RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/S/O/BRB 
2 March 2005 
 (05-0890) 
Council for Trade in Services 
Special Session Original:   English 
 
 
  
BARBADOS 
 
Initial Conditional Offer
 
 
 The following initial conditional offer has been received from the delegation of Barbados on 
28 February 2005 with the request that it be circulated to Members of the Council for Trade in Services.  
_______________ 
 
  1. The Government of Barbados he rewith submits its initial offer under the negotiations on trade 
in services under Article XIX of the General Ag reement on Trade in Services and pursuant to 
paragraph 15 of the Doha Ministerial Declarati on of 14 November 2001 and Annex C of the General 
Council Decision of 1 August 2004. 
  2. The Government of Barbados reserves the right to make any technical changes or corrections 
to this offer throughout the course of the negotiati ons.  The Government of Barbados further reserves 
the right to reduce, modify or withdraw th is offer during the course of the negotiations. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
  
 TN/S/O/BRB 
Page 2 BARBADOS – DRAFT INITIAL OFFER 
 
Modes of supply:  1) Cross-border supply 2) Consumption abroad 3) Commercial presence 4) Presence of natural persons  
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on  National Treatm ent Additional Commitments 
I. HORIZONTAL COMMITMENTS 
 ALL SECTORS 
INCLUDED IN THIS 
SCHEDULE  
  
  
 
 ALL MODES  
Transfers and payments of currency are governed by the Exchange Control Act. 
 3)
 The Property Transfer Tax Act stipulates that a 
foreign investor interested in th e purchase or 
sale of land or shares/stocks is subject to a 
specific tax on the value of settlement   
 
 4) The Immigration Act and regulations control 
the entry and residence of all foreign natural 
persons working in Barbados.  Prior to a 
natural person working in Barbados a work permit must be obtained.  Labour market tests 
are conducted. 
  
 
II. SECTOR-SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS 
 
1. BUSINESS SERVICES 
    
A. Professional Services  
    
(a) Legal services  
 (CPC 86130 - legal 
documentation and 
certification services) 1) Unbound 
2) Unbound 
3) Only a natural person can practice law 
4) An attorney has to be admitted to the local Bar 
and registered as required under the Legal 
Profession Act 
 1) Unbound 
2) Unbound 
3) Not applicable 
4) None  
(c) Taxation Services 
(CPC 863) 
 
 
 
(h) Medical services   (CPC 93122 - specialized 
medical services) 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound 
 
1) Unbound 2) Unbound 
3) Only a natural person can practice medicine 
4) Under the Medical Registration Act, all 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound 
 
1) Unbound 2) Unbound 
3) Not applicable 
4) None   
  TN/S/O/BRB
 Page 3Modes of supply:  1) Cross-border supply 2) Consumption abroad 3) Commercial presence 4) Presence of natural persons  
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on  National Treatm ent Additional Commitments 
 medical practitioners must be registered 
 
B. Computer and Related 
 Services  
 
(a) Consultancy services 
 related to the installation 
 of computer hardware  (CPC 841) 
  
 
 
1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound 
  
 
 
1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound  
(b) Software implementation 
services  
 (CPC 842) 
 
 
(c) Data processing services  
 (CPC 843) 
 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) None 
 
1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound 
 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) None 
 
1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound 
  
(d) Data base services  
 (CPC 844) 
 
 
 
(e) Other computer services  
 (CPC 849) 
 
 
C. Research and 
Development Services  
 
(a) Research and 
 Development services on 
 natural sciences 
(CPC 851) 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound 
 
1) None 2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound 
 
 
 
1) None 
2) None 
3) Unbound 4) Unbound 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound 
 
1) None 2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound  
 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) Unbound 4) Unbound 
   
 TN/S/O/BRB 
Page 4 Modes of supply:  1) Cross-border supply 2) Consumption abroad 3) Commercial presence 4) Presence of natural persons  
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on  National Treatm ent Additional Commitments 
F. Other Business  
 Services  
 
(i) Services incidental to 
 manufacturing   
- Recycling on a fee or a 
contract basis (CPC 88493) 
  
  
 
  
1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound 
  
  
 
  
1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound 
  
(m) Related scientific and 
 technical consulting 
 services 
 - Map making services 
(CPC 86754) 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound  1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound   
(q) Packaging services 
(CPC 876) 
 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound  
(t) Other 
 
- Credit reporting services  (CPC 87901) 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound 
  
 - Speciality Design 
Services 
 (CPC 87907) 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound  1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound  
2. COMMUNICATION 
SERVICES 
    
B. Courier Services  
 (CPC 7512)  1) None 
2) None 3) None 1) None 
2) None 3) None  
  
  TN/S/O/BRB
 Page 5Modes of supply:  1) Cross-border supply 2) Consumption abroad 3) Commercial presence 4) Presence of natural persons  
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on  National Treatm ent Additional Commitments 
 
 4) None 
 4) None 
 
C. Telecommunication 
 Services  
    
 For public use : 
 
