycard, Carte Blanche, Eurocard and MasterCard are accepted in the resorts, but cash is preferred for customs duty payment. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services that may be available.
Travellers cheques: Accepted by all banks and most hotels. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.
Currency restrictions: The import of local currency is unlimited, subject to declaration. The export of local currency is prohibited. The import and export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival.
Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Barbados Dollar against Sterling and the US Dollar:
| Date | May ’02 | Aug ’02 | Nov ’02 | Feb ’03 | | £1.00= | 2.90 | 3.02 | 3.15 | 3.17 | | $1.00= | 1.99 | 1.99 | 1.99 | 1.99 |
Banking hours: Generally Mon-Thurs 0800-1500, Fri 0800-1700.
Duty Free
The following items may be taken into Barbados by persons aged over 18 years without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 250g tobacco or other tobacco products; 750ml of spirits and 750ml of wine; 50g of perfume and 25g of eau de toilette; gifts up to a value of Bd$100.
Note: For certain items it is now possible, on presentation of airline tickets and travel documents, to obtain duty-free goods any time from the day of arrival in the country. However, tobacco, alcohol and electronic goods must still be bought under the old system immediately prior to embarkation.
Prohibited items: Foreign rum and matches, fresh fruit and articles made of camouflage material.
Public Holidays
Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Jan 21 Errol Barrow Day. Apr 18 Good Friday. Apr 21 Easter Monday. Apr 28 National Heroes’ Day. May 1 May Day. Jun 9 Whit Monday. Aug 1 Emancipation Day. Aug 4 Kadooment Day. Nov 30 Independence Day. Dec 25-26 Christmas. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Jan 21 Errol Barrow Day. Apr 9 Good Friday. Apr 12 Easter Monday. Apr 28 National Heroes’ Day. May 1 May Day. May 31 Whit Monday. Aug 1 Emancipation Day. Aug 2 Kadooment Day. Nov 30 Independence Day. Dec 25-27 Christmas.
Health
| | Special Precautions | Certificate Required | | Yellow Fever | No | 1 | | Cholera | No | No | | Typhoid and Polio | 2 | N/A | | Malaria | No | N/A |
1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming from countries with infected areas.
2: A small risk of typhoid exists.
Food & drink: The water in Barbados is considered by some to be the purest in the world; it is filtered naturally by limestone and coral and pumped from underground rivers. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.
Other risks: Immunisation against tetanus and hepatitis A are usually recommended; hepatitis B may also be recommended for long-term travellers. A low risk of dengue fever exists. Hay fever and asthma can be exacerbated during the sugar cane harvesting season. Leptospirosis may occur during the rainy season (October/November).
Health care: Excellent medical facilities are available in Barbados, with both private and general wards. Barbados has a reciprocal health agreement with the UK, which entitles UK nationals to free hospital and polyclinic treatment, ambulance travel and prescribed medicines for children and elderly patients. However, prescribed medicines for those other than children or the elderly and all dental treatment must be paid for. To receive treatment, UK nationals must show their UK passport or NHS medical card, as well as their temporary entry permit. Medical insurance is recommended for all other nationals.
Travel - International
AIR: Barbados is served by a number of international airlines including British Airways, American Airlines, Air Jamaica, Air Canada, US Air and Virgin Atlantic. LIAT, BWIA and Caribbean Star run flights to most of the neighbouring islands.
Approximate flight times: From Barbados to Miami is 3 hours 30 minutes, to New York is 5 hours, to London is 7 hours 30 minutes and to Los Angeles is 9 hours.
International airports: Barbados (BGI) (Grantley Adams International) is 13km (8 miles) east of Bridgetown, in Christ Church. Airport porters are ubiquitous and charge Bd$1 for transporting luggage between the luggage claim area and the street. Facilities include a bank, bar, shops and restaurant. The outgoing duty-free shop carries a range of items including jewellery, perfumes, china, crystal, cameras, shoes and clothing. There is a regular bus service to the city (travel time – 45 minutes) which departs every ten minutes and a 24-hour taxi service (travel time – 30 minutes).
Departure tax: Bd$25 for all departures. Passengers in transit who will be remaining in Barbados for less than 24 hours and children under 12 are exempt.
