Barbados Guide

The Beautiful island of Barbados

BARBADOS IS BOTH a solace for relaxation and a virtual mecca for active lifestyles and cultural pursuits. Far beyond stretches of sublime beach, our warm hospitality extends to splendid cultural events, sporting activities and historic attractions. Whether you’re planning a family holiday or sportsman’s escape, romantic getaway or business trip, Barbados offers a diverse cross-section of things to do and wonders to enjoy.

The history of Barbados is as rich and fascinating as the island itself.

It is believed that the island’s first inhabitants were the Amerindians, who reached its shores around 1623 BC by open canoe from the Orinoco area of South America, known today as Venezuela. The next 3,000 years brought the settlement of several tribes, including the peaceful Arawaks and the cannibalistic Caribs. At the whim of prevailing northeast trade winds, the Spanish and Portuguese followed in 1537, calling the island “Los Barbados”— perhaps a nod to their fascination with the hanging, aerial roots of the Bearded Fig Tree.

By the time the first settlers–the British–chanced upon the island by virtue of navigational miscalculations in 1627, the Indians had all but disappeared. For the English, Barbados represented a golden opportunity to acquire a colony with good potential for agriculture: favorable climate, rich soils and generally flat land. These early pioneers set about the task of cultivating the land and instigated a long period of English rule that was to last some 339 years.

The booming sugar industry and slave trade fueled the establishment of an excellent infrastructure and Barbados’ own Parliament in 1639, making it the third oldest in the British Commonwealth. Later becoming the first country to abolish the slave trade in 1834, Bajan social advancement also included the establishment of a free Public Library in 1847.

Following the 1930s world depression that hit Barbados hard with unemployment, a new group of highly educated black leaders were determined to win equality for their people. They formed the Barbados Labour Party (B.L.P.) and finally gained their just reward when they won the 1947 General Election.  Three years later, universal suffrage was at last a reality and the long and hard fight had been won after a battle of some 117 years. 

Barbados gained independence from Britain on the 30th November 1966 and has since enjoyed over 40 years as a proudly independent nation.

Just some 40 years after gaining independence from Britain, Barbados has already proven its capacity to excel as a nation. Over the course of its rich history, Barbados has been renowned for political and social stability, successful economy, financial independence and the resourcefulness of its people. It enjoys the integrity of a well-established and diligently managed legal and regulatory system and a solid national foundation built upon sound moral fibre and the high value placed upon the benefits of a well-educated population. As reported by the United Nations Development Programme, Barbados has one of the highest standards of living and literacy rates in the developing world.

With a local population of approximately 260,000 natives, Bajan culture is one of mixed influences. The Spanish, English and Amerindians have all left their indelible footprint here and their customs have been integrated into Caribbean language, crafts and religion. However, there are also an extraordinary number of things unique to this 166 square mile island, including chattel houses, black belly sheep, road tennis, mauby, salt breads, flying fish and cou-cou, zouaves and tuk bands. It is said the people are relaxed, not easily offended and practical, confident and disciplined.

In recent years, the island has also seen more and more exponents of the cultural arts coming to the fore, with Bajan artists, designers, writers, musicians, singers, dancers and chefs all shining brighter than ever. The size of a small town in most countries, it has supplied the world with a phenomenal array of lawyers, doctors, scientists, economists, civic leaders, artists, musicians, sportsmen, entrepreneurs and professionals in every walk of life. With a definite sense of identity and purpose, many visitors have admired the cohesive social fabric of this land.

Images of scenic Barbados from the private collection of Dean St. Hill