BARBADOS

ARBADOS is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands and lies between latitudes 13° and 14° N. and longitudes 59° and 60° W. Its total area is

166 square miles.

It is comparatively flat, rising in a series of tablelands marked by well-defined terraces to the highest point (1,104 feet) at Mount Hillaby. The north-east corner of the island, the Scotland area, is broken country, much eroded and rather barren. The formation of the rest of the island is coral limestone. There are no rivers, but deep gullies which fill with water during heavy rain have cut their way through the coral terraces in many places. Indigenous forest covers about 46 acres.

The climate is more equable than the tropical latitude would suggest. Northeasterly trade winds blow steadily from December to June but during the remainder of the year, the wet season, the wind moves to the south-east and is less strong, resulting in humid, hotter conditions. The average temperature is 26.5°C (79.8°F). The rainfall is very varied: in the high central district the yearly average is 75 inches while in some of the low-lying coastal areas the average is 50 inches.

The population of Barbados at the census of 1973 was 247,506. The birth rate based on 1973 figures is 21.2 per 1,000 and the death rate 9.6 per 1,000. Education (primary and secondary) is free in Government aided schools. Bridgetown is the only port of entry, but oil is pumped ashore at Spring Gardens and at an Esso installation on the West Coast.

The main shipping companies visiting Barbados are Harrison Line, Geest Line, Royal Netherlands Steamship Company, Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, Saguenay Shipping Ltd, Booth Line, Lamport and Holt Line, Moore McCormack Line, Hamburg-Amerika Line, Caribbean-Hamburg Line (formerly Three Bays Line) and Federal Shipping Service. Companies calling less frequently include Linea 'C', Delta Line, Blue Ribbon Line, Atlantic Line, and Blue Star Line.

An international airport is situated at Seawell, 12 miles from Bridgetown. British Airways, British West Indian Airways, International Caribbean Airways, Leeward Island Air Transport (1974), Pan American World Airways, Air Canada and Eastern Air Lines operate frequent scheduled services connecting Barbados with the major world air routes.

There are 840 miles of roads, of which approximately 780 miles are asphalted. Barbados has a colour television service, a wireless broadcasting service and a wired broadcasting service. The first two are operated by the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, a corporate body set up by Order-in-Council of the Barbados Government in 1963. The wired system, which covers the whole island, is operated by Barbados Rediffusion Service Limited, a local subsidiary of Rediffusion Limited.

The economy of the island is based on sugar and the tourist industry is also an important source of revenue. Total exports in 1973 were valued at BDSS103,307,669, of which BDS $34,460,194 worth went to Britain.

The imports in 1973 were valued at BDS $328,601,506 of which BDS$ 80,846,289 worth came from Britain.

In 1973/1974 Government revenue was estimated to be BDS$120,753,435 and

expenditure BDS $140,523,409. Capital expenditure for 1973/1974 was BDS $ 44,156,728.

Barbados National Day is Independence Day, which commemorates the achievement of independence on 30th November 1966.

HISTORY

The first inhabitants of Barbados were Arawak Indians but the island was uninhabited when the first British landings took place some time between 1620 and 1625.

The first British settlements in the island were established between 1625 and 1628. The first group of settlers was led by Captain Henry Powell, representing the interests of Sir William Courteen. Other groups were sponsored by the Earl of Carlisle who in 1628 was granted a patent by King Charles I in respect of the whole of the Barbados settlements. This was subsequently leased by Carlisle's son to Lord Willoughby of Parham who during the Civil War became Governor of the island and continued to hold it in the Royalist interest until 1652, when he capitulated to a Cromwellian fleet. The terms of this capulation, however, guaranteed the rights of the settlers and became known as the Charter of Barbados.

At the Restoration, the Carlisle/Willoughby interests were renewed, but the patent was surrendered to the Crown in exchange for a provision entitling Lord Willoughby and his heirs to a duty of 44 per cent on Barbados exports. Although this agreement marked the end of proprietary rule, the export duty was sorely resented by the islanders and remained a source of grievance until it was abolished by Act of Parliament in 1838.

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The island has one of the oldest constitutions in the Commonwealth. The office of Governor and a Legislative Council were established in 1627. The House of Assembly was formally constituted in 1639.

A distinctive feature of the constitutional development of Barbados has been that it has progressed and been regulated largely by convention, rather than by formal legislation. It is nevertheless convenient to trace, by reference to the latter, the steps by which the island progressed through widening forms of representation and suffrage and through modifications of policy-making and legislative powers, successively to a ministerial form of government, to a cabinet system and finally, through full internal self-government, to independence.

The first of these steps was the creation in 1876 of an Executive Council which in 1881 became the nucleus of an Executive Committee, some of whose functions and powers developed into forms analogous to those of Ministerial government.

A widening of the franchise in 1944 was to prove the start of a quickening process towards full internal self-government; a party political system and a modified form of ministerial government in 1946; universal adult suffrage in 1951; a full ministerial system in 1954; cabinet government in 1958.

