Barbados

Overview

The breathtaking white sandy beaches and beautiful turquoise seas that surround Barbados are something that everyone should try to experience at least once throughout their lives. Words really do not do this beautiful country justice. With an area of merely 169 sq miles it is just the right size to explore the whole island, so, whether you are looking for a relaxing time away or a livelier break, Barbados appears to cater for all needs.

The coral reefs than surround this lovely little island provide ideal diving opportunities which are not to be missed, with many qualified instructors available for beginners through to advanced diving certificates. Scattered along the many beaches world renowned hotels can be found offering top class service making ones visit even more luxurious. Similarly there are several extraordinary restaurants allowing their guests to eat fresh daily catches whilst watching the sun set over the stunning Caribbean Sea or Atlantic Ocean respectively.

The East coast of the island is characterised by a jagged coastline and fierce waves allowing for unique shorelines only possible due to the force of the Atlantic. The West coast comprises of sandy beaches that are home to gentle rolling waves and clear turquoise waters, perfect for water sports or casual swimming. The capital of Barbados, Bridgetown, is a bustling hub of market stalls and shops guaranteeing to provide those unique presents which the Caribbean is famous for. With the British influence still very apparent in the cities the colonial central buildings are now home to...more

History

British sailors who landed on Barbados in the 1620s at the site of present-day Holetown on the Caribbean coast found the island uninhabited. As elsewhere in the eastern Caribbean Arawak Indians may have been annihilated by invading Caribs who are believed to have subsequently abandoned the island. From the arrival of the first British settlers in 1627-28 until independence in 1966 Barbados was under uninterrupted British control. Nevertheless Barbados always enjoyed a large measure of local autonomy. Its House of Assembly which began meeting in 1639 is the third-oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere preceded only by Bermuda's legislature and the Virginia House of Burgesses. As the sugar industry developed into the main commercial enterprise Barbados was divided into large plantation estates which replaced the small holdings of the early British settlers. Some of the displaced farmers relocated to British colonies in North America. To work the plantations slaves were brought from Africa; the slave trade ceased a few years before the abolition of slavery throughout the British empire in 1834. Local politics were dominated by plantation owners and merchants of British descent. It was not until the 1930s that a movement for political rights was begun by the descendants of emancipated slaves. One of the leaders of this movement Sir Grantley Adams founded the Barbados Labor Party in 1938. Progress toward more democratic government for Barbados was made in 1951 when universal...more