SEA: Barbados, which has a deep-water harbour at Bridgetown, is a port of call for a number of British, European and US cruise lines. Cruises call at the Bridgetown Cruise Ship Terminal, which is a multi-purpose marketplace containing duty-free shops, local goods market, restaurant and bar, customs, immigration, health services and police facilities. Other services include a bureau de change, car hire, ATM and a communications centre with telephones, facsimile machines and mobile phone hire. For details, contact the Tourist Office. There is a small departure tax.
Travel - Internal
AIR: There are no internal services.
ROAD: Barbados has a good network of roads which covers the entire island. Driving time to the east coast from Bridgetown has been greatly reduced following the completion of the trans-insular highway. Traffic drives on the left. There is a speed limit of 60kph (37mph) and 80kph (55mph) on the highway. The road journey from Bridgetown to Speightstown takes about 30 minutes and to Holetown or Oistins about 20 minutes. Bus: Buses are frequent and provide comprehensive coverage of the island at a flat rate of approximately Bds$1.50 for all journeys. Although cheap, buses are crowded during the rush hours. All buses terminate at Speightstown. Mini vans: Licensed mini vans, identifiable by their ‘ZR’ licence plate, operate around the island and can be flagged down by tourists and locals. There are no fixed schedules, but service is frequent. Taxi: Taxis do not have meters but fares are regulated by the Government. Listings are available from the Tourist Office. Car hire: Anything from a mini-moke to a limousine may be hired at the airport, at offices in Bridgetown and at main hotels. Petrol is comparatively cheap. Cars may be hired by the hour, day or week. Documentation: A Barbados driving permit is required. This can be obtained from car hire companies, the Ministry of Transport (Mon-Fri 0830-1430), the airport (every day 0800-2200) or police stations in Hastings, Worthing and Holetown. There is a registration fee of Bd$10. A valid national licence or an International Driving Permit should also be held.
URBAN: Bridgetown has a local bus network, and taxis are available.
Accommodation
HOTELS: Accommodation includes uncompromising luxury and many first-class hotels. Hotel prices range to suit all budgets. Generally the luxury hotels are in the west, while the medium-priced ones can be found along the southwest coast. The east coast, owing to its exposure to the trade winds and wild Atlantic Ocean, has only a small number of hotels and guest-houses. However, it is this area that is chosen by the Bajans for their own holidays. Hotel prices are higher in the winter than in the summer. The high season is from 16 December to 15 April, the low season runs for the remainder of the year. Rates are subject to a 7.5 per cent government tax; a service charge of ten per cent is also applicable at most hotels. Most hotels have air conditioning, many have swimming pools and housekeeping apartments. Most rates are for room only.
Grading: There is a hotel inspection and grading system, as well as standard services, the main ones being European Plan (EP), which is room only, and Modified American Plan (MAP), where breakfast and dinner are included with the price of the room. In addition, the Tourist Authority information gives full details on facilities. Further information is available from the Barbados Tourism Authority (see Contact Addresses section); or from the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, PO Box 711C, Fourth Avenue, Belleville, St Michael (tel: 426 5041; fax: 429 2845; e-mail: info@bhta.org; website: www.bhta.org).
GUEST-HOUSES: There are small guest-houses throughout Barbados, particularly in Christchurch. Some offer self-catering facilities.
SELF-CATERING: There is a large number of apartments, cottages and villas available for hire, and a number of modern complexes are being built on the northwest coast. Older buildings, with a more local character, are available on the less popular east coast. There are also smaller, family-run apartment hotels and many apartment-style hotels which leave the visitor with a choice of self-catering or restaurant eating. Almost all provide a wide range of facilities. All rates are subject to a 7.5 per cent government tax; a service charge of ten per cent is also payable at most establishments.
CAMPING: Camping is not generally permitted in Barbados except for organised trips by designated youth groups.
Introduction
The dramatic differences between the east and west coast must not be missed. The east (Atlantic side) is less developed and ruggedly beautiful. The west coast is the Caribbean side, where there is more hotel development, but the coastline remains elegant and attractive. The sea is calm and clear and this is the coast where watersports come into their own. Barbados is actively promoting ecotourism. The Barbados National Trust has implemented programmes to support this venture. Various hiking, cycling and walking events are available and information can be obtained from the Barbados National Trust, Wildey House, Wildey, St Michael, Barbados (tel: 436 9033 or 426 2421; fax: 429 9055; e-mail: natrust@sunbeach.net; website: http://trust.funbarbados.com).
