BARBADOS Barbados is a small country located in the Caribbean Sea. The capital is Bridgetown with a population of about 8,789.

The head of state of Barbados is Queen Elizabeth II and she is represented by General Dame Nita Barrow. The total population of the country is around 284,000. The main language is English and the predominant religion is Christianity. Their date of independence was November 30, 1966. Barbados is the eastern most Caribbean Island. It is about 200 miles North-North East of Trinidad and about 100 miles East- South East of St. Lucia. It is the second smallest country in the Western Hemisphere. The major urban centers in the area include Bridgetown, Speightstown, Oistins, and Holetown. The land is mainly flat except for a series of ridges that rise up to about 1,000 feet and then falling towards the sea. Barbados has been an independent country since 30 November 1966. It functions as a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, modeled on the British Westminster system, with Elizabeth II, Queen of Barbados, as head of state, represented locally by the Governor-General, Elliott Belgrave, and the Prime Minister as head of the government. The number of representatives within the House of Assembly has gradually increased from 24 at independence to its present total of 30 seats. Barbados functions as a two-party system, the two dominant parties being the ruling Democratic Labour Party and the opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP). Until 2003, each party had served two terms in office alternately. The general election of 2003 victory for the Barbados Labour Party gave it a third term in office, as a result of which it achieved a total of fourteen continuous years in government, from 1994 until the 2008

elections. Under that administration, the former Prime Minister, The Right Honorable Owen S. Arthur, acted as the Regional Leader of the Caribbean Single Market (CSM). The Honorable David Thompson, who was elected Prime Minister of Barbados in 2008, died of pancreatic cancer on 23 October 2010 and was succeeded by his Deputy Prime Minister, Freundel Stuart, was sworn in as head of government the same day. Barbados has had several third parties since independence: The People's Pressure Movement, formed in the early 1970s, which contested the 1976 elections; The National Democratic Party, which contested the 1994 elections; and the People's Democratic Congress, which contested the 2008 elections. Apart from these, several independents have stood for election, but no independent has yet won a seat in Parliament. English is the root 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 the vocabulary, pronunciations, spellings, and conventions akin to, but not exactly the same as, those of British English. A regional variant of English, referred to locally as Bajan, is spoken by most Barbadians in everyday life, especially in informal settings. In its full-fledged form, Bajan sounds markedly different from the Standard English heard on the island. Most Barbadians of African and European descent are Christians (95%), chiefly Anglicans (40%). Other Christian denominations with significant followings in Barbados are the Catholic Church, Pentecostals (Evangelicals) Jehovah's Witnesses, the Seventhday Adventist Church and Spiritual Baptists. The Church of England was the official

state religion until its legal disenfranchisement by the Parliament of Barbados following independence. Religious minorities include Hindus, Muslims, members of the Baha'i Faith, Jews and Wiccans.

NATIONAL ANTHEM In plenty and in time of need When this fair land was young Our brave forefathers sowed the seed From which our 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 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

BARBADOS PLEDGE I pledge allegiance to my country Barbados and to my flag, To uphold and defend their honour, and by my living to do credit to my nation, wherever I go.

NATIONAL DISH Coucou and flying is a recipe made with corn meal, okra, flying fish and topped with an aromatic sauce of tomato, onion, chives, thyme, fresh pepper, garlic and other herbs. The fish can be steamed, battered & fried or grilled. Coucou is also known as Fungi in other Caribbean islands such as Dominica, Antigua and the Virgin Islands. The Italians prepare a similar version of Coucou called pollenate. The recipe for Coucou was passed down from African slaves who came to the island in 1644. The recipe requires consistent stirring of the Coucou until it reaches a smooth, even distribution of ingredients and a firmness to be eaten with a fork. Bajans have invented a tool just for this purpose called a Coucou stick.

COAT OF ARM The Grant of Arms conveyed by royal warrant was presented to the President of the Senate by Her Majesty the Queen in 1966 - the year Barbados gained independence from Britain. The Golden Shield carries two Pride of Barbados flowers (the National Flower) and the Bearded Fig Tree (after which Barbados is named). The shield is supported by a dolphin (symbolic of the fishing industry) and by a pelican (after a small island called Pelican Island which existed off Barbados). Above the shield is a helmet and mantling and above is a hand of a Barbadian holding two crossed pieces of sugarcane (symbolic of the Barbados sugar industry). The cross formed by the cane is a reference to the cross on which St.Andrew was crucified Barbados' Independence Day is celebrated on November 30th, Saint Andrews Day.

NATIONAL FLOWER The National Flower of Barbados is the Pride of Barbados (Dwarf Poinciana or Flower Fence). The Pride of Barbados blooms all year round, the more common varieties are a fiery red and yellow "sunset colour" although other variations can be found. The National Flower is accepted as the red variety with the Yellow Margin on the petals.

