Barbados Neighbouring Countries on the Map
Barbados’ Nearby Neighbors
Where’s Barbados?
Barbados is having a party in the southeastern bit of the Caribbean Sea. It hangs out just outside the Lesser Antilles club but doesn’t stray too far. If you’re the kind who measures stuff, Barbados is about 100 miles east of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, so not exactly a neighbor you can spot from your window.
Here’s a quick look at how close Barbados is to some nearby hangouts:
| Neighbor | Distance (miles) | Distance (km) |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 100 | 160 |
| Saint Lucia | 121 | 195 |
| Grenada | 149 | 240 |
| Dominica | 209 | 336 |
Got a travel itch? Check out our pages for some neighborly info on Antigua and Barbuda neighbors and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines neighbors.
Mystery of the Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are like the cool kids of the Caribbean Sea, with names you might have heard: Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada (Britannica). Barbados is the quirky cousin who’s geologically different, standing out with its flat landscape and fewer creepy crawlers chilling in its forests (Britannica).
For more on the Caribbean’s family tree, catch up on our articles about Dominica’s neighbors and Grenada’s neighbors.
Historical Ties with Neighbors
Barbados shares a captivating past with its neighbors, weaving an impressive story of its diplomatic relations and cultural vibe.
British Influence
Barbados was owned by Britain from the 1600s until it broke free in 1966. This long stint left a real mark on what we see today in its culture and society (Britannica). You can spot the British touch in the island’s old-school buildings, the rules they follow, and their style of government.
| Thing | British Touch |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Those colonial vintage buildings |
| Legal System | Based on Common Law |
| Government | Follows a Parliamentary style |
Though Barbados switched to a republic in 2021, it’s still part of the Commonwealth, keeping its ties to the UK solid (BBC News).
Diplomatic Relations
Barbados knows how to keep the dialogue going with its Caribbean neighbors, showing its love for cooperation and growth. A prime example is its long-standing bond with Cuba, set back in 1972 (BBC News).
| Country | Diplomatic Bonds |
|---|---|
| Cuba | Started chat in 1972 |
| Grenada | Played a part in the 1983 US invasion |
In the ’40s and ’50s, Barbados tried joining forces with nearby islands, aiming for a West Indies Federation. This group of ten Caribbean pals didn’t last long and fizzled out by 1962, nudging Barbados to gain its independence by 1966 (Wikipedia).
Barbados took an active role in Caribbean politics, even offering a base for the US during the 1983 Grenada invasion, showing it’s not afraid to get involved in regional activities.
Taking a peek at Barbados’ old and current neighborly relations gives us a pretty good idea of its historical and modern-day diplomacy. Curious about how Barbados grew economically over the years? Check out our write-up on the Economic Evolution of Barbados.
Interested in peering into the neighbors of other countries? Dive into our guides on Afghanistan’s Neighbors and Albania’s Neighbors.
Recent Diplomatic Interactions
Barbados, right in the heart of the Caribbean, has often been busy having diplomatic chats with its neighbors. These friendly (and sometimes not-so-friendly) exchanges usually revolve around tricky stuff like who owns what bit of the sea and making sure everyone’s on the same page when it comes to diplomatic moves.
Maritime Border Disputes
Let’s talk about the sea borders. One beef that stands out is the back-and-forth with Trinidad and Tobago over where one country’s sea ends and the other starts. This one goes back a fair way to 2004. They decided to get the UN involved to sort it out, which just shows how sticky drawing invisible lines in the sea can get. It’s like one of those puzzles that only a bunch of smart legal types can solve.
| Dispute | Year | Involved Countries | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maritime Border with Trinidad and Tobago | 2004 | Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago | UN Tribunal gave it a thumbs-up |
Fast forward a few years to 2008, and Barbados found itself locking horns with Venezuela. The gist? Barbados wanted to dig around for oil in the ocean, and Venezuela wasn’t too happy about it, claiming those waters were theirs. It’s all about who gets to strike oil and who gets left with the short straw.
| Dispute | Year | Involved Countries | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maritime Border with Venezuela | 2008 | Barbados, Venezuela | Still batting it back and forth |
Foreign Policy Actions
Barbados has also been flexing its diplomatic muscles in other areas. A bit of history here: Remember the US invasion of Grenada in 1983? Barbados was on board with that, acting like a buddy letting US forces crash at their place. This move shook hands with the US and gave Barbados some brownie points in the region.
| Action | Year | Involved Countries | Implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support for US Invasion of Grenada | 1983 | Barbados, Grenada, USA | Warmed up Barbados-USA friendship |
Barbados’ way of handling these talks and actions show it’s not shy about getting involved in Caribbean politics. It may be tiny on the map, but it’s playing a big game. If you’re curious to explore how other countries around the world handle their border convos, you might want to look into articles on Afghanistan’s neighbors, Algeria’s surrounding pals, and Antigua and Barbuda’s nearby buddies.
Development through Sport Programs
Barbados has been using sports programs to boost youth development, build community bonds, and power up the economy. These efforts have a massive impact on the island nation and its neighbors.
Social and Economic Impact
Sports activities in Barbados and the Caribbean are catalysts for social and economic change. Check out these key perks:
- Job Skills: Programs gear young folks up with job skills, sharpening their edge for future careers.
- Confidence Boost: Playing sports pumps up self-esteem, making a positive dent in mental wellness.
- Life Lessons: Being part of sports circles grooms kids in crucial lessons like teamwork, leading by example, and sticking to goals.
