| Country name: |
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Barbados
|
| Government type: |
parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth
|
| 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
|
| 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 6 September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since 6 September 1994)
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; prime minister appointed by the governor general
|
| Legislative branch: |
bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (28 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:
House of Assembly - last held 20 January 1999 (next to be held by January 2004)
election results:
House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - BLP 26, DLP 2
|
| 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]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Richard HAYNES]
|
| 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, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
|
| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Michael KING
chancery:
2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 939-9200
FAX:
[1] (202) 332-7467
consulate(s) general:
Miami and New York
consulate(s):
Los Angeles
|
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador James A. DALEY
embassy:
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown
mailing address:
P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055
telephone:
[1] (246) 436-4950
FAX:
[1] (246) 429-5246
|
| 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)
|
|
