BARBADOS

By: T.Niveditha
Where Barbados is located ?
Barbados is the most easterly island in
the archipelago of the Caribbean islands
located at 13º N Latitude and 59º W
Longitude. Barbados’s total surface area
is 431 square km of land, equivalent to
2.5 times the size of Washington DC, with
97 km of coastline and maritime claims of
territorial sea of 12 nm in total, reserving
an exclusive economic zone of 200nm.
Unlike most of the other Caribbean
islands, Barbados is not volcanic, but
predominantly coral based. Barbados is
outside the principal Atlantic hurricane
belt. Its capital and largest city
is Bridgetown.
How Barbados Got Its Name?

 In 1536, en route to Brazil, Pedro a Campos a

Portuguese sea captain came across  the island
and gave it the name ‘Os Barbados’. This was due
in part to the fascination he and his Portuguese
sailors had with the long hanging, aerial roots of
the Bearded Fig Tree - A Shortleaf Fig (Ficus
Citrifolia) which in their minds resembled a long,
thick beard. Based on the prevalence of these
trees, the island was named after these ‘the
bearded’ which in Portuguese is ‘Os Barbados’.
National Flag and Anthem of Barbados
 The national flag of Barbados is comprised of three
equal vertical panels - the center panel of gold and the
outer panels of ultramarine. A broken trident in black is
located in the center of the flag. Blue represents the sea
and sky of Barbados, while gold represents the sand of
the island's beaches. The symbol at the center of the
flag represents the Trident of the mythical sea god,
Neptune - the shaft of the trident is broken symbolizing
Barbados' break from Britain.
Barbados National Anthem
I pledge allegiance to my country Barbados and to my
flag, To uphold and defend their honor, and by my living to
do credit to my nation, wherever I go.
Barbados Coat Of Arms

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 Island
existed off Barbodas.
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.
 Country Overview
 Country: Barbados
 Capitol city & code: Bridgetown: BGI (Grantley Adams International Airport)
 Major cities : Bathsheba, Barbados
Blackmans, Barbados
Greenland, Barbados
Oistins, Barbados
Crab Hill, Barbados
 Languages: English, Hindi/Bhojpuri, Bajan dialect
 Location: Eastern Caribbean – most easterly island
 Area: 430 square kilometers (166 sq. miles)
 Country view (Continued)
 Currency: Barbados dollar
 National Sport: Cricket
 National Festival: Crop Over Festival
 National Holiday: Independence Day, 30th November
 Ethnic groups: Afro-Barbadian, Indo- Barbadian, Asian, Multiracial, European
 Religion: Christian Protestant, Christian Roman Catholic, Muslim, Hindu
 Literacy rate: 99.7%
 Government: Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarch
 Head of State: Governor–general
 Population: 300,000 (2005)
 Standard of living

 The Barbados standard of living is the highest in the Caribbean.

 Barbados is often called the Switzerland of the Caribbean.
 literacy rate: 99.7%.
 life expectancy: 74.52.
 100% of the people have safe water and sanitation facilities.
 The cost of living in Barbados is $1230, which is 1.67 times more expensive than the
world average. Barbados ranked 37th out of 197 countries by cost of living and the
113th best country to live in.
 The average salary after taxes in Barbados is $1481, which is enough to cover living
expenses for 1.2 months.
 Economic aspects
 Historically, the Barbadian economy was dependent on sugarcane cultivation and
related activities.
 In recent years the economy has diversified into light industry and tourism with about
three-quarters of GDP and 80% of exports being attributed to services.
 The country enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the region.
 Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners and
thrive from having the same time zone as eastern US financial centers and a relatively
highly educated workforce.
 Barbados principal industries are now tourism and off-shore financial services. Sugar
cane and rum are no longer "king" but still bring substantial revenue to Barbados.
 Barbados Major Trade partners
 Buying and selling are essential for any country to develop its economy and maintain good relations

with other nations.

 Top trading partners of Barbados in terms of export sales (selling) including United States, Trinidad

and Tobago, United Kingdom, Jamaica, Netherlands Antilles, St. Lucia, Canada, Switzerland,
Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Germany, Bahamas, France.

 Top trade partners of Barbados regarding import total (buying). That is most products are imported
from these countries to Barbados. United States ,Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, United Kingdom, New
Zealand, Canada, Switzerland ,France, Thailand, Sweden, Germany, China, Brazil, Mexico,
Netherlands, South Korea, Denmark, Lucia, Italy, Turkey, Hokang, India, Uruguay, Belgium, Colombia.
 Exported Good of Barbodas
 Mineral fuels including oil: US$91.6 million
(26.5% of total exports)
 Beverages, spirits, vinegar: $48.5 million
(14.1%)
 Pharmaceuticals: $24.1 million (7%)
 Other chemical goods: $23.2 million (6.7%)
 Paper, paper items: $17.2 million (5%)
 Salt, Sulphur, stone, cement: $15.8 million
(4.6%)
 Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $12.2
million (3.5%)
 Cereal/milk preparations: $10.2 million
(2.9%)
 Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $9
million (2.6%)
 Electrical machinery, equipment: $8.4
million (2.4%)
 Imported Goods of Barbados
 Mineral fuels, oils, distillation products,
etc. (23.24%)
 Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, etc.
(7.42%)
 Vehicles other than railway, tramway,
(5.53%)
 Electrical, electronic equipment ,(5.33%)
 Plastics and articles thereof ,(3.55%)
 Pharmaceutical products, (3.15%)
 Beverages, spirits and vinegar ,(3.0%)
 Paper and paperboard, articles of pulp,
paper and board ,(2.59%)
 Miscellaneous edible preparations ,
(2.45%)
 Optical, photo, technical, medical, etc.
apparatus , (2.19%)
 Seven Wonders of Barbodas!!

