John, G0OPA currently active from Barbados as 8P9LJ.
He is working on HF bands.
QSL via home call direct.
Barbados: sovereign island country
A sovereign island country in the Lesser Antilles, Barbados was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. The island stretches for 34 kilometers in length and approximately 23 kilometers in width, while covering an area of 432 square kilometers. The coastline stretches for 97km with the territorial sea having a maritime claim of 12nm and the exclusive economic some having 200nm.
Geographical aspects
Barbados is located at 13°10' north of the equator, and 59°32' west of the Prime Meridian. It lies 100 kilometers east of the Windward Islands and Caribbean Sea. It is also the easternmost isle of the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies.
In terms of total land area, Barbados stretches for 430 km2 (166.0 sq mi), with a coastline that stretches for 97 km (60 mi) in length. The island takes on a shape of the leg of mutton or a pear in terms of its physical appearance.
It is physically characterized by gently sloping, terraced plains, or lowlands that are separated by rolling hills which are generally parallel to the coasts. The highest point is Mount Hillaby which stands at 340 meters above sea level.
Climate
Generally, Barbados experiences two seasons; the wet and dry season. The months of June to November bring on the wet season while the months of December to May bring on the dry season. The annual precipitation ranges between 40 inches (1,000 mm) and 90 inches (2,300 mm). Average temperatures from December to May range from 21 to 31 °C (70 to 88 °F), with the months between June and November ranging from 23 to 31 °C (73 to 88 °F).
Natural hazards such as hurricanes, landslips and earthquakes are not common place on the island. In addition, during the rainy season, it is also often spared the worst effects of the region's hurricanes and tropical storms.
Thanks to its location in the far east, the country is also placed just outside the principal hurricane strike zone.
Demographics
Barbados has a population of approximately 281,968, with a population growth rate of 0.33%. Globally, it is ranked the 18th in the most densely populated country while in the Americas, it is ranked as the 4th.
Approximately 90% of all Barbadians are of Afro-Caribbean descent and mixed-descent. The rest of the population comprises of groups of Europeans who mainly come from United Kingdom and Ireland. Asians, mainly Indian and Chinese are also present on the island.
The official language of Barbados is English, which is used for communicating, in administration, and in public services all over the island. A number of Barbadians speak a variant of English known locally s Bajan.
Approximately 95% of Barbadians are Christians of the African and European descent. Anglicans take on 40% of the population while other religions take on the rest. Other religions to the country include the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Pentecostals, Seventh Day Adventists, as well as Spiritual Baptists, Islam, Hindus, Judaism, Wicca and Bahai.
Culture
As opposed to other islands in the West Indies, the influence of the English on Barbados is much more noticeable. This can be clearly seen from the island's national sport, Cricket, which also happened to spew forth a number of great cricketers, inclusive of Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Frank Worrell.
Officially, the citizens of Barbados are known as Barbadians.
Economy
In terms of Gross Domestic product, Barbados is the 53rd richest country in the world. The country comprises of a mixed economy and makes for a moderately high standard of living.
Sugarcane cultivation has made up the country’s economy historically. However, the late 1970s and 1980s saw a switch to the tourism and manufacturing sectors. Important foreign exchange earners to the country are offshore finance and information services.
In the Caribbean region, Barbados maintains the third largest stock exchange.
Education and Sports
Barbados has a literacy rate that borders on 100%, with both the Ministry of Education and UNESCO that Barbados is among the top 5 countries worldwide for literacy rate. The public education system in Barbados falls in line with the British Model, with the country stipulating that all young people attend school until they are 16 years of age.
The country is home to over 70 primary schools and 20 secondary schools while a number of private schools do also exist. The country’s degree level of education is provided by Barbados community college, the Cave Hill campus, the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, Open Campus of the University of the West Indies
Cricket is the most cherished sport on the island. Other sporting activities include horse racing, basketball, golf, polo, volleyball, netball, motorsports, wave sailing and sprinting among others.
Facts
• According to the 2011 United Nations Human Development Index, Barbados is ranked in the highest bracket "Very High Human Development", which is well above the regional average for the Caribbean and Latin America.
• The people of Barbados have a history of long ingrained Christian principles, and a literacy rate of 97% thanks to a sound and free educational system.
• A number of visitors to the island highlight the friendliness of Barbadians as its greatest and most pleasing asset.
• It is the only coral island in the region with all white sand beaches.
• Barbados has the third oldest parliament in the world, with a continuous parliamentary governance that began in 1639.
• Barbados is completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean
• The name 'Barbados' is comes from the Bearded Fig Trees which were once abundant on the island.
• Barbados is 21 miles long and 14 miles wide
• It has a large cultural diversity.
• Barbados has never been successfully invaded by foreign power
• It is completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean
• The island was first settled in 1625 by the British
• Up until its independence in 1966, Barbados flew the British Flag
• The first slaves to the island who were known as Indentured servants were white. They were people who for varying reasons were deemed as enemies of the crown.
Video Barbados