By the end of 1957, Barbados had in practice progressed to virtual selfgovernment. This status was formally achieved in 1961, when the post of Chief Secretary was abolished, nominated members ceased to sit in the Executive Committee and provisions were made under which the Governor, subject to

one reference back, was bound to accept the advice of the Ministers in the Executive Committee. At the same time, the powers and responsibilities of Ministers were widened and the island assumed control over its own public service. Arrangements were made for appeals on matters of discipline, which formerly went to the Secretary of State, to be dealt with by the Executive Council, which was re-named the Privy Council.

The final stage of constitutional advance before Independence was reached in 1964, when the Executive Committee was abolished and its powers and functions transferred entirely to the Cabinet. Among other changes, the Legislative Assembly was also abolished and replaced by a Senate.

Barbados had been a member of the Federation of the West Indies, which was set up in 1958 but which was dissolved in 1962. In August 1965 the Barbados Government announced its intention to seek separate independence. At a conference held in London in June-July 1966, arrangements were agreed under which Barbados became an independent Sovereign State within the Commonwealth on 30th November 1966.

CONSTITUTION

The Constitution of Barbados, contained in the Barbados Independence Order 1966, provides for a Governor-General appointed by Her Majesty The Queen and for a bi-cameral Legislature. The Senate consists of 21 Senators appointed by the Governor-General, 12 on the advice of the Prime Minister, two on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and seven by the GovernorGeneral acting in his own discretion. The House of Assembly consists of 24 elected members but provision is made for a greater number of members as may be prescribed by Parliament. The President and Deputy President of the Senate and Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly are elected, respectively by the Senate and the House of Assembly from within their own membership.

The normal life of Parliament is five years. The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister who must be a Member of Parliament and such other ministers as the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoints from among the Senators and Members of Parliament. The Member of Parliament, who in the judgement of the Governor-General is the Leader in the House of the party commanding the support of the largest number of Members of Parliament in opposition to the Government, is appointed by him Leader of the Opposition. Apart from the entrenched provisions, the Constitution may be amended by an Act of Parliament passed by both Houses. The entrenched provisions which relate to citizenship, rights and freedom, the establishment of the office of the Governor-General, his functions, the composition of the two Houses of Parliament, Sessions of Parliament, the Prorogation and Dissolution of Parliament, General Elections, the appointment of Senators, the executive Authority of Barbados, the Judicature, the Civil Service and Finance, can only be amended by a vote of two-thirds of all the members of both Houses.

There is a Supreme Court of Judicature consisting of a High Court and a Court of Appeal, and in certain cases a further appeal lies to the Judicial Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council. The Chief Justice and the Puisne Judges are appointed by the Governor-Gerneral acting on the recommendation of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.

The Constitution also contains provisions relating to citizenship and the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual.

HISTORICAL LIST

GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Sir John Montague Stow, GCMG, KCVO, from 30th November 1966 to 15th May 1967
Sir Winston Scott, GCMG, Gcvo, from 15th May 1967

GOVERNMENT

The last general election took place on 9th September 1971, and as a result the composition of the political parties in the House of Representatives was: Democratic Labour Party 18; Barbados Labour Party 6.

HEAD OF STATE

H.M. The Queen

GOVERNOR-GENERAL

His Excellency Sir Winston Scott, GCMG, GCVO

MINISTRY

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance: The Right Hon. E. W. Borrow, MP
Deputy Prime Minister: The Hon. C. E. Talma

Minister of State for Parliamentary Matters & Leader of the House: The Hon. C. E. Talma
Minister of Housing, Lands, Labour & National Insurance: The Hon. P. M. Greaves
Minister of Communications & Works: The Hon. F. G. Smith
Minister of External Affairs, Minister of Legal Affairs, Attorney-General
and Leader of the Senate: Senator The Hon. G. C. R. Moe, QC
Minister without Portfolio: The Hon. Captain G. G. Fergusson
Minister of Education, Youth Affairs, Community Development, Sport & Culture:
The Hon. L. E. Sandiford

Minister of Tourism, Information & Public Relations: The Hon. P. G. Morgan, CBE
Minister of Trade, Industry & Commerce: Senator The Hon. Branford M. Taitt
Minister of Health & Welfare: The Hon. Dr R. B. Caddle

Minister of Agriculture, Science & Technology: The Hon. A. Morrison

PARLIAMENTARY Secretaries

Prime Minister's Office: Senator The Hon. C. L. Brathwaite
Ministry of Housing, Lands, Labour & National Insurance:
Senator The Hon. J. B. Yearwood

Ministry of Agriculture, Science & Technology: (Vacant)
Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs, Community Development, Sport & Culture:
Senator The Hon. D. Hunte

Ministry of Communications & Works: R. Weekes
Ministry of Health & Welfare: Mrs G. L. Eastmond

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

J. M. G. Adams, MP, Barbados Labour Party

SENATE

President of the Senate: Senator The Hon. Sir Theodore Brancker, QC, FZS
Clerk of the Senate: G. Brancker

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Speaker: The Hon. N. G. A. Maxwell, MP, LLB
Clerk: C. R. Boyce