Resources from Pearl Linguistics

BARBADIAN Facts & Figures

Size: 166 square miles

Population: 284,589

Capital: Bridgetown

Currency: Barbadian Dollar

Weather / Climate:

The country is generally split into a period of two seasons one of which includes noticeably higher rainfall. Known as the "wet season", this period runs from June–November, In contrast, the "dry season" runs December–May. The annual precipitation ranges between 40 inches (1,000 mm) and 90 inches (2,300 mm). From December–May the average temperatures range from 21 to 31 °C (70 to 88 °F), while between June–November, they range from 23 to 31 °C (73 to 88 °F).^[32]

On the Köppen climate classification scale, much of Barbados is regarded as a Tropical monsoon climate (Am). However, gentle breezes of 12–16 kilometres per hour (8–10 mph) abound throughout the year and give Barbados a warm climate which is moderately tropical.

Infrequent natural hazards include: earthquakes, landslips, tropical cyclones, and hurricanes. Barbados is often spared the worst effects of the region's tropical storms and hurricanes during the rainy season. The far eastern location in the Atlantic Ocean puts the country just outside the principal hurricane strike zone. On average, a major hurricane strikes about once every 26 years. The last significant hit from a hurricane to cause severe damage to Barbados was Hurricane Janet in 1955.

Taken from: www.wikipedia.com

BARBADIAN languages

English is the root official language of Barbados, and is used for communications, administration, and public services all over the island. In its capacity as the official language of the country, the standard of English tends to conform to the vocabulary, pronunciations, spellings, and conventions akin to, but not exactly the same as, those of British English. A regional variant of English, referred to locally as Bajan, is spoken by most Barbadians in everyday life, especially in informal settings. In its full-fledged form, Bajan sounds markedly different from the Standard English heard on the island.

The degree of intelligibility between Bajan and general English changes depending on the speakers' origins and the "rawness" of one's accent. In rare instances, a Bajan speaker may be completely unintelligible to an outside English speaker if sufficient slang terminology is present in a sentence. Bajan is somewhat differentiated from, but highly influenced by other Caribbean English dialects; it is a fusion of British English and elements borrowed from the languages of West Africa. Hindi and Bhojpuri are also spoken on the island by a small Indo-Bajan minority. Spanish is considered the most popular second language on the island, followed by French.^[citation

Taken from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbados#Languages

BARBADIAN culture

The eastern Caribbean nation of Barbados has seen tourism overtake the export of sugar as its main revenue earner. Known for its beaches and cricket, the former British colony has a dual heritage: English - evident in its stone-built Anglican churches and Saturday race meetings - and African, reflected in its music and dance. Limestone caverns, coral reefs and a warm climate tempered by trade winds are among the island's natural assets. Barbados is relatively flat, with highlands in the interior.

Most Barbadians are the descendants of African slaves who were brought to the island from the 17th century to work the sugar cane plantations. Barbados is an island filled with artistic talent from skilled local potters at work fashioning their wares as has been done for centuries, to modern fashion designers, abstract artists and poets. Today Barbados is a cosmopolitan country with a strong character of its own. It is prosperous and progressive and still full of natural charm. The people are friendly, fun loving and warm. The Caribbean is full of people who are larger than life. They fill your mind with their colourful speech, their walk, their engaging looks and their endless energy and love of life. They are children who will never grow old, no matter what their age, they insist on having fun. You are sure to be amazed by the array of tropical flowers that abound across the island! And to further enhance this experience, each year the local Horticultural Society opens some of the island's best private gardens for public viewing! Another treat is the Open House Programme run by the Barbados National Trust. Barbados is an architectural delight of old and new, of elegance and simplicity, of history and tradition preserved and repeated through the years.

Barbadosis one of the more populous and prosperous Caribbean islands. Political, economic and social stability have given it one of the highest standards of living in the developing world. It is a centre for financial services and has offshore reserves of oil and natural gas. In recent years a construction boom has taken hold, with new hotels and housing complexes springing up. The trend accelerated as the island prepared to host some of the key Cricket World Cup matches in 2007. However, a shortage of jobs has prompted many Barbadians - more often known as Bajans - to find work abroad. The money that they send home is an important source of income. Barbadians enjoy full freedom of expression. This is reflected in the media, which is free of censorship and state control and often criticises the government.

Holidays

Where a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following day is taken as a holiday.

