3 GeoFroggy

Country Name

Conventional long form: none

Conventional short form: Barbados

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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

International Law Organization Participation

Citizenship

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 7 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

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 [David THOMPSON]

Political Pressure Groups and Leaders

Barbados Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMISSIONG]; People's Progressive Movement [Eric SEALY]; Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr. George BELLE]

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)

National Anthem

Year

Government Type

  • Parliamentary democracy

Capital

  • Name
    Bridgetown
  • Geographic Coordinates
    13 06 N, 59 37 W
  • Time Difference
    UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador Michael Ian KING
  • Chancery
    2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  • Telephone
    [1] (202) 939-9200
  • FAX
    [1] (202) 332-7467
  • Consulate(s) General
    Miami, New York
  • Consulate(s)
    Los Angeles

Diplomatic Representation from the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador Mary M. OURISMAN
  • 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, 429-3379

International Organization Participation

  • ACP
  • C
  • Caricom
  • CDB
  • FAO
  • G-77
  • IADB
  • IBRD
  • ICAO
  • ICCt
  • ICFTU
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • ILO
  • IMF
  • IMO
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • ISO
  • ITU
  • LAES
  • MIGA
  • NAM
  • OAS
  • OPANAL
  • UN
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
  • UNIDO
  • UPU
  • WCO
  • WFTU
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WTO