(since 1 June 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6
September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 26 May
2003)
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; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition
is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the
prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member body
appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (30
seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year
terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 21 May 2003 (next to be
held by May 2008)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - BLP 23, DLP 7
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]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Barbados Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union
[David COMMISSIONG]; People's Progressive Movement [Eric SEALY];
Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr. George BELLE]
International organization participation:
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCO, 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) 339–9201
chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Earl N. PHILLIPS, Jr.
embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,
Bridgetown; (courier) ALICO Building-Cheapside, Bridgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055
telephone: [1] (246) 436–4950
FAX: [1] (246) 429–5246, 429–3379
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, to encourage direct foreign
investment, and to privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. The
economy contracted in 2002 mainly due to a 3% decline in tourism.
Growth should be positive in 2003, the precise level largely
dependent on economic conditions in the US and Europe.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $4.153 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
−2.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6% industry: 16% services: 78% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
−0.6% (2002 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:
780 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
725.4 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
1,271 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
10,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.254 million bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)