· 01 January – New Year's Day

· 21 January – Errol Barrow Day

· April – Good Friday

· April – Easter Monday

· 28 April – National Heroes’ Day

· 01 May – Labour Day

· June – Whit Monday

· 01 August – Emancipation Day

· August – Kadooment Day

· 30 November – Independence Day

· 25 December – Christmas Day

Taken from:

www.worldtravelguide.net

www.bbc.co.uk

barbados.org

BARBADIAN people

Barbados has a population of about 281,968 and a population growth rate of 0.33% (Mid-2005 estimates). It currently ranks as: the 4th most densely populated country in the Americas (18th globally), and the 10th most populated island country in the region, (101st globally). Close to 90% of all Barbadians (also known colloquially as Bajan) are of African descent ("Afro-Bajans") and mixed-descent. The remainder of the population includes groups of Europeans ("Anglo-Bajans" / "Euro-Bajans") mainly from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Chinese, Bajan Muslims from India. Other groups in Barbados include people from the United Kingdom, United States and Canada. Barbadians who return after years of residence in the U.S. and children born in America to Bajan parents are called "Bajan Yankees"^{[citation needed]}, this term is considered derogatory by some. Generally, Bajans recognize and accept all 'children-of-the-island' as Bajans, and refer to each other as such.

The biggest communities outside the Afro-Caribbean community are:

The Indo-Guyanese, an important part of the economy due to the increase of immigrants from partner country Guyana. There are reports of a growing Indo-Bajan diaspora originating from Guyana and India. They introduced roti and other Indian dishes to Barbados' culture. Mostly from southern India and Hindu states, they are growing in size but smaller than the equivalent communities in Trinidad & Guyana.
Euro-Bajans (4% of the population)^[1] have settled in Barbados since the 16th century, originating from England, Ireland and Scotland. In 1643, there were 37,200 whites in Barbados (86% of the population).^[39] More commonly they are known as "White Bajans". Euro-Bajans introduced folk music, such as Irish music and Highland music, and certain place names, such as "Scotland", a mountainous region. Among White Barbadians there exists an underclass known as Redlegs; the descendants of indentured servants, and prisoners imported to the island.^[40] Many additionally moved on to become the earliest settlers of modern-day North and South Carolina in the United States.
Chinese are a minute portion of Barbados' Asian demographics, far smaller than the equivalent communities of Jamaica and Trinidad. Most if not all first arrived in the 1940s during the Second World War, originating mainly from the then British territory of Hong Kong. Many Chinese-Bajans have the surnames Chin, Chynn or Lee, although other surnames prevail in certain areas of the island.^{[citation needed]}
Lebanese and Syrians form the Arab community on the island and the Muslim minority among them make up a small percentage of the Muslim population. The majority of the Lebanese and Syrians arrived in Barbados due to trade opportunities. Although in the numbers are dwindling due to emigration and immigration to other countries.
Jewish people arrived in Barbados just after the first settlers in 1627. Bridgetown is the home of the oldest Jewish Synagogue in the Americas, dating from 1654, though the current structure was erected in 1833 replacing one ruined by the hurricane of 1831. Tombstones in the neighboring cemetery date from the 1630s. Now under the care of the Barbados National Trust the site was deserted in 1929, but was subsequently saved and restored by the Jewish community in 1983.
Indians from Gujarat in India make up majority of the Muslim population. Muslim-Indian Barbadians are often perceived to be the most successful group in business, along with the Chinese Bajans.^{[citation needed]}

The average life expectancy is 77 years for both males and females.^{[citation needed]} Barbados and Japan have the distinction of having highest number of centenarians (on a per capita basis) in the world.

Taken from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbados#Demographics

BARBADIAN food

One of the delights of visiting Barbados is that it gives you the chance to experience delicious Bajan food. And it is an experience because local food is made with a variety of ingredients, most of which will be familiar to you, but are enhanced with local herbs and spices to create a distinct Bajan flavour.

The local dish which is synonymous with Barbados is flying fish and cou cou, traditionally served on Fridays. The skillfully boned flying fish is rolled and stewed down in gravy made with herbs, tomatoes, garlic, onions and butter. Cou cou is similar to polenta, made with yellow corn meal but cooked with finely chopped okras, water and butter. Cou cou can also be made with breadfruit and green bananas and is served with salt fish or beef stew.

Another popular Bajan dish is fish cakes which are made with salted cod imported from the maritime provinces of Canada. The importation of salted fish and meat goes back to the colonial days when these foods, which could be stored for months, were seen as a cheap source of protein. Fish cakes are made with salted cod, flour, herbs and pepper and are served in rustic rum shops and elegant cocktail parties alike. As health conscious as everyone is trying to be, a dish of freshly fried hot fish cakes passed around at a gathering with some pepper sauce or sauce marie rose, goes like smoke in the wind.

