Barbados

History

The Portuguese explorer Pedro a Campos arrived in Barbados in 1536. Captain Henry Powell also came along with English settlers who established a colony and started sugar plantation cultivated by slaves from Africa. Slavery ended in 1834.

It gained internal self-control in 1961 and thereafter full independence in 1966.

Food/ culture

The culture is a mixture of West African and British customs.

The major crops grown are cucumbers, pumpkin, tomatoes, carrots, beans, lettuce, peppers, okras and beets.

The most common dishes are Cou Cou and flying fish, fish cakes, cutters, pudding and souse, macaroni pie and conkies.

Wildlife

The animals found here include the hummingbird, mongoose, blackberry sheep, sea turtles, green lizards, bats and whistling frogs.

Annual events/ celebrations/ festivals

National Day of Barbados is held on 30^th November.

Barbados Jazz Excursion Golf Tournament s held from 8^th to 11^th October.

Barbados Film Festival is held on 14^th to 19^th January.

Things to see

Harrison’s Cave was established in 1795 and is accessed through a tramway.

Carlisle Bay is a natural harbour containing a marine park where scuba diving is common.

Animal flower cave is situated below the cliffs at the North Point in St. Lucy.

Other must-visit sites are St. Nicholas Abbey, Hunte’s Gardens and Andromeda Botanic Gardens.

Interesting facts

The famous musician Rihanna is from Barbados.

The country is referred to as ‘the land of flying fish’ which is one of its national symbols and national dish.

Majority of the Barbadian citizens are black.

Borders

Barbados is bordered on the northwest by Martinique and Saint Lucia, on the west by Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, on the southwest by Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela and on the southeast by Guyana.