 Most people know of the Seven Wonders of the World..... Now lets see the Seven
Wonders of Barbados……
 Harrison's Cave.
 The Baobab Tree.
 Historic Jacobean Mansions.
 Morgan Lewis Windmill.
 Bridgetown Jewish Synagogue.
 "Cannon Galore“.
 "Grapefruit Tree" (Citrus Paradise).
Harrison’s Cave
The Baobab Tree
 Historic Jacobean Mansions.

 Jacobean indicates the period of English history that coincides with the reign of James of England (1603-1625).
Similarly the Jacobean architectural style is name given to certain types of structures built within this Ancient
period. Three genuine Jacobean styled mansions remain in the Western Hemisphere. Barbados is home to two of
these mansions. These are Drax Hall and St.Nicholas Abbey.

 Drax Hall 
 Drax Hall mansion is located in the middle of the parish of St. George. It is said that Drax Hall was originally owned by
Colonel James Drax, but built by him and his brother, William Drax in the 1650s. Drax Hall is a classic, Jacobean coral-
stone mansion, evidenced in its architecture of steep red gable roof, casement gable windows and the mastic wood
staircase. Drax Hall is still owned, though not lived in, by the Drax family and is still a working plantation.
 St. Nicholas Abbey
  St. Nicholas Abbey. This Jacobean mansion, built in 1658, is the second of the three remaining in the Western
Hemisphere. This mansion has been carefully preserved. Its curved Dutch gables, chimney stacks, coral stone finials
and beautiful Chinese Chippendale staircase are all in pristine condition.
Drax Hall , St. Nicholas Abbey
Morgan Lewis Windmill

 Morgan Lewis Windmill is located in the

northern parish of St. Andrew overlooking
the eastern coastline of the island and the
Scotland District.
 Morgan Lewis is one of the only two intact
and restored sugar mills in the Caribbean.
The other is at Betty's Hope Estate on
Antigua island.
 The Barbados National Trust periodically
demonstrates grinding of sugar canes at
Morgan Lewis.
Bridgetown Jewish Synagogue

 There is one synagogue situated in
Barbados' capital city Bridgetown. Built in
the 17th century (1654) it was destroyed
by hurricane in 1831, was rebuilt, fell into
disrepair and was sold in 1929.
 In 1983, it was bought back by the Jewish
community and was restored to its
present state with its beautiful Gothic
arches, and is now a Barbados National
Trust protected building and an active
synagogue. Located next to the
synagogue is the Nidhe Israel Museum.
"Cannon Galore“

 The Caribbean is still full of secrets. One

recently revealed is that Barbados has
the world's rarest collection of 17th
century English iron cannon.
 Not too long ago it was decided to create
a National Ordnance Collection of all the
old guns on the island and to date more
than 400 have been unearthed.
 "The island is littered with old cannon",
said Major Michael Hartland, who is the
driving force behind this collection's
acquisition.
"Grapefruit Tree" (Citrus Paradise).
 There is an old Barbadian legend telling us
that the "Grapefruit" was first developed in
Barbados, in the beautiful Welchman Hall
Gully and was first recorded in the
eighteenth century. Its parents were
Shaddock and Sweet Orange, immigrants
from across the Asian Sea. A natural cross-
pollination was produced between
Shaddock and Sweet Orange.
 As a result, the "Forbidden Fruit" (as it was
named many moons ago) was born for the
first time! The name was changed to
"Grapefruit" because it grows in large
"grape-like clusters". This original Barbadian
fruit has now become a world wide favorite.
 Attractions of Barbodas
 Downtown Bridgetown, The Beaches of Carlisle Bay
Bathsheba Bay,  Animal Flower Cave
 People
Ethnic groups and languages

 People of African descent and of mixed

African-European descent make up more
than nine-tenths of the population. A small
fraction of the population is of European
(mainly British) descent, and there is an
even smaller number of inhabitants who
originated from the Indian subcontinent.
There are small groups of Syrians,
Lebanese, and Chinese. There is also a
sizable expatriate community—primarily
from the United States and Great Britain—
made up of international civil servants,
businesspersons, and retirees. English is the
official language, and a nonstandard English
called Bajan is also spoken.
 Typical food of Barbados
Flying fish Cou-cou
 Conclusion

 Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the
Caribbean region of North America, and the most easterly of the Caribbean
Islands it is one of the safest countries in the Caribbean. The country is best
known for Tropical beaches, The surf is fantastic, birthplace of rum, Mega-star
Rihanna, The land of the flying fish, Crop Over festival. On the
whole Barbados tends to be expensive, in part because most everything has to
be imported so the standard of living is higher than most other places in the
Caribbean.