A survey by CARICOM unpacks the ripple effects of these programs in Barbados and nearby spots like Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Grenada. The table below lays out the social and economic gains from sports programs:
| Impact Area | What’s It All About? |
|---|---|
| Job Skills | Equips youngsters with skills and training that’ll count when job-hunting. |
| Confidence Boost | Uplifts mental health by boosting self-worth and belief in oneself. |
| Life Lessons | Nurtures essential qualities like leading, working in teams, and being disciplined through sports. |
Initiatives in Barbados
Barbados has rolled out all kinds of sports initiatives that have been turning the nation around. Some notable ones include:
- Youth Empowerment Initiatives: Focused on handing young souls job and life skills, getting them battle-ready for future hurdles.
- Healthy Lifestyle Push: Efforts to make healthy living the norm, stressing sports as a way to stay fit and eat right.
- Sports Competitions: Big events like netball and cricket showdowns get the youth involved, building teamwork and friendly rivalry.
These actions have been great for boosting confidence and stirring leadership talents in the young local scene. Besides, getting involved in these programs helps brew a sense of community and national pride.
| Initiative | What’s the Deal Here? |
|---|---|
| Youth Empowerment | Aims at brushing up young people’s job and life skills. |
| Healthy Lifestyle Push | Champions healthy living via sports, with a focus on staying active and eating well. |
| Sports Competitions | Throws in events like netball and cricket to encourage teamwork and friendly rivalry. |
The rocking impact of these sports schemes goes past Barbados, making waves in the Caribbean neighborhood. Neighbors like Trinidad and Tobago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and Grenada have hopped on similar changes, further tightening the regional friendship through sports diplomacy.
Get more on how sports are shaping youth growth in the Caribbean by checking these connected articles:
- afghanistan neighbouring countries
- albania neighbouring countries
- algeria neighbouring countries
- antigua and barbuda neighbouring countries
Initiatives in the Caribbean Region
The Caribbean is making waves with its game-changing ways to boost social and economic progress through sports. These islands are putting the spotlight on youth power and life skills, tackling big issues like poverty and gender equality head-on.
Youth Empowerment
In places like Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, and Grenada, they’re using sports as a springboard for kids to grow (CARICOM). Here’s the game plan:
- Teaching young folks skills for jobs
- Boosting their confidence and self-worth
- Creating leaders for tomorrow
In Trinidad and Tobago, they’re scoring goals by keeping at-risk youth engaged with sports to spark social change. St. Kitts and Nevis and Grenada are stepping up by lifting the youth out of tough spots, giving them the skills to conquer economic challenges.
| Country | What They’re Up To |
|---|---|
| Barbados | Working on job skills and boosting self-esteem |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Programs for at-risk youth, hitting olympism goals |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | Raising leaders, pumping up the economy |
| Grenada | Uplifting the community, skill-building bridges |
Life Skills Development
Sports isn’t just about winning—it’s a playground for learning life’s playbook. St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and St. Lucia are on it like:
- Crafting leaders on and off the field
- Preaching the perks of a healthy lifestyle
- Building teamwork that lasts
Netball games in St. Vincent and the Grenadines aren’t just for the win; they’re teaming up young minds. Trinidad and Tobago is all about that life skills life through sports, and St. Lucia is teaching the good life through healthy living.
| Country | Life Lessons From the Field |
|---|---|
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | Charging up leadership, teamwork and confidence champs |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Shaping lives through sports magic |
| St. Lucia | Schooling them on healthy living |
These island initiatives kick it up a notch, proving sports can be a total game-changer in shaping futures. They’re equipping the youth with the tools to be tomorrow’s game-changers in their communities. For a closer peek at what their neighbors are doing, check out our other reads on Antigua and Barbuda neighboring countries or Bahamas neighboring countries.
Economic Evolution of Barbados
Taking a deep look into Barbados’s economic journey, two main ingredients keep stirring the mix: the bustling tourism activity and the gnawing issue of debt.
Tourism as a Key Sector
Tourism is like the lifeblood of Barbados’s economy. It keeps around 13,000 folks gainfully employed, which is about a tenth of the working people on the island (Wikipedia). Back in 1999, tourism pulled in over 700 million bucks. Barbados draws visitors like bees to honey with beautiful, sandy beaches, fancy hotels, and comfy self-catering spots. There’s something for everyone, whether you’ve got deep pockets or you’re pinching pennies.
| Year | Tourism Receipts (US$ Million) | Employment in Tourism |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 700 | 13,000 |
| 2018 | 1,000* | 14,500* |
| 2023 | 1,200* | 15,000* |
*These were guesstimated by looking at some solid trends
With tourism being such a big deal, it keeps Barbados’s wheels turning, helping with stability and growth. To see how nearby places stir the tourism pot, check out our writings on Antigua and Barbuda neighboring countries and Bahamas neighboring countries.
Debt and Economic Challenges
Even with a strong tourism footing, Barbados can’t dodge the annoying hurdle of towering debt. In May 2018, Prime Minister Mia Mottley spilled the beans: the country was buried under a whoppin’ 15 billion Barbados dollars debt (around 7.5 billion US dollars) (Wikipedia). This debt mountain pushed the debt-to-GDP ratio sky high from 137% to 175%, pinning Barbados as the fourth most in debt globally, right behind Japan, Greece, and Sudan.
| Year | Debt (BBD) | Debt-to-GDP Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 15 Billion | 175% |
| 2020 | 14.5 Billion* | 170%* |
| 2023 | 14 Billion* | 165%* |
*We got these numbers by looking at some estimates
These sky-high debt levels throw a wrench into the works, making it tricky to fund other must-have sectors. Barbados is on a mission, rolling out plans and methods to slice down the debt and boost the economy. Viewing the financial puzzles of neighboring lands can give some clever insights, much like what’s in our pieces on Antigua and Barbuda neighboring countries and Bahamas neighboring countries.
The economic scene in Barbados is a lively mix, swayed by shifts both close to home and in the big, wide world.
