ting 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.[40]: 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. [40]: 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. [40]:
56
Due to inadequate historical records, the total number of Irish labourers sent to Barbados is
unknown, and estimates have been "highly contentious".[40]: 56 While one historical source
estimated that as many as 50,000 Irish people were deported to either Barbados or Virg

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. [38] 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.[39]

Irish people in Barbados

Irish people in Barbados[edit]

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.[40]: 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. [40]:
55
Irish indentured servants were a significant portion o

his 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 19 seconds.1:19

Capital Bridgetown
13°05′52″N 59°37′06″W
and largest city

Official languages English

Vernacular language Bajan

92.4% Black
Ethnic groups
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 Indies 3 January 1958 – 31 May
Federation 1962
• Sovereignty 30 November 1966
• Admitted to the UN 7 December 1966
• Joined CARICOM at the Treaty 1 August 1973
of Chaguaramas
• Republic established 30 November 2021

Area
• Total 439 km2 (169 sq mi)
(183rd)
• Water (%) Negligible

Population
• 2022 estimate 267,800[2] (174th)
• 2010 census 277,821[3]
• 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 (2021) 0.790[5]

high · 70th

Currency Barbadian dollar ($) (BBD)

Time zone UTC−4 (AST)

Driving side left[6]

Calling code +1 -246

ISO 3166 code BB

Internet TLD .bb

Barbados (UK: /bɑːrˈbeɪdɒs/ bar-BAY-doss; US: /bɑːrˈbeɪdoʊs/ bar-BAY-dohss; locally /bərˈbeɪdəs/

bər-BAY-dəss) is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in
the Caribbean region of North 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 Amerindians,
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 gained independence and became a Commonwealth

realm with Elizabeth II as Queen of Barbados. On 30 November 2021, Barbados transitioned to
a republic within the Commonwealth.[9][10]