Politics
Prior to 1966, Barbados was a British colony with a strong history of democracy. Since
achieving independence from Britain, Barbados has remained a stable democratic nation with
a Westminister-style Parliament and general elections every 5 years. The Barbados
Parliament consists of a Senate (21 members appointed by the Governor General) and a House
of Assembly (28 members elected from constituencies on the basis of universal adult
suffrage).
Barbados is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the United
Nations.
Click Here For More Information on the Barbados Government
Real Estate
Many attractive residential real estate opportunities, from luxury homes and
villas to condominiums and town houses are available and land and property are available
without restrictions to non-nationals.
Several property management companies are in operation to look after real estate.
There is a 10% tax on foreign purchases and approximately 3% legal fees.
Education
The Barbados Government pays the cost of education of Barbadian students from
primary to tertiary level. This strong emphasis on education has resulted in a literacy
rate of 98% - one of the highest in the world.
The University of the West Indies is of three campuses across the Caribbean - Cave Hill (Barbados), St.Augustine (Trinidad) and Mona (Jamaica). The University offers a range of undergraduate & postgraduate degrees, diplomas and certificates in areas such as the humanities, science & technology, computer science, engineering, education, medicine, law and agriculture.
Due to high educational standards and quality research, the UWI has been
able to attract the brightest students from the Caribbean and beyond, and maintains strong
partnerships with universities in the U.K., U.S.A, and Canada, including Oxford, John
Hopkins and McGill.
