Barbados Travel Guide

Barbados — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Actually in the Atlantic but considered a Caribbean destination. Most easterly of the Windward Islands.
Language: The official language is English. Local Bajan dialect is also spoken.
Area: 416 sq km (161 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT - 4.
Electricity: 110-115 volts AC, 50Hz. American-style two-pin plugs are in use.
Population: 270,000 (2008).
Population Density: 649 per sq km.
Capital City: Bridgetown. Population: 80,000 (2008).
Government: Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1966.
Head of Government: Prime Minister David Thompson since January 2008.
Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Sir Clifford Husband since 1996.
Religion: Over 100 religious groups practise island-wide, from the Anglican majority to smaller Roman Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Baptists, Pentecostals, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, The Salvation Army, Muslim and Quaker faiths.

Recent History

In January 2008 David Thompson of the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) assumed office as prime minister following election victory. He is the sixth holder of the office since Independence.

Since Owen Arthur, of the Barbados Labor Party (BLP), won a third term as prime minister in 2003, the party has given a high priority to economic diversification and development. Barbados’s biggest current political problems are the promotion of economic growth, the creation of jobs and attracting foreign investment. Barbados has been a stable democracy since it gained independence, however, there is a strong lobby (backed by a recent government commission examining Barbados’s constitutional future) for an elected president as head of state. This would follow the example of Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago and Dominica.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +1 246. Cardphones and payphones are located across the island; many make overseas calls. Local calls are free (unless calling from a hotel or business).

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good. Mobile phones can be hired locally.

Internet

There are Internet cafés throughout Barbados. Wi-Fi is increasingly available, especially in hotels.

Media

Press freedom is an established part of Barbadian life with newspapers privately owned and largely unrestricted. Two local daily newspapers are available – the Barbados Advocate and the Daily Nation. Radio broadcasting benefits from a healthy mix of private and public stations. Although government-owned, the island's sole TV station CBC presents a wide range of political views.

Post

Post offices and boxes are found across the island, including at the airport. Airmail to Europe takes around 10 days.Variable, but as a general guide Mon-Fri 0800-1700 at Bridgetown main office; other branches Mon 0730-1200 and 1300-1500, Tues-Fri 0800-1200 and 1300-1515.

Press

• The main dailies are the Barbados Advocate and The Nation.
• Other publications include Caribbean Week (fortnightly) and the Broad Street Journal, a business journal.
• Foreign newspapers are also available, including the Herald Tribune and Miami Herald.

Radio

• Government-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) operates CBC Radio 900 AM, Quality 100.7 FM and The One 98.1 FM.
• Barbados Broadcasting Service operates commercial station BBS FM, and religious station Faith 102 FM.
• HOTT 95.3 FM is a commercial station run by Starcom Network who also operate commercial stations Voice of Barbados, LOVE 104.1 FM and Gospel 790 AM.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec - 26 Dec Christmas

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
21 Jan Errol Barrow Day
22 Apr Good Friday
25 Apr Easter Monday
28 Apr National Heroes’ Day
1 May Labor Day
13 Jun Whit Monday
1 Aug Emancipation Day
3 Aug Kadooment Day
30 Nov Independence Day
25 Dec - 26 Dec Christmas

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
21 Jan Errol Barrow Day
6 Apr Good Friday
9 Apr Easter Monday
28 Apr National Heroes’ Day
1 May Labor Day
28 May Whit Monday
1 Aug Emancipation Day
6 Aug Kadooment Day
30 Nov Independence Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
Where a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following day is taken as a holiday.

Contact Information

Barbados High Commission in the UK

1 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3ND, UK
Tel: (020) 7631 4975.
Website: www.foreign.gov.bb
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1700 (general enquiries); 1000-1600 (visa section).