NATIONAL TREE It was said that the baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) was brought to Barbados around 1738 from Guinea in Africa. It is also known as the "Monkey-bread tree". Two magnificent trees with possibly the widest tree-trunks to be found in the Caribbean grow in Barbados! The largest can be seen in our Queen's Park in Bridgetown. To give an example of the size of this tree of great distinction, it takes 15 adults joining with outstretched arms to cover its circumference.

NATIONAL BIRD Although the pelican is featured on the national Coat of Arms of Barbados, the bird is rarely seen in or around Barbados. Up until the 1950's Pelican Island existed as a small island off the west coast of Barbados. The sea between Barbados and Pelican Island was reclaimed and this area is now part of the Bridgetown Deep Water Harbour, where the cruise ships dock. Pelican Island was so named because of the brown pelicans that nested there.

PARISHES OF BARBADOS The country of Barbados is subdivided into sub-regions known as parishes. The eleven parishes are: Parish (short name) Christ Church St. Andrew St. George St. James St. John St. Joseph St. Lucy St. Michael St. Peter St. Philip St. Thomas Former Capitals Oistins Greenland Bulkeley Holetown Four Roads Bathsheba Crab Hill Bridgetown Speightstown Crane Hillaby Land Area (km) 57 36 44 31 34 26 36 39 34 60 34 Population (Census 2000) 49,498 5,254 17,868 22,742 8,873 6,805 9,328 83,684 10,699 20,540 11,590 Density km2 868.4 145.9 406.1 733.6 261.0 261.7 259.1 2,145.7 314.7 342.3 340.9

BARBADOS NATIONAL HERO These outstanding Barbadians are recognized as National Heroes for their roles in positively changing Barbados. In their honour April 28th is celebrated each year as National Heroes Day. Visit the Barbados National Heroes Gallery for an interactive introduction to these heroes.

Errol Barrow (1920-1987) Father of Barbados' Independence. November, 1966 Graduate of Ecomonics (London school of economics) and law (Inns of Court) Barrow return to Barbados after serving with the RAF (Flying Officer) in world war II. As Barbados forst Prime minister and in the years that followed he led Barbados toward a social democracy with free education to all levels, abolished segregation in education; introduced a National Insurance and Social Security scheme; improved health services; accelerated industrial development; and considerable expansion of the tourist industry.

Sir Grantley Adams (1898-1971) The first Premier of Barbados and the only Prime Minister of the now defunct West Indies Federation. Adams, a highly respected lawyer, was a mastery of debate on the floor of the House, where he fought for a better life for the under-privileged masses and for establishing social justice across all ethnic and economic classes.

Bussa Leading Barbados' longest slave revolt in April 1816 against racist and oppressive white Barbadian planters. Born a free man in Africa, but was captured and brought to Barbados as a slave.

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Sarah Ann Gill (1795-1866) Stood up against the planters who succeeded in ousting the Methodist missionaries from Barbados, she opened her home as a church and kept the faith going, against physical abuse.

Samuel Jackson Prescod (1806-1871) Renowned politician, humanitarian and journalist. Elected on June 6, 1843, as the first non-White to sit in the House of Assembly. Founding member and Leader of Liberal Party.

Sir Frank Walcott (1916-1999) An international figure in trade unionism recognized as a forceful, reasonable negotiator and a progressive leader. He served as President of the Caribbean Congress of Labour for three terms and was an Executive of the Board of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.

Charles Duncan O'Neal (1879-1936) A medical doctor of the privileged class, he dedicated most of his working life to the poor. He was the first black activist in this century to agitate for free education and free dental care for children;

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improved housing; and abolition of the infamous Located Labourers' System and the Masters and Servants Act.

Sir Garfield Sobers An outstanding sportsman and a legend in cricket. Sir Garfield rose from the back streets to become Captain of the West Indies team and is still regarded as the world's greatest all-rounder. He continues to be a role model also for millions of youngsters beyond the shores of Barbados.

Clement Osbourne Payne (1904-1941) A Barbadian pioneer in the Caribbean trade union movement and an outspoken critic of politics and the planter class. His firry outspoken speeches got him excelled from Barbados, which lead to days of rioting. A subsequent Commission of Inquiry in the UK (The Moyne Commission), determined that all of his charges against the island's rulers were accurate. Its report called for the reforms which Payne had proposed, including the introduction of trade union legislation.

Sir Hugh Springer (1913-1994) Barbados' third native Governor-General. He worked in a variety of professional and

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political capacities, including being a Member of the House of Assembly; General Secretary of the Barbados Labour Party; Acting Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Barbados, as well as serving as Director, Commonwealth Education Liaison Unit; Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General and Secretary-General of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

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