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3 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Barbados \Bar*ba"dos\ or Barbadoes \Bar*ba"does\, n.
A West Indian island, giving its name to a disease, to a
cherry, etc.
[1913 Webster]
{Barbados cherry} (Bot.), a genus of trees of the West Indies
({Malpighia}) with an agreeably acid fruit resembling a
cherry.
{Barbados leg} (Med.), a species of elephantiasis incident to
hot climates.
{Barbados nuts}, the seeds of the {Jatropha curcas}, a plant
growing in South America and elsewhere. The seeds and
their acrid oil are used in medicine as a purgative. See
{Physic nut}.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
Barbados
n 1: a parliamentary democracy on the island of Barbados; former
British colony; a popular resort area
2: easternmost of the West Indies about 300 miles north of
Venezuela
From CIA World Factbook 2002 [world02]:
Barbados
Introduction Barbados
---------------------
Background: The island was uninhabited when
first settled by the British in
1627. Its economy remained heavily
dependent on sugar, rum, and
molasses production through most of
the 20th century. In the 1990s,
tourism and manufacturing surpassed
the sugar industry in economic
importance.
Geography Barbados
------------------
Location: Caribbean, island between the
Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Geographic coordinates: 13 10 N, 59 32 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 431 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 431 sq km
Area - comparative: 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 97 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical; rainy season (June to
October)
Terrain: relatively flat; rises gently to
central highland region
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m
Natural resources: petroleum, fish, natural gas
Land use: arable land: 37.21%
permanent crops: 2.33%
other: 60.47% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: infrequent hurricanes; periodic
landslides
Environment - current issues: pollution of coastal waters from
waste disposal by ships; soil
erosion; illegal solid waste
disposal threatens contamination of
aquifers
Environment - international party to: Climate Change, Climate
agreements: Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea,
Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:
Biodiversity
Geography - note: easternmost Caribbean island
People Barbados
---------------
Population: 276,607 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.4% (male 29,888;
female 29,338)
15-64 years: 69.8% (male 94,214;
female 98,811)
65 years and over: 8.8% (male 9,378;
female 14,978) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.46% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 13.32 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 8.38 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: -0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 11.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.49 years
female: 76.12 years (2002 est.)
male: 70.9 years
Total fertility rate: 1.64 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 1.17% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ 1,800 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: 130 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan
(colloquial)
adjective: Barbadian or Bajan
(colloquial)
Ethnic groups: black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed
6%
Religions: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%,
Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other
12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%,
other 12%
Languages: English
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever
attended school
total population: 97.4%
male: 98%
female: 96.8% (1995 est.)
Government Barbados
-------------------
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Barbados
Government type: parliamentary democracy; independent
sovereign state within the
Commonwealth
Capital: Bridgetown
Administrative divisions: 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint
Andrew, Saint George, Saint James,
Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint
Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter,
Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note -
the city of Bridgetown may be given
parish status
Independence: 30 November 1966 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Constitution: 30 November 1966
Legal system: English common law; no judicial
review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II
(since 6 February 1952), represented
by Governor General Sir Clifford
Straughn HUSBANDS (since 1 June
1996)
head of government: Prime Minister
Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6
September 1994); Deputy Prime
Minister Billie MILLER (since 6
September 1994)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the
governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is
hereditary; governor general
appointed by the monarch; prime
minister appointed by the governor
general
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the
Senate (21-member body appointed by
the governor general) and the House
of Assembly (28 seats; members are
elected by direct popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last
held 20 January 1999 (next to be
held by January 2004)
election results: House of Assembly
- percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - BLP 26, DLP 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature (judges
are appointed by the Service
Commissions for the Judicial and
Legal Services)
Political parties and leaders: Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen
ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party or
DLP [Clyde MASCOLL]; National
Democratic Party or NDP [Richard
HAYNES]
Political pressure groups and Barbados Workers Union [Leroy
leaders: TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union
[David COMMISSIONG]; People's
Progressive Movement [Eric SEALY];
Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr.
George BELLE]
International organization ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC,
participation: FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU,
LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael
Ian KING
consulate(s): Los Angeles
consulate(s) general: Miami and New
York
FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9200
chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador
US: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Marcia
BERNICHT
embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of
Commerce Building, Broad Street,
Bridgetown; (courier) ALICO
Building-Cheapside, Bridgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 302,
Bridgetown; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055
telephone: [1] (246) 436-4950
FAX: [1] (246) 429-5246
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of blue
(hoist side), gold, and blue with
the head of a black trident centered
on the gold band; the trident head
represents independence and a break
with the past (the colonial coat of
arms contained a complete trident)
Economy Barbados
----------------
Economy - overview: Historically, the Barbadian economy
had been dependent on sugarcane
cultivation and related activities,
but production in recent years has
diversified into manufacturing and
tourism. Offshore finance and
information services are important
foreign exchange earners, and there
is also a light manufacturing
sector. The government continues its
efforts to reduce unemployment,
encourage direct foreign investment,
and privatize remaining state-owned
enterprises. The economy contracted
in 2001 due to slowdowns in tourism
and consumer spending. Growth will
remain anemic in 2002 with a
recovery likely near the end of the
year.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4 billion
(2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: -2% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $14,500
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6%
industry: 16%
services: 78% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.5% (2001 est.)
Labor force: 128,500 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: services 75%, industry 15%,
agriculture 10% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10% (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $847 million (including
grants)
expenditures: $886 million,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (2000 est.)
Industries: tourism, sugar, light manufacturing,
component assembly for export
Industrial production growth rate: -3.2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 740 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 688.2 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, vegetables, cotton
Exports: $272 million (2000)
Exports - commodities: sugar and molasses, rum, other foods
and beverages, chemicals, electrical
components, clothing
Exports - partners: Caribbean Community 43.2%, US 15.3%,
UK 13.2% (2000)
Imports: $1.16 billion (2000)
Imports - commodities: consumer goods, machinery,
foodstuffs, construction materials,
chemicals, fuel, electrical
components
Imports - partners: US 40.8%, Caribbean Community 19.8%,
UK 8.1%, Japan 5.2%, Canada 4.2%
(2000)
Debt - external: $425 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $9.1 million (1995)
Currency: Barbadian dollar (BBD)
Currency code: BBD
Exchange rates: Barbadian dollars per US dollar -
2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US
dollar)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications Barbados
-----------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 108,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 8,013 (1997)
Telephone system: general assessment: NA
domestic: island-wide automatic
telephone system
international: satellite earth
stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean); tropospheric scatter to
Trinidad and Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 237,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus two cable channels) (1997)
Televisions: 76,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .bb
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 19 (2000)
Internet users: 6,000 (2000)
Transportation Barbados
-----------------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 1,650 km
paved: 1,628 km
unpaved: 22 km (1998)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: Bridgetown, Speightstown (Port
Charles Marina)
Merchant marine: total: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 629,987 GRT/1,073,991 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned
ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: Australia 1, Bahamas,
The 1, Canada 4, Germany 1, Greece
2, Hong Kong 7, Norway 7, United
Kingdom 18 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 26,
combination bulk 1, container 1,
petroleum tanker 4
Airports: 1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2001)
Military Barbados
-----------------
Military branches: Royal Barbados Defense Force
(including Ground Forces and Coast
Guard), Royal Barbados Police Force
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 78,132 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 53,532 (2002 est.)
service:
Military expenditures - dollar $NA
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of NA%
GDP:
Transnational Issues Barbados
-----------------------------
Disputes - international: none
Illicit drugs: one of many Caribbean transshipment
points for narcotics bound for
Europe and the US
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