Barbados has been an independent country since November 30, 1966. And yet the "Jewel of the Caribbean" is today still known as "Little England," partly because no other country ever ruled the island, partly because large sections of its interior are lush and green like England, and partly because of lasting British traditions. Also, the bulk of tourists to the island are from the UK.
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Barbados Under British Rule ~ Just the Facts
- The British landed along the west coast of Barbados in the 1600s, although it was the Portuguese who named the island Barbados, "the bearded ones," for the appearance of the island's fig trees.
- British settlers grew sugar cane and the largest plantations became very wealthy enterprises.
- The plantations would not have been profitable and productive without the slaves imported from Africa to work them.
- The British Crown saw local political power shift from the early British settlers to, gradually, beginning in the 1930s, the descendants of the slaves.
- Grantley Adams was the first to push for independence from British rule; he began the Barbados Labour Party in 1938 and by 1961 Barbados achieved the status of self-governing autonomy. The Barbados airport is named after this early and influential politician.
- After years of peaceful and democratic progress, Barbados became an independent state within the British Commonwealth on November 30, 1966. Under its constitution, Barbados is a parliamentary democracy modeled on the British system.
Barbados' Independence Celebration
Each year on November 30 Barbados' independence is celebrated not unlike America's on July 4th. Barbados' birthday begins with a parade in the Garrison Savannah, the former British military installation (and now a leading Caribbean race track and a very pretty grassy area steeped in history). (Actually, the British ran its military operation for all of the Eastern Caribbean from Barbados.)
Having traveled a great deal through the Caribbean, I notice that other countries look at Barbados as the "boring" island. It's true: both Jamaica and Trinidad, for example, are bigger, bolder, more colorful, and brassier former children of the Crown. No matter; its low crime rate, peaceful politics, and high standard of living, Barbados quite happily accepts its role as the boring one of the lot.
This year, 2009, we celebrated Barbados' 43rd birthday. Many happy returns!
Everyone is being affected by the threat of global recession, inflation and fluctuating exchange rates. Even the mighty British Pound is taking a bit of a pummelling in some markets, which is bad news for retirees living abroad and trying to benefit from the once favourable exchange rates. Since the adverse taxation of the 60s, when Sean Connery moved to Spain to benefit from lower taxes, UK citizens have thought fit to move their wealth to other European countries, especially the Mediterranean ones. Many Brits retire to Spain in particular, for the climate as well as the financial gains accrued from a strong Pound, but as the Euro has gradually strengthened over the course of the last year, these gains have gotten considerably smaller. The situation is such that some couples are even thinking of moving back to the UK.
According to an article by Simon Atkinson for BBC news, roughly 375,000 UK expats have retired to Europe, and an increasing number have to tighten their belts as the Pound loses value to the Euro. State pensions are now worth between £50 and £80 less a month than they were this time last year. That may not seem like much, but when you consider how far the Pound goes in the UK, and its relative value in Euros, the difference is more significant.
Another important factor to consider is the rising cost of living all across the world. The cost of an average weekly shopping trip has gone up by as much as 100% in some countries. For people who rely on a dwindling foreign income, the costs are even greater.
In Spain, as in the rest of the world, the property market is also feeling the pinch. Some UK citizens living in Spain, who want to sell up and move back, can't because no one can afford to replace them. Some houses have been on the market for over a year, and despite considerable price cuts, as well as a willingness to negotiate, no sales have been forthcoming.
Mick Roscoe, a realtor who works british expatriates in Spain, says that many estate agents have gone out of business, but the problem is not a stagnant property market. Roscoe says that the sales volume for this year is about the same as it was last year; the difference is that only cheap properties are being sold, and it's much more difficult to find credible buyers. An additional problem is that, with a recession looming, banks are reluctant to take chances with debtors and are cutting back on the number of loans they issue.
While UK expats have had to tighten their belts and cut back on luxuries, many are still quite content to stay exactly where they are. Two expats from the UK living in Spain, Eric and Viola Summers, say that the quality of life is much better in Spain. If they had stayed in the UK they would have had to live on benefits, but in Spain they can afford a nice house, and can take pleasure in many other little joys, such as going out for coffee every morning and attending many of the concerts and shows in their area. And of course, there is the sunshine.
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