| Barbados has been an independent country since | | | | airport is named after this early and influential politician. |
| November 30, 1966. And yet the "Jewel of the | | | | - After years of peaceful and democratic progress, |
| Caribbean" is today still known as "Little England," partly | | | | Barbados became an independent state within the |
| because no other country ever ruled the island, partly | | | | British Commonwealth on November 30, 1966. Under |
| because large sections of its interior are lush and | | | | its constitution, Barbados is a parliamentary democracy |
| green like England, and partly because of lasting British | | | | modeled on the British system. |
| traditions. Also, the bulk of tourists to the island are | | | | Barbados' Independence Celebration |
| from the UK. | | | | Each year on November 30 Barbados' independence |
| Barbados Under British Rule ~ Just the Facts | | | | is celebrated not unlike America's on July 4th. |
| - The British landed along the west coast of Barbados | | | | Barbados' birthday begins with a parade in the |
| in the 1600s, although it was the Portuguese who | | | | Garrison Savannah, the former British military installation |
| named the island Barbados, "the bearded ones," for | | | | (and now a leading Caribbean race track and a very |
| the appearance of the island's fig trees. | | | | pretty grassy area steeped in history). (Actually, the |
| - British settlers grew sugar cane and the largest | | | | British ran its military operation for all of the Eastern |
| plantations became very wealthy enterprises. | | | | Caribbean from Barbados.) |
| - The plantations would not have been profitable and | | | | Having traveled a great deal through the Caribbean, I |
| productive without the slaves imported from Africa to | | | | notice that other countries look at Barbados as the |
| work them. | | | | "boring" island. It's true: both Jamaica and Trinidad, for |
| - The British Crown saw local political power shift from | | | | example, are bigger, bolder, more colorful, and brassier |
| the early British settlers to, gradually, beginning in the | | | | former children of the Crown. No matter; its low crime |
| 1930s, the descendants of the slaves. | | | | rate, peaceful politics, and high standard of living, |
| - Grantley Adams was the first to push for | | | | Barbados quite happily accepts its role as the boring |
| independence from British rule; he began the Barbados | | | | one of the lot. |
| Labour Party in 1938 and by 1961 Barbados achieved | | | | This year, 2009, we celebrated Barbados' 43rd |
| the status of self-governing autonomy. The Barbados | | | | birthday. Many happy returns! |