North & Central America and Caribbean

Barbados
Last reviewed: 04 June 2009

Country information

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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Relations with Neighbours

Barbados has generally good relations with its CARICOM neighbours, especially with the Eastern Caribbean countries. It can be seen as a role model for small developing countries. Barbados is one of the three countries that have ratified the establishment of a Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The CCJ, which has come into force with these three ratifications, but is not yet operational, will be a Court of First Instance for the Caribbean Single Market and Economy. It will also replace the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as highest Court of Appeal of Barbados.

There has, in the past, been tension between Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago over a disputed maritime area. Arbitration hearings in the matter were heard in London in October 2005 and a ruling was given in April 2006 broadly in Barbados' favour. This has enabled the country to move ahead with plans for oil exploration within its own territorial waters. Both countries claimed victory but Barbados is seen to have come out on top.

Relations with the International Community

Barbados is an influential player in CARICOM, the Commonwealth and the ACP. This was emphasised in August 2002, when CARICOM Heads of Government gave then Prime Minister Owen Arthur the task of setting up a regional stabilisation fund to mitigate the economic effects of external shocks to the region. Barbados is also a centre for regional organisations, being the location of UN House, the new Eastern Caribbean offices of six UN agencies. These include the Development Programme, Food and Agriculture Organisation, the International Telecommunications Union, the Children's Fund, the International Drug Control Programme and the Development Fund for Women. Prime Minister David Thompson holds the CARICOM Portfolio for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) which is now up and running with six CARICOM countries.

Relations with the UK

UK-Barbados relations are good. There are about 4,500 British citizens resident in Barbados and about 250,000 British tourists visit annually.

Transforming the Caribbean Economy, January 2007

Cultural Relations with the UK

Cultural links are strong and varied with many exchanges.

Recent Outward Visits

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, paid an official visit to Barbados in April 2007. Meg Munn, FCO Minister for the Caribbean, visited Barbados in April 2008.

Recent Inward Visits

PM David Thompson visited London in April 2009 when he met FCO Minister Lord Malloch-Brown and spoke on "The Caribbean and the Global Crisis" at Canning House.