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Location: 13 10 N, 59 32 W Size: 14 miles long, 21 miles wide Total land area: 166 sq miles (431 sq km) Climate: Tropical; rainy season June - November Capital: Bridgetown Time difference: UTC-4 
Population: 280,946 (July 2007 est.) Nationality: Barbadian (n) or Bajan (n) colloquial Language: English; Bajan dialect Ethnicity: Black 90%, White 4%, Asian and mixed 6% Literacy Rate: 97% Religion: Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, other 12%, none 17% Government: Parliamentary democracy based on the British system of “first past the post”. The current Prime Minister is the Honourable David Thompson, leader of the Democratic Labour Party, which took over the reins of government at the last General Election held on January 15, 2008
There are two other political parties: the Barbados Labour Party, which is the official Opposition and led by Mia Mottley – the first female to lead a national political party in Barbados – and the People’s Empowerment Party led by David Comissiong. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is the chief of state and is represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn Husbands, who has held office since June 1, 1996. |
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