Barbados stands in splendid isolation as a proud and welcoming sentinel at the gateway to the West Indies. Being the most easterly of the Caribbean islands, Barbados has for centuries been the potential first landfall for any sailors venturing westwards. And so it proved to be for the Spanish and Portuguese adventurers who rode the winds of the prevailing North East Trades in the 1500's. They came in search of gold and riches but merely found a densely vegetated island inhabited by a small population of Amerindians.
Though the Iberians opted not to settle on the island, they did give it a name - "Los Barbados." Popular consensus is that this was derived from their fascination with the hanging, aerial roots of the Bearded Fig Tree that are reminiscent of the long, thick beard once sported by Spanish noblemen. "Barba" means beard and "los barbados" translates to "the bearded ones", hence the island of "Los Barbados." Another theory is that the name was actually referring to bearded men, with the suggestion being that these were the descendants of early African explorers.
No Europeans chose to settle in Barbados until the English chanced upon the island in 1625 by virtue of the navigational miscalculations of Captain Henry Powell. For the English the island represented a golden opportunity to acquire a colony with tremendous scope for agricultural development - vacant, favourable climate, rich soils and generally flat land. So, having put ashore at the site of today's Holetown, they promptly claimed the island in the name of the Crown and left to return at a later date. This they did in 1627 when Powell brought with him 80 settlers and a number of slaves captured en-route from a trading vessel. These early pioneers set about the task of clearing the densely wooded land and planting tropical crops such as cotton, tobacco, yams and cassava, thus instigating a period of uninterrupted rule that was to last some 339 years and gain the island the sobriquet 'Little England.'
Difficulties encountered within the first ten years motivated the planters to choose an alternative crop, and in sugar they found a commodity that both flourished in Barbados and was in high demand in Europe. The sugar industry boomed and in order to supplement the inadequate work force of white British indentured servants it was decided to bring in black slaves from Africa. The presence of this unjustly acquired free labour and the excellent growing and market conditions combined to provide the plantation owners with vast profits. As most of them were resident owners it at least meant that much of their enormous wealth remained in Barbados and helped to develop the island's good infrastructure. One facet of this was the establishment by 1639 of Barbados' own Parliament, the third oldest in the entire British Commonwealth.
The English took the initiative for the rest of the world by abolishing the slave trade in 1807. This in turn induced the plantation owners to dismantle the system in Barbados. Emancipation took place between 1834-38 and though most of the slaves remained in the plantations and saw little change in their life, some did leave and helped to create a new middle-class. Out of their ranks emerged Samuel Jackman Prescod who in 1843 became the first non-white member of the House of Assembly. Attempts were made to improve the education system for everybody and the right to vote was extended. Nevertheless, many inequalities persisted and there was still a great deal of dissatisfaction amongst the masses of the people.
The world depression of the 1930's took its toll on Barbados and widespread unemployment hit the people hard, further fuelling the flames of discontent that finally erupted in the form of the 1937 riots. From out of the melee of social turmoil there appeared a new group of black leaders, highly educated men, who were destined and determined to win equality for their people. The Barbados Progressive League under the leadership of Grantley Adams and Hugh Springer, both later to be knighted, doggedly set about winning "a living wage for all workers."
In time the league adopted the new title of the Barbados Labour Party (B.L.P.) and finally gained their just reward when they won the 1947 General Election. Three years later universal suffrage was at last a reality and the fight had been won after a battle of some 117 years. Rival factions within the B.L.P. led to a split in the ranks and an off-shoot group formed the Democratic Labour Party (D.L.P.) This two-party system existed uninterrupted until 1989 when history repeated itself and a third party, the National Democratic Party was created.
In 1966 Barbados gained independence from Britain under the leadership of the late Errol Walton Barrow of the D.L.P. In its 36 years as an independent nation, Barbados has steadily progressed under the leadership of both D.L.P. and B.L.P. governments. The Barbados Labour Party was voted into power on September 6th, 1994, under the leadership of our current Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Owen Arthur.
In an island that measures only 166 square miles but has a population of some 267,000 it has always been necessary to make the most of any given situation. The limited land available has been intensively cultivated and divided into a neat, patchwork pattern of fields, clearly visible from the air. Areas for housing have been used imaginatively and efficiently. There is no wasted space. Out of this constrained environment have evolved people who are, by both nature and necessity, productive, talented, creative, self-disciplined, intelligent, confident, proud and happy. This island, no larger than a small town in most countries, has supplied the world with a phenomenal array of scholars, artists, musicians, sportsmen and professionals in every walk of life: a supply which is disproportionate in terms of mere statistics but quite in harmony with the aspirations of our people. Today we can look back gratefully upon the efforts of our forefathers and draw confidence from their accomplishments - regardless of ethnic background each individual is now in a position to state "I am a proud Barbadian".
Sugar cane was the mainstay of the island's economy for over 300 years and is still a source of foreign exchange. However, a decrease in world demand has forced farmers to diversify in search of alternative crops and better markets. Sea Island cotton, tropical flowers, market and livestock farming have all increased as a result. Today Barbados' main sources of income are tourism and international business, with other service industries also flourishing.
Thirty-six years after gaining independence, Barbados remains justly able to boast about its political stability and quality of life. It is a land where healthy existence is readily available to all - body warming sunshine, fresh breezes and sufficient rainfall to both top up the underground supply of pure drinking water and enrich the soils; a year round local supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, poultry, meats and fish; an outdoors, exercise-oriented lifestyle and a positive attitude towards play. It is no wonder Barbados has such a high proportion of centenarians! |