A wide variety of fresh fish is available in Barbados like barracuda, king fish (wahoo), snapper, bill fish, chubb, yellow fin tuna and dolphin. Some visitors are mistakenly horrified to see dolphin on local menus not realizing that it is the fish also called mahi mahi or dorado and not any relation or similarity to the porpoise. Dolphins, the mammals, seldom seen in our waters, are revered and never caught.

The most common way to cook fish is to season it with Bajan seasoning, coat it with egg, then dust it in fine breadcrumbs and fry it in hot oil. Bajan seasoning is a blend of fresh herbs such as thyme, marjoram, spring onions, onions, garlic, parsley, basil and scotch bonnet pepper with spices such as clove, black pepper, paprika and salt. A popular lunch is a fish cutter which is fried flying fish or a fillet of fish sandwiched between a Bajan salt bread.

Whether a roast pork with diamonds of crackling, a baked ham, stewed down pork chops or Bajan pudding and souse, the quality of Barbadian pork is especially delicious. In keeping with this love of pork, pigs have been reared domestically in Barbados for years and are considered an important supplement to household income.

A local delicacy is black and white pudding made with sweet potato and herbs served along with soused pigs head and trotters. There are many people throughout the island that make and sell pudding and souse every Saturday, starting work at 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning in order to be ready for the lunch-time rush.

Whereas the diet of most cultures tends to focus on one staple, the starch served with a meal in Barbados varies widely; sweet potato, yam, breadfruit, eddo, green banana, bakes, cassava, rice, cou cou, pasta or potato. Rice is more often than not cooked with some kind of pulse such as pigeon peas, black eye peas or split peas. Breadfruit, a large green football sized fruit, has a similar taste and texture of a potato with a subtle difference that makes it an interesting alternative to the more pedestrian potato. It is served lathered in a tomato and onion, butter sauce or a fresh cucumber and lime souse, mashed or as crisp, wafer thin chips.

The ground provisions are made into all kinds of delicious recipes such as yam pie and candied sweet potato. Bajan sweet potatoes are starchy and quite unlike the waxy orange variety usually seen in American supermarkets. One of the most popular starches with a meal is actually macaroni and cheese, referred to simply as "pie".

Chicken usually heads up every Bajan's shopping list. On Sundays it is stuffed with a fresh herb stuffing made with the local Eclipse crackers and baked whole. It is also stewed, barbequed, stuffed with Bajan seasoning and fried, cooked with rice to make pelau, curried, boiled into a delicious soup
with vegetables and the list goes on.

A wide variety of vegetables are available in Barbados from the local markets, the most popular of which is located downtown Bridgetown and is a hive of activity on a Saturday morning. Bajans serve vegetables in a variety of ways. For example pumpkin, which is a similar to American squash, is served boiled or made into fritters sprinkled with sugar and spice. Plantain, a member of the banana family but quite unpalatable uncooked, is served fried or wrapped in bacon and baked. Okra, famous for its role in southern American gumbo, is served sprinkled with a little fresh lime juice. Asparagus is grown in Barbados and is eaten sautéed with a little butter and lime juice. Christophene, a sugarless member of the melon family, is another unusual and popular vegetable which is often served with a cheese sauce. Cucumber is dressed with lime juice, salt, onion and a little hot pepper.

Bajans have quite a sweet tooth. Local candies include guava cheese, tamarind balls, peanut brittle and chocolate fudge. The most common traditional Bajan dessert is Coconut Bread. For fancier occasions, lemon meringue pie, cheesecake, chocolate icebox pudding, good old chocolate cake and Bajan baked custard are some of the local favourites.

Taken from: www.totallybarbados.com

Places to go in BARBADOS

Fringed by talcum powder-white beaches and azure seas, Barbados fulfils the clichéd image of a tropical Caribbean isle, but peel back the exterior and the island offers far more than a mere beach holiday destination. Endowed with 113km (70 miles) of beaches, however, first time visitors can be forgiven for heading straight for the sand and surf. Most tourists flock to the island’s legendary Platinum Coast to the west, which is lined with world-class, luxury resorts, spa hotels, sophisticated restaurants and manicured golf courses, all lapped by the limpid Caribbean Sea. The south coast has some of the best beaches while the east coast, pummelled by the Atlantic Ocean, is less developed and attracts mainly surfers. Although Barbados’s interior is unremarkable compared to its Caribbean neighbours, a jeep safari provides the best way to discover crumbling sugar mills, historic plantation houses, traditional churches reminiscent of England and colonial Bridgetown. Combine this with Barbados’s indelible laid-back vibe, its passion for rum (over 1,500 rum shops dot the island) and calypso-infused festivals, and it’s no wonder people return here time and time again.

