Owen Arthur
Prime Minister

(pronounced "O-wen AR-thur")

"No country can ever truly develop unless it finds the means of engrossing everyone in the task of nation building, whatever their class, creed, color or political persuasion."

With a total area of 430 sq km (166 sq mi), Barbados is the easternmost island in the Windward chain of the Caribbean islands. The population was estimated at 277,000 in 2002. Its racial composition reflects a population that is 90% black, 4% white, and 6% Asian Indian or mixed race. The official language of the country is English, although a Barbadian or Bajan dialect (a mixture of English and Africanisms) is widely spoken. The overwhelming majority of the population is Christian, 40% of whom are Anglicans.

The local currency is the Barbados dollar. Major economic activities include tourism and offshore banking, followed by sugar production and manufactured goods (mainly electrical equipment and chemicals). The...