State

Capital

Barbados

Bridgetown

Currency unit

Barbados dollar

Connections

East Caribbean

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History

Former British Caribbean island.

Arawaks inhabited the islands but they had disappeared by mid 16th century, presumably after having been taken by Spaniards as slaves (there is no actual evidence).

The island was difficult to reach by sailing ship because of the position of the suitable landing places and the prevailing winds which is probably the reason the Spaniards did not occupy the island which was colonized by the English in early 1627. No-one else has ruled it since. It is notable for the Irish influence on the local speech patterns because Irish people were sent as slaves.

There were slave-worked sugar plantations. It has been independent since 1966.

Languages

English

Creole

 History

 Economics

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Politics

Multi-party elected government.

 History

 Politics

 Green

 Rights

 Climate

Economics

Tourism, sugar, cotton, a small amount of oil and gas. The sugar is under threat of closure by new WTO rules which make EU preferences illegal.

Member CARICOM

Matthew Parker - the Sugar Barons


The Sugar Barons

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Green/Ecology

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Human Rights

Climate effects

Last revised 8/04/11


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