Bridgetown: The island was discovered by the Portuguese in 1536, but throughout its colonial history, which ended with the Declaration of Independence in 1966, Barbados was under British sovereignty. This is strongly reflected in the old capital of Bridgetown which has a decidedly English character; so much so that there is even a miniature of London’s Trafalgar Square, complete with a statue of Lord Nelson. The city is small and there are many excellent walking tours. Places worth a visit include the Fairchild Market, St Michael’s Cathedral (built in 1789), Belleville, Government House, the Barbados Museum, the Old Synagogue and the Garrison Savannah. Temple Yard has a Rastafarian street market.
St John: There is a breathtaking view of the east coast from St John’s Parish Church. The church’s cemetery contains the grave of Ferdinando Paleologus, a possible descendant of the Byzantine Emperors.
Codrington College: Situated near Consett Bay, and one of the oldest schools of theology in the Western hemisphere, built in 1745.
Morgan Lewis Mill: Also in the east, this is a splendid example of a Dutch windmill from the days of the sugar cane planters. It has been completely restored and is open to the public.
Newcastle Coral Stone Gates: Situated in St Joseph, these gates were erected by 20th Century Fox for the film Island in the Sun, and the area affords a commanding view of the magnificent east coast beaches.
The East Coast Road: One of the most exciting drives on the island, with the Atlantic crashing over treacherous reefs on to the rugged and beautiful coast.
Andromeda Gardens: The array of exotic plants grown along terraced gardens makes this the prettiest area of St Joseph.
Welchman Hall Gully: Owned by the National Trust, this botanic garden in St Thomas is home to many rare fruit and spice trees.
Holetown (St James): The monument in the town gives the date of the founding of Barbados’ first settlement by the English as being 1605, although this event in fact took place in 1627. There are still a few structures dating from that time. St James, the first church, still retains a 17th-century font, and a bell inscribed ‘God bless King William, 1696’.
Harrison’s Cave (St Thomas): This eerie, luminous cavern makes a spectacular excursion. Completely lit, one can see every part from a special train which takes the visitor on a mile-long ride underground. It is open every day 0900-1600.
Flower Forest: A 50-acre botanical garden in which can be found almost every plant that grows on Barbados. The grounds offer pleasant walks and spectacular views of Chalky Mountain, the Atlantic Ocean and Mount Hillaby.
Bathsheba: Small pastel-coloured houses cling to the chalky cliffs that rise above the Atlantic.
Potteries: This village is famous for its ceramic artworks.
Gun Hill Signal Station: Notable both for its splendid view of St George’s Valley and for the lion carved out of a rock by a British soldier in the days when Gun Hill was an army look-out point.
St George’s Church: Eighteenth-century, and worth a visit for its wonderful altarpiece.
Platinum Coast: This beautiful stretch of coast is also known as Millionaires Row. There are fine beaches of white sand and clear, turquoise waters.
Speightstown: Typical West Indian village, with attractive wooden houses, shops and old churches.
Animal Flower Cave: A cavern carved out by the sea with coral rock tinted almost every imaginable colour.
Farley Hill: Once a fine plantation house, now in ruins, still covered in hibiscus and poinsettias.
St Nicholas Abbey: Another plantation house, graced with Persian arches and well-kept gardens.
The Atlantic Coast: Take the inland road through sugar-cane country with little churches and tiny towns with pretty houses. See the dramatic view from Crane Beach.
Sam Lord’s Castle: Once an old plantation house, but now a hotel, beautifully decorated with furniture made from Barbados mahogany.
Barbados Wildlife Reserve: Wildlife, some indigenous and some introduced to the island, roams free in a mahogany forest. Animals that visitors may expect to see during their visit include green monkeys, tortoises, deer, wallabies, pelicans and otters. There is also a screened aviary where peacocks, turkeys, toucans, macaws, lovebirds, parrots and an iguana may be viewed.
Sport & Activities
Watersports: Barbados is fringed by coral reefs which host a variety of marine life and offer excellent scuba diving and snorkelling. Sea horses, frog fish, giant sand eels and the hawksbill turtle are among the creatures to be found around the island. Dive operators will provide equipment, advice and guided tours. Carlisle Bay near Bridgetown has 200 wrecks, and is a good venue for beginners. Folkstone Marine Park features the popular wreck of the Stavronikita. The best conditions for windsurfing, jet-skiing, parasailing and water-skiing are on the south and west coasts. All watersports are easy to arrange.
Fishing: Boat chartering is available for game fishing, spin fishing and inshore fishing. Game fishing tournaments are held regularly, with the highlight of the deep sea season being the Mutual/Mount Gay International Tournament in April.
