About Barbados

Location: 13.10 N, 59.32 W
Climate: Tropical
Time Zone: GMT/UTC -4
Official Language: English
Literacy: 98.7%
Nationality: Barbadian / Bajan
Population: 280,000
Size: 430 sq km (166 sq miles)
Coastline: 97 km
Highest Point: Mount Hillaby (336m / 1,100 feet)
Capital: Bridgetown, St.Michael
Currency: The Barbadain Dollar BBD
Food And Beverage Tax: 15% Value Added Tax
Religion: Protestant 67% / Roman Catholic 4% / None 17% / Other 12%

The Meaning of The Barbados National Flag
The ultramarine bands represent the sky and sea of Barbados while the gold middle band represents the sand of our beaches.
The black trident in the centre of the gold band is the Trident of the Mythical Sea God “Neptune”. Its broken shaft indicates Barbados’ independence and separation from Britain in 1966.
Ethnic Groups: Black 90% / White 4% / Asian and mixed 6%
Independence: November 30, 1966 from the UK
Electricity: 110 Volts, 50Hz AC / 100% Fossil Fuel
Country Area Code: 246
Legal System: English Common Law
Industries: Tourism / Sugar / Light Manufacturing
Airports: Grantley Adams International
Roadways: 1,600km

Other Facts:
Barbados is home to the only full time IVF unit in the Caribbean region.The Barbados Fertility Centre first opened it’s doors in 2002 and by 2004 was able to offer a full time fertility service to patients from the
Caribbean region and to patients from the UK, Canada and the USA. The Barbados Fertility Centre is responsible for the birth of hundreds of IVF babies since its opening.
Has always flown only the British Flag, until achieving it’s independence in 1966
When first settled in 1625, was found to be almost totally covered in dense jungle, with a very large population of wild pigs.
First and second Governors, Captain William Deane, and John Powell, respectively, were each arrested during their terms as Governor, and returned to England in irons.
Has experienced 12 Hurricanes and 15 Gales of sufficient force to cause extensive damage, recorded from Settlement in 1625 until now.