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C H E M C O N T R O L Integrated Supply Solutions
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Main Geographic Markets Our market primarily includes the Eastern Caribbean. See Caribbean GDP Figures.
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BARBADOS Barbados has been referred to as, in the 19th century, "the sanitorium of the West Indies, where scores of British elite flocked for the climate. More recently, and more cynically, Barbados has been called "the Florida of the West Indies, albeit with a distinctly Caribbean and British accent. ”Settled by the British in 1627, Barbados avoided much of the strife and conflicts of the region chiefly because of its location, 90 miles east of the West Indies 'chain'. Barbados is home to the oldest Parliament in the western hemisphere, established over 350 years ago. Because it was never invaded and enjoyed continuous British influence since its colonization, Barbados remains a bastion of old-world charm and historical significance. History Although Arawak Indians from South America are known to have inhabited the island of Barbados, a British expedition in 1625 found no one living there. John Powell, a British captain, returned to Barbados in 1627 with 80 settlers and the island was officially colonized. They named their settlement Jamestown, which later became known as Holetown. Barbados flourished with the production of tobacco, cotton, and by 1640, sugarcane. The island was home to many Europeans, and, of course, many slaves to work the plantations. Per square mile, Barbados is now the most densely populated island in the West Indies due to the vast amount of slaves brought in before slavery was abolished in 1834. The 18th and 19th centuries saw Barbados' population grow even more, with many English families settling there. The British sought out the climate and slow pace of life on Barbados as a cure for "the vapors." Major George Washington even visited the island in 1751 with his tuberculosis-stricken half-brother, Major Lawrence Washington. The future president unfortunately caught smallpox while on Barbados and was scarred for life. With so many English living on the island and the extensive period of English rule--around 339 years--Barbados earned the nickname "Little England." After the abolishment of slavery in 1834, a new middle class rose out of ambitious slaves who carved out new lives for themselves. One of those men, Samuel Jackman Prescod, in 1843 became the first non-white member of the House of Assembly. Although suffrage was extended and there were strides made in education for all Barbadians, inequalities still ran deep. Events were compounded with the world depression of the 1930s and a surge in unemployment. In 1937 a series of riots broke out. The upside of the strife was that it mobilized a new group of educated, black leaders to push for equality for all Barbadians. Two men, Grantley Adams and Hugh Springer, founded the Barbados Progressive League, which later became the Barbados Labour Party. The B.L.P. won the general election of 1947 and just three years later, the right to vote was granted to all citizens. The Democratic Labour Party was born when members of the B.L.P. branched off to form their own party. And in 1989, a third party, the National Democratic Party, was formed. With Errol Walton Barrow at the head of the D.L.P., Barbados gained independence from England in 1966. Since then, the country has continued to prosper with both D.L.P. and B.L.P. administrations in office. Although Barbados has historically profited from its bountiful sugarcane plantations, farmers have diversified their crops due to a decrease in the demand for sugar. Cotton, tropical flowers, and livestock have helped bridge the gap. Today, the island country's two largest sources of revenue are tourism and offshore finance. Economy Historically, the economy of Barbados had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years has been diversified into the manufacturing and tourism sectors. Offshore finance and information services have become increasingly important foreign exchange earners, and there is also a healthy interest into the island's light manufacturing sector. In the last ten years the Government has been seen as business-friendly and economically sound. Since the late 1990's the island has seen an increasing construction boom, the island began to see new hotels, redevelopments, new homes, office complexes, condos, and mansions being developed across the island. Unemployment has been reduced from high levels of around 14 percent in the past to under 10%.The economy contracted in 2001 and 2002 due to slowdowns in tourism, consumer spending and the impact of the September 11, 2001 attacks, but the economy rebounded in 2003 and showed growth for 2004. Barbados Dollar (Bd$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of Bd$100, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of Bd$1, and 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents. Note: The Barbados Dollar is tied to the US Dollar. Population and Cultural Activity The population of Barbados (1990) was 257,082. The average population density of 572 persons per sq km (1482 per sq mi) was notably high considering the predominantly rural agricultural character of the island. The annual growth rate of the population during the 1970s and 1980s was kept below 1 percent by out-migration. The capital, largest city, and only seaport is Bridgetown, with a population (1990) of 6720. About 90 percent of the total population is black; the remaining portion is composed of whites and persons of mixed racial descent. English is the official language. More than 50 percent of the people are Anglicans; other important faiths include various Protestant sects and Roman Catholicism. |
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Aruba |
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Anguilla |
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Montserrat | ||||
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