ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief historical background and a description of major events in Barbados. It also provides basic political, economic, and social data arranged in the following categories: polity, economy, population, purchasing power parities, life expectancy, ethnic groups, capital, political rights, civil liberties, and status. The chapter discusses the progress and decline of political rights and civil liberties in Barbados. A member of the Commonwealth, Barbados achieved independence in 1966. The British monarchy is represented by a governor-general. Under Sandiford, Barbados suffered a prolonged economic recession as revenues from sugar and tourism declined. The Barbados Labor Party (BLP) retained power in 1999 by winning 26 of 28 parliamentary seats, a rout that left Arthur Waldron firmly in control of his country's political fortune and gave him the mandate he needed to declare Barbados a republic. Barbados also entered into an updated extradition treaty with the United States, as well as, in May 1997, a maritime law enforcement agreement.
