Experience the Real Caribbean

Barbados is located in the Eastern Caribbean

Map from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/maps/bb_largelocator_template.html

A Profile:

• Size: 430 km2

• Population: 286 705 (projected for July 2011)

• Language: English• Capital: Bridgetown

History

• Barbados was inhabited by indigenous groups that migrated by boat from Venezuela

• Most of these groups were taken as slave labour by Spanish raiders

• Barbados was uninhabited when the first British settlers arrived in 1627

History continued

• Britain allowed slavery until 1834, when it was abolished throughout the Empire

• Unofficially, an estimated 90% of the population of Barbados is of African descent

• It became an independent country in 1966

Culture

• The culture of Barbados is heavily influenced by Britain – teatime, cricket and pubs are all commonplace

• Influences of African / Caribbean culture can also be seen

• Tourists are entertained by limbo dancing and fire-eating entertainers

Geography• The most Eastern

Caribbean Island• Located northeast of

Venezuela• Tropical climate with a

rainy season from June – October

• Relatively flat terrain, with a central highland region

• Plentiful Beaches

Politics and Government

• A Parliamentary Democracy

• Barbados has experienced a stable democracy since independence

• Administratively, divided into 11 parishes

• Military services include the Royal Barbados Defence Force and a Coast Guard. Military service is voluntary; no conscription

Must See…

• Snorkeling• Bridgetown

Travel Costs

• www.aircanada.ca

• Flights from Toronto

• No visa

• Canadian Passport

Barbados and Canada

• As members of the British Commonwealth, Canada and Barbados have a special relationship

• 75% of International Banking interests in Barbados are Canadian

Sources:

• www.barbados.org history

• www.unhcr.org history and demographics

• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html images and demographics

• Photographs by K Sandziuk unless otherwise noted

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html