Barbados

About the Flag

Barbados is a parliamentary democracy located between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela. It achieved independence from England in 1966. It has a ministerial government with a bicameral legislature. The Governor General is appointed by the Queen of England; the Prime Minister is the leader of the political party holding the majority of seats in the House of Assembly. The capital is Bridgetown, and English is the primary language.

Barbados boasts one of the highest standards of living of all the small island states of the Eastern Caribbean. The economy is based on tourism and manufacturing, and the primary exports are sugar and molasses, rum, chemicals, and electrical components. The United States and the United Kingdom are the major trading partners. The monetary unit is the Barbadian dollar.

The Shipping Act, 1994 and the Shipping (Oil Pollution) Act, 1994 revised the Barbados Shipping Act (1982). The Principal Registrar in London is the registrar for all foreign-owned ships entered on the international register; the Director of Maritime Affairs is registrar for near coastal and CARICOM trade ships below 150 gross registered tons.  A Deputy Principal Registrar is also based in Bridgetown for duties associated with the international register.