Shopping in Barbados offers a varied experience. As a duty-free island, prices are typically 30 to 50 per cent less than in Europe and North America. Shoppers must have their airline or passport ticket when purchasing duty free goods. Most of the duty free shops and large, western-style shopping malls offering high quality goods and excellent service are found along Broad Street in Bridgetown. Here you can buy everything from designer clothing to gold and silver jewellery. Popular souvenirs include local handicrafts, such as straw bags, batiks, paintings, rum and woodwork. Speciality craft and gift shops can be found in Pelican Village, outside Bridgetown, as well as Holetown, Speighstown and St Lawrence Gap. The Crane Village on the south-east coast is the latest upmarket shopping destination, which includes duty-free shops.

Bajans love to party with nightlife options in Barbados ranging from clubs, beach bars and pubs to rum shops, dinner shows and twilight boat cruises. Music ranges from calypso and reggae to the latest R'n'B. Most of the main nightlife spots are concentrated around the south and west coasts. St Lawrence Gap is the liveliest nightlife spot on the islands; it’s a one-street affair lined with smart pubs, clubs and bars. If you want to party with the locals, head to Oistins Fish Market on a Friday or Saturday night, where Bajans dance to the early hours in the open air with music ranging from country and western to the latest calypso. Makes sure you taste the oldest rum in the world - Mount Gay Rum, on the island's west coast. It can trace its heritage back to 1703, making it the world’s oldest rum producer. Made from the sugar cane that thrived across the island, Barbados was once the favoured tipple of English sailors. Visitors can learn about the refining, aging, blending and bottling process on tastings and tours, which run hourly between Monday-Saturday.

Barbados’s capital Bridgetown – named after a crude bridge constructed by early Indian settlers - is the best place to enjoy the island’s colonial history. Visit National Heroes Square, which boasts a statue of Lord Nelson, which was erected in 1813, well before Nelson's Column was put up in London. Nearby are the neo-gothic Parliament Buildings, Bridgetown Synagogue (reputed to the oldest in the western hemisphere) and the pretty, pink pastel coloured facades of DaCosta’s Mall. When you get tired of sightseeing, pop into one of the ubiquitous rum shops or head for a drink at the Waterfront area overlooking the marina.

Barbadosis also famous for its colonial architecture. The Jacobean St Nicholas Abbey is graced with ornate Persian arches and well-kept gardens. Although now in ruins, Farley Hill is still covered in hibiscus and poinsettias and is one of the island's most storied plantation houses. The George Washington House and Museum is a beautifully restored plantation house, where the former US president stayed on a brief visit to Barbados in 1751. Meanwhile, Tyrol Cot, the grand former home of Sir Grantley Adams, the first premier of Barbados, is a stunning example of local architectural styles. Constructed in 1854, this architectural gem characterizes an interesting mixture of Palladian and tropical vernacular - beautifully restored by the Barbados National Trust.

Barbados's famous Chalky Mount potters should also be included in your itinerary. They are renowned for their high-quality inexpensive art. You can watch the local potters at work at the wheel fashioning centuries-old designs - a respected 300-year-old tradition.

Sugar plantations also form an important part of the cultural heritage. The aged and charming Morgan Lewis Mill is one of only two of the Caribbean's intact sugar mills, and a noteworthy example of a Dutch windmill from the days of the sugar cane planters. The mill includes an exhibit of the equipment used to produce sugar. Although the old plantation house has seen better days, its crumbling exteriors are very evocative and an important legacy of the island’s history.

The beaches, however, are still the reason why most tourists come here. The baby-pink sands of cliff-flanked Crane Beach, an idyllic spot that is one of the most beautiful on the island, are perfect for a stroll. Moderate, foamy waves draw a body-surfing crowd and there are plenty of shaded spots to chill out until the magical sunsets arrive. The island's rugged south and west coasts boast world-class water sports where windsurfers, jet skiers, parasailers and water skiers enjoy perfect conditions. To ride the waves head to the Soup Bowl, South Point and Rockley Beach, Barbados's surfing mecca.

Lofty Mount Hillaby, the island's highest point at 343m (1,125ft), offers incredible panoramas across the east, west and northern coasts. Dramatic vistas also abound from St John's Parish Church over miles of jagged coastline and moss-covered family vaults dotted with tropical flora. Organised tours also offer soft adventure thrills as you whizz through the rainforest at Jack-in-the-box Gully, Walkes Spring, in the centre of the island.