Golf: There are three 18-hole courses (Royal Westmoreland, designed by Robert Trent Jones Junior, Sandy Lane and the Barbados Golf Club) and three 9-hole courses (Rockley, Almond Beach Village and Belair). Reservations are usually required and instruction is available at all levels.
Spectator sports: Cricket is the national obsession and can be enjoyed virtually all year round, both at national and club level. Test matches and the Inter-Caribbean Shield competition are played at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. Many of the great names of West Indian cricket are from Barbados, most notably Sir Garfield Sobers. There are 20 horseracing meetings at the Garrison Savannah during the year’s two main seasons (January-March and May-October), the highlight of which is the Sandy Lane Gold Cup Race, held on the first Saturday in March. Polo is played to a high level throughout the year.
Other: Stables and horses are available and horseriding along the beach at sunset can be arranged. The Barbados National Trust organises regular guided hikes, as advertised in their ‘Calendar of Hikes’. The hikes, which last for approximately three hours, begin at 0600, 1530 and 1730. Participants on evening (moonlight) walks need to bring a torch. For further details, contact the tourist board (see Contact Addresses section).
Social Profile
Food & Drink: There are a great many restaurants offering both international and traditional Bajan cuisine at a variety of prices. Local specialities include flying fish, lobster and crane chubb. The sea urchin (oursin or sea egg) is a particular speciality. Other local foods include sweet potatoes, plantains, breadfruit, yams and such fruits as avocados, pears, soursops, pawpaws, bananas, figs and coconuts. An exchange ‘Dine Around’ system is operated between some hotels of the same class and guests can eat at other hotels for no extra cost.
Local drink specialities include all types of rum-based cocktails, rum punch, planters punch, pina coladas and sangria. The local beer is Banks. The two most famous rums are Cockspur’s Five Star, and, for the connoisseur Mount Gay (the oldest rum blend on the island). There are numerous bars which emulate the British pub, and serve genuine British bitter and stout.
Nightlife: Nightclubs, discos and bars provide entertainment including limbo dancing, fire-eaters, steel bands and dance bands. There is a small cover charge. As in all Caribbean countries, swinging nightspots tend to come and go with seasons. Coastal boat trips with live entertainment are very popular; most sail twice daily, and run buffets, bars and live music.
Shopping: Shopping is a delight and there is a wide range of goods with visitors being able to take some purchases home duty-free on production of their passport and air ticket. Liquor and cigarettes are sent to the airport or port for collection on departure. Other items can be taken away at point of purchase. Prices tend to be on the high side, though for such things as jewellery, clothing and ceramics the high quality often makes the expense worthwhile. Special purchases: rum, straw goods, coral and shell jewellery, prints (batik) and woodcraft. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0830-1600 (supermarkets are open longer on Saturdays).
Special Events: All details are available in The Visitor, published weekly, and The Sunseeker, published fortnightly, available in most hotels. The following is a selection of the major festivals and other special events celebrated in Barbados in 2003. For a complete list and exact dates, contact the Barbados Tourism Authority (see Contact Addresses section).
Jan 13-19 Barbados Jazz Festival. Feb 16-23 Holetown Festival. Mar Barbados Open Golf Championship. Mar 2 The Barbados Sandy Lane Gold Cup. Mar 11-29 Holder’s Opera Season. Apr Congaline Music Festival. Apr 19-21 Oistins Fish Festival. May Barbados International Track and Field Classic; Gospelfest. May 18-Jun 2 Celtic Festival. July Crop Over Festival. Aug 24 Banks Hockey Festival. Oct Blowing in de’ Windies (public schools rugby tournament). Oct 16-20 ‘Sun, Sea and Slam’ – International Bridge Festival. Nov 1 National Independence Festival of Creative Arts. Nov 30 Independence Day Celebrations. Dec 7 Run Barbados Road Race (marathon).
Social Conventions: Social attitudes, like administration and architecture, tend to echo the British provincial market town. However, the optimistic attitude, laid-back manner and wonderful sense of humour of the Bajans is well appreciated by many tourists. Casual wear is acceptable in most places. Dressing for dinner in hotels and restaurants is suggested. Smoking is generally unrestricted. Tipping: In restaurants or nightclubs, tips are usually ten to 15 per cent. Porters’ tips are at the customer’s discretion.
