Also known as:	Land of the Flying Fish
Motto:	Pride and Industry
Location:	Most easterly of the Caribbean islands, approximately 120 km (75 mi) from Saint Lucia and 399 km (200 mi) northeast of Trinidad and Tobago.
History:	First sighted by the Portuguese, but settled by the English in 1627 and remained a British colony until independence in 1966. The Barbados House of Assembly is the third oldest legislature in the Americas, dating from 1639.
Elections:	Last held 2008.  Next election due in 2013
Ruling Party:	Democratic Labour Party (DLP)
Major Political Parties:	Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Barbados Labour Party (BLP)
Airport:	Grantley Adams International
Status:	Independent -  30 November 1966
Capital:	Bridgetown
Head of State:	H.E. Sir Clifford Husbands, GCMG, KA., Governor-General
National Holidays:	New Year's Day (01 January); Errol Barrow Day (21 January); Good Friday, Easter Monday, National Heroes Day (28 April), Labour Day (01 May); Whit Monday (June); Emancipation Day (01 August); Kadooment Day (First Monday in August); Independence Day (30 November); Christmas Day (25 December); Boxing Day (26 December).  Holidays that fall on a Sunday are observed the following Monday
CARICOM Membership:	1 August, 1973
Highest National Award	Knight of St. Andrew
Favourite Dish:	Cou-Cou and Flying Fish, Jug Jug
Government web page:	http://www.barbados.gov.bb/ministries.htm