Barbados

From ArticleWorld

Barbados is a country occupying the easternmost island of the West Indies. The island is 23 km (14 miles) at its widest point, and about 34 km (21 miles) long. Bridgetown is the capital and the largest city.

The island of Barbados is low and rises gradually toward its highest point at Mt. Hillaby (1,104 ft/336 m). Although there is ample rainfall from June to December, there are no rivers, and water must be pumped from subterranean caverns. More than three quarters of the population is of African descent, and about 15% are of mixed African and European descent. The population is mostly English speaking. As far as religion is concerned, most Barbadians are Protestant.

Although it was probably originally inhabited by Arawaks, it was uninhabited when the English explorers settled there in 1627 (1605, according to local tradition). It became a separate colony in 1885, and gained full independence in 1966. Queen Elizabeth II is nominally recognized as Queen of Barbados, head of state is represented by a Governor General. In Barbados, the Queen is styled "By the Grace of God, Queen of Barbados and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth." The present government is proposing that Barbados become a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations, with a ceremonial president replacing the Queen. This issue is still being hotly debated, as the island has been governmentally autonomous for decades.

Barbados has been an independent state in the Commonwealth since November 30, 1966, and as such, functions as a parliamentary democracy modeled after the British Westminster system. Control of the government is held by the Cabinet and is responsible to the Parliament, which comprises a 30-seat House of Assembly and a 21-seat Senate. Barbados is one of the most secure democracies in the Caribbean. Executive power is in the hands of the prime minister and his cabinet. The prime minister is usually the leader of the winning party in the elections for the House of Assembly, whose members are elected every five years. The Senate has 21 members, and its members are appointed by the governor general.

The porous soil and moderate warmth are excellent for the cultivation of sugarcane, which was historically the island's main occupation. Today, sugar and molasses remain important products and are the country's largest exports. The healthful and equable climate makes it a very popular tourist resort and tourism is the country's largest industry. Manufacturing (largely chemicals, electrical components, clothing, rum, and machinery) and banking are growing sectors of the economy.

Since the late 1990s, the island has seen an increasing construction boom; the island began to see new hotels, redevelopments, new homes, office complexes, condominiums, and mansions being developed across the island. Traditional trading partners of Barbados include Canada, the Caribbean Community (especially Trinidad and Tobago), the United Kingdom, and the United States. Meanwhile, the government has continued its efforts to reduce unemployment, encourage direct foreign investment, and privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. Unemployment has been reduced from around 14 percent in the past to less than 10%.

In 2004, it was announced that Barbados’ Kensington Oval would be one of the final venues hosting the 2007 Cricket World Cup.