Most easterly of the Caribbean islands, approximately 120 km (75 mi) from Saint Lucia and 399 km (200 mi) northeast of Trinidad and Tobago.
 

First sighted by the Portuguese, but settled by the English in 1627 and remained a British colony until independence in 1966. The Barbados House of Assembly is the third oldest legislature in the Americas, dating from 1639.
 

Last held 2008.  Next election due in 2013
 

 Democratic Labour Party (DLP)
 

 Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Barbados Labour Party (BLP), National Democratic Party (NDP)
 

Tourism is the main industry of this broad-based economy.  Off-shore financing and informatics are also important foreign-exchange earners. There is a light manufacturing sector which is focused mainly at the local market although there is some exporting to other Caribbean countries.  The products include foodstuff, beer, flour, animal feeds and chemicals.  The main agro-industries are sugar refining and rum distilling, each with substantial export production.

Barbados is self-sufficient in eggs and almost self-sufficient in chicken.  Locally produced pork, beef and lamb supply a significant proportion of the domestic market.
 

Grantley Adams International
 

Independent -  30 November 1966
 

Bridgetown
 

H.E. Sir Clifford Husbands, GCMG, KA., Governor-General
 

The Honourable David John Howard Thompson
Prime Minister, Barbados

Date of Birth: 25 December 1961

Marital Status: Married

Education:

Legal Education Certificate, Hugh Wooding Law School

1984:  University of the West Indies, Law Faculty, Graduated with Honours

Professional/Political Career:

1986-1988:  Part-time Tutor in Law, University of the West Indies

1987:  Elected to Parliament
1991:  Minister of Community Development and Culture
1992-1993:  Served as Minister of State with responsibility for Finance, Minister of Finance
1994:  Leader of the Democratic Labour Party
2001:  Resigned as leader of the Democratic Labour Party
2006:  Leader of the Democratic Labour Party
2008:  Elected Prime Minister

431 km² (166.4 miles²)

273,200 (2004)

Barbados Dollar

EC$27,797  (2004)
 

EC$751.2 Mn (2004)
 

EC$283.9 Mn (2004)
 

EC$942.9 Mn(2004)

Commercial: 08:00-16:00 hrs Monday to Friday; 08:00-13:00 hrs Saturday

Government:  08:15-16:30 hrs Monday to Friday

New Year's Day (01 January); Errol Barrow Day (21 January); Good Friday, Easter Monday, National Heroes Day (28 April), Labour Day (01 May); Whit Monday (June); Emancipation Day (01 August); Kadooment Day (First Monday in August); Independence Day (30 November); Christmas Day (25 December); Boxing Day (26 December). 

Holidays that fall on a Sunday are observed the following Monday

1 August, 1973

In plenty and in time of need
When this fair land was young
Our brave forefathers sowed the seed
From which your pride is sprung,
A pride that makes no wanton boast
Of what it has withstood
That binds our hearts from coast to coast
The pride of nationhood.

 

Chorus:
We loyal sons and daughters all
Do hereby make it known
These fields and hills beyond recall
Are now our very own.
We write our names on history's page
With expectations great,
Strict guardians of our heritage,
Firm craftsmen of our fate.

 

The Lord has been the people's guide
For the past three hundred years.
With Him still on the people's side
We have no doubts or fears.
Upward and onward we shall go,
Inspired, exulting, free,
And greater will our nation grow
In strength and unity

(Words by Irvine Burgie; music by Van Roland Edwards)

Knight of St. Andrew
 

Cou-Cou and Flying Fish, Jug Jug