You can also take a self-guided hike amid rare fruit and spice trees in Welchman Hall Gully's magnificent botanic garden or in Andromeda Gardens. Another highlight is the Flower Forest, a 20-hectare (50-acre) leafy garden rich in native plants. The Barbados National Trust offers free guided hikes, which last around three hours and cover distances of 8 to 22km (5 to 14 miles). Moonlit walks are also held.

With an abundance of stalactites, stalagmites, streams, lakes and waterfalls, Harrison’s Cave is a jaw-dropping spectacle. The caves, in the parish of St. Thomas, were first mentioned in historical documents in 1795 and then virtually forgotten for nearly 200 years, until being rediscovered in 1976. In 1981, Harrison's Cave was opened to the public. Visitors can enjoy a scenic trail from the cliff top to the valley floor, before entering the caves on a 40-minute journey in an electric cart led by guides. Self-guides walks are also possible.

The Barbados Wildlife Reserve's resplendent mahogany forest is the roaming territory of green monkeys, tortoises, deer, raccoons, pelicans and otters. A walk-through aviary allows a leafy stroll with peacocks, turkeys, toucans, parrots, flamingos, pelicans, lovebirds and macaws.

Cricket is the national sporting obsession, with Barbados hosting the World Twenty20 finals in 2010 at the newly expanded Kensington Oval pitch near Bridgetown. Choose from barefoot village friendlies to international and local club cups - where many of the great names of West Indian cricket are honoured, most notably Sir Garfield Sobers.

Scuba Diving is another popular sport on the island. Barbados's rainbow of coral reefs offers a pristine watery home to seahorses, sponges and giant sand eels. Hidden caves and shipwrecks provide plenty of underwater nooks and crannies along a shoreline nested by Hawksbill Turtles. The island has about 30 dive sites, mainly on the calmer west coast. While there are less pelagic fish off Barbados because of unregulated fishing, divers can enjoy a range of marine life including hawksbill turtles, sea horses, frog fish and giant sand eels.

Barbados has several excellent sites for wreck diving; Carlisle Bay, which has more than 200 reported wrecks, and the Stavronikita, a ship which rests in 37m (120ft) of water, less than 1.6 km (1 mile) from the shore at Folkestone Marine Park.

Fishing can be very rewarding as well! Wahoo, dorado, barracuda, tuna and sailfish, together with mighty blue marlin and shark, all patrol Barbados's deep sea waters. There are plenty of game fishing tournaments and inshore competitions to join or just grab a rod and head to the jetty.

It is also possible to gallop along the beach at sundown or simply trek along inland trails. Over two-dozen horse-riding events take place on the Garrison Savannah. Polo is also played to a high level by fiercely competitive Barbadian teams.

Taken from www.worldtravelguide.net

Doing business in BARBADOS

Bajans favour a more formal approach to greeting and meeting. This is most commonly a handshake between both sexes. When introducing or referring to a Bajan, you should always use a title and surname. Using first names, especially if you don’t have a personal connection to the person, could be considered quite impolite. Lightweight suits are recommended. European courtesies should be observed, such as presenting business cards.

In 2006, the Barbadian economy experienced unprecedented growth, achieving more than 3% for the seventh consecutive quarter. According to a 2008 assessment by the Index of Economic Freedom, Barbados's economy is 71.3% free. Improved investment freedom places it high above the regional average.

Traditionally relying on sugarcane and other agricultural exports, Barbados has successfully diversified its economic activities. Tourism now represents the largest employer on the island. Cotton, flowers and plants are being developed as export products. The island's other important industry is oil. Exploration efforts have intensified since the mid 1990s. Today, two-thirds of offshore output is exported, with the remainder assigned for domestic consumption. Barbados has also developed an 'offshore' financial industry that now accounts for 15% of GDP.

Barbadosreceives some overseas aid from British and US sources and is a member of the Caribbean Economic Community (CARICOM), which has boosted regional trade. Good transport and communications infrastructure is poised to assist future economic development. Barbados's declared goal is to become the world's smallest developed nation.

Barbadosis keen to position itself as the Caribbean's foremost convention destination and offers a number of conference facilities for incentive and business travel groups. All are centred on Bridgetown, where meeting space is fully air conditioned and equipped to handle seminars, trade shows and exhibitions, from 15 to 2,500 delegates.

Main exports: Cotton, flowers, plants, rum, sugar, molasses and oil.

Main imports: Consumer goods, machinery, food, chemicals and construction materials.

Main trading partners: UK, USA, Trinidad & Tobago, St Lucia and Jamaica.

Taken from:

www.investbarbados.org

www.worldtravelguide.net