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Date of Membership in CARICOM: 1 Aug 1973 - Learn more about membership in CARICOM
Also Known as:Land Of The Flying Fish
Status of Independence:Independent 2038/01/18
Area: 431 km2 (166.4 miles2)
Capital City: Bridgetown
Population: 285,000 (2013)
Currency: Barbados Dollar Bds$
Highest National Award: Knight or Dame of St. Andrew
GDP Growth: 0.9% p.a. 1990–2013
GNI: US$4.2bn
GNI PC: US$15,172
SOME KEY DATES IN HISTORY
1536 Sighted by Portuguese explorer, Pedro a Campos. Island named `Os Barbados’ after bearded fig trees which grew on beaches
1627 Occupied by British settlers
1639 House of Assembly founded
1958 Joined West Indies Federation
1965 CARIFTA Agreement signed at Dickenson Bay, Antigua. Barbados among the first signatories
1966 Independence achieved. Errol Barrow, first Prime Minister
Visit Government Portal: http://www.gov.bb
CARICOM Lead Head of Government for Single Market and Economy (including Monetary Union)