Business Profile
Economy: The Bajan economy traditionally relied on sugar production, but persistently low world market prices forced the Government to promote economic diversification. Most effort has been concentrated in tourism, which is now the largest employer on the island and continues to show steady growth. Cotton, flowers and plants are being developed as export products. New light industrial projects, such as electronic components, have fared less well, mainly as a result of falling demand in the USA, the principal export market. The island’s other important industry is oil. Two thirds of offshore output is exported, with the remainder assigned for domestic consumption. Exploration activities have been intensified since the mid-1990s. In the service sector, Barbados has developed an ‘offshore’ financial industry which now accounts for 15 per cent of GDP. Barbados receives some overseas aid from British and US sources and is a member of the Caribbean economic community, CARICOM, which has boosted regional trade. The island has a good transport and communications infrastructure which should assist future economic development. The main trading partners are the USA, the UK and the other CARICOM nations.
Business: Lightweight tropical suits and shirt and tie are recommended. European courtesies should be observed. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600.
Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry, PO Box 189, Bridgetown (postal address); First Floor, Nemwil House, Collymore Rock, St Michael (street address) (tel: 426 2056; fax: 429 2907; e-mail: bdscham@caribsurf.com; website: www.bdscham.com) or Barbados Investment & Development Corporation, PO Box 1250 Pelican House, Princess Alice Highway, Bridgetown, (tel: 427 5350; fax: 426 7802; e-mail: bidc@bidc.org; website: www.bidc.com).
Conferences/Conventions: For the business traveller, conference organiser or incentive group there is a number of hotels with conference and meeting facilities. There is also a selection of conference centres, the newest being the Sherbourne Conference Centre. Located 3km (2 miles) from Bridgetown, it is adjacent to the main highway linking the south and west coast. The centre is fully air conditioned and equipped to handle seminars, meetings, international conferences, trade shows and exhibitions. Restaurants and cafeteria facilities are available to seat 120 and 300 persons respectively. For more information contact the Barbados Conference Services Ltd, Sherbourne Conference Centre, Two Mile Hill, St Michael (tel: 434 3000; fax: 431 9795; e-mail: sales@sherbournecentre.com; website: www.sherbournecentre.com).
Climate
The balmy, tropical climate is cooled by constant sea breezes, but it is sunnier and drier than the other islands. The dry season is from December to June; during the so-called wet season (July to November) some brief rain showers are likely. Average sunshine hours per day: eight to ten from November to March and eight to nine from April to October.
Required clothing: Lightweight cottons are advised; beachwear is not worn in towns.
History and Government
History: Little is known of the early history of Barbados: it was probably occupied by Arawak Indians from South America up until the arrival of the Spanish in the region in the early-16th century. The earliest European arrivals were the Portuguese in the early 16th century but the first settlements were established by the British in 1627. Barbados was declared a British colony in 1663. Slaves were brought to the island from Africa to work on the sugar plantations until the abolition of slavery in the mid-19th century. Barbados joined the West Indies Federation in 1958, and was granted internal self-government three years later. Full independence within the British Commonwealth was achieved in 1966.
Politics on the island have since been dominated by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) – formed by Grantley Adams in 1937 – and the rival Democratic Labour Party (DLP) which began life after a split in the BLP. The two parties have alternated between government and opposition since independence. The DLP’s most recent term of office ended in 1994 after eight years in charge. Since then, the BLP has been pre-eminent. At the most recent general election held in January 1999, the BLP won an overwhelming victory, taking 26 of the 28 House of Assembly seats.
Barbados participates in CARICOM (the Caribbean Common Market) and the US-backed Regional Security System, set up following the 1983 US invasion of Grenada. Barbados backed the invasion, committing some of its own troops to the occupying force. More recently, the island has acquired a problem with drug trafficking, as the Caribbean islands have become important transit points between South and North America. The Government is also one of the main proponents of further regional integration, which it believes to be more important than the trade and political frictions which are presently inhibiting such a development. As with most Caribbean members of the British Commonwealth, the Queen is Head of State in Barbados, although there is a strong lobby – backed by a recent government commission examining Barbados’ constitutional future – for an elected President as Head of State.
Government: The British monarch is Head of State and is represented in Barbados by a Governor-General who is advised by the Cabinet and appoints the Prime Minister. The legislature comprises the Governor-General, a 21-member Senate and the 28-strong House of Assembly, members of which are elected by universal adult suffrage for terms of up to five years.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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