|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Barbados
Capital: Bridgetown
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela (2.5 times the size of Washington, DC).
Americans living in or visiting Barbados are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Barbados and obtain updated information on travel and security within Barbados. The U.S. Embassy is located in Bridgetown at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) Building on Broad Street, telephone (246) 436-4950, web site http://usembassy.state.gov/posts/bb1/wwwhemb1.html. The Consular Section is located in the American Life Insurance Company (ALICO) Building, Cheapside, telephone (246) 431-0225 or fax (246) 431-0179, web site http://www.usembassy.state.gov/posts/bb1/wwwhcons.html. Hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except local and U.S. holidays.
Background:
The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Its economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.
Ethnic Groups:
black 80%, white 4%, other 16%
Language:
English
Currency:
BBD
Barbadian dollar (BBD)
Barbadian dollars per US dollar - 2.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)
Climate:
Tropical; rainy season (June to October)
Population:
275,330 (July 2001 est.)
Religion:
Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%
Medical:
Medical care is generally good, but medical transport can take hours to respond, and ambulance attendants are prohibited from applying life-saving techniques during transport. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars or more. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services, and U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside
Traffic Safety: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Barbados is provided for general reference only, and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation: Good
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Fair
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Fair
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Fair
Driving in Barbados is on the left-hand side of the road. Taxis and buses are generally safe. Buses and vans are often crowded and tend to travel at high rates of speed. Night driving should be done with great caution because of narrow roads with no shoulders and because of pedestrian/bicycle traffic. There have been a growing number of traffic fatalities in recent years in Barbados, usually caused by excessive speeds on the better highways.
For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, please see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html. For specific information concerning Barbados driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, please contact the Barbados National Tourist Organization offices in New York at (800) 221-9831 or via the Internet at e-mail address: gcny@barbados.org.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