(a) Voice telephone services  
 (7521) (b) Packet-switched data 
transmission services  
 (7523**) (c) Circuit-switched data 
transmission services  
 (7523**) (d) Telex services  
 (7523**) 1) Until 1 January 2012, reserved to exclusive 
suppliers. 
2) None 
3) Until 1 January 2012, reserved to exclusive 
suppliers. 
4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal 
section. 
 1) None 
 
2) None 
3) None  
4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal 
section. Barbados undertakes the  
obligations contained in  
the reference paper hereto 
(e) Telegraph services  
 (7522) 
(f) Facsimile services  
 (7521**, 7529**) 
(g) Private leased circuit 
services (7522**,  
 7523**) 
     
 TN/S/O/BRB 
Page 6 Modes of supply:  1) Cross-border supply 2) Consumption abroad 3) Commercial presence 4) Presence of natural persons  
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on  National Treatm ent Additional Commitments 
 For non-public use   
(i.e. closed user groups, on a non-facilities basis): 
 
(a) Voice telephone services  (7521) 
(b) Packet-switched data 
transmission (7523**) 
(c) Circuit-switched data 
transmission services  
 (7523**) (d) Telex services  
 (7523**) 
(e) Telegraph services   (7522) 
(f) Facsimile services  
 (7521**, 7529**)   
  
 
1) Until 1 January 2012, only permitted over 
networks of the exclusive suppliers;  two-
ended break-out not permitted. 
2) None 3) Until 1 January 2012, only permitted over 
networks of the exclusive suppliers;  two-
ended break-out not permitted. 
4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal 
section. 
  
  
 
1) None  
 
2) None 3) None 
 
 4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal 
section. 
  
 
 Value-added services : 
 
(h) Electronic mail 
 (7523**) 
(i) Voice mail (7523**) (j) On-line information and 
data base retrieval  
 (7523**) (k) Electronic data interchange 
(7523**)  
 
1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal 
section.  
 
1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal 
section. 
   
  TN/S/O/BRB
 Page 7Modes of supply:  1) Cross-border supply 2) Consumption abroad 3) Commercial presence 4) Presence of natural persons  
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on  National Treatm ent Additional Commitments 
(l) Enhanced-value-added 
facsimile services, incl. store and forward, store and 
retrive (7523**) 
(m) Code and protocol 
conversion 
(n) On-line information and/or 
data processing (incl. transaction processing 
(843**) 
  
  
  
   
 
Other     
- Internet and internet access 
services 
 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal 
section. 
 1) None 
2) None 3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal 
section. 
  
 
- Mobile services (terrestrial 
and satellite based) 
 - cellular/mobile telephone 
 services  - mobile data services 
 - personal communication 
 services  - paging 
 1) None as of 1 January 1999 
2) None 
3) None as of 1 January 1999 
4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal 
section. 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal 
section. 
  
  
 TN/S/O/BRB 
Page 8 Modes of supply:  1) Cross-border supply 2) Consumption abroad 3) Commercial presence 4) Presence of natural persons  
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on  National Treatm ent Additional Commitments 
- Fixed Satellite Services 
  - VSAT services     
 (for non-public use) 1) None, except:  two-ended break-out is not 
permitted. 
2) None, except:  two-ended break-out is not 
 permitted. 
3) None, except:  two-ended break-out is not  permitted. 
4) Unbound expect as indi cated in the horizontal 
section. 
 1) None 
 2) None 
 
3) None  
4) Unbound expect as indi cated in the horizontal 
 section.  
- Telecom equipment sales, 
rental, maintenance, 
connection, repair and consulting services 
 (7541, 7545) 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal 
section. 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound except as indicated in the horizontal 
section 
  
6. ENVIRONMENTAL 
SERVICES 
    
D. Other  
    
 - Cleaning services of 
 exhaust gases  
 (CPC 94040)  
 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound 
  
 - Noise abatement services  
 (CPC 94050) 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) Unbound 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound   
  TN/S/O/BRB
 Page 9Modes of supply:  1) Cross-border supply 2) Consumption abroad 3) Commercial presence 4) Presence of natural persons  
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on  National Treatm ent Additional Commitments 
7. FINANCIAL SERVICES 
    
A. All Insurance and 
Insurance-Related Services  
    
(c) Reinsurance 
 (CPC 812)1 
 
  1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) None  1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) None   
10. RECREATIONAL, 
CULTURAL AND SPORTING SERVICES 
   
 
A. Entertainment Services 
(CPC 96191 – theatrical, 
producer, singer group, 
band and orchestra, entertainment services) 
 1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) None  1) None 
2) None 
3) None 
4) None   
                                                      
 1 The service specified constitutes only a part of the total range of activities covered by the CPC Classification.    
 TN/S/O/BRB 
Page 10 Modes of supply:  1) Cross-border supply 2) Consumption abroad 3) Commercial presence 4) Presence of natural persons  
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations on Market Access Limi tations on  National Treatm ent Additional Commitments 
11. TRANSPORT 
SERVICES 
 
F. Road Transport Services  
 
(e) Supporting services for 
 road transport services 
 
- Parking services 
(CPC 74430) 
  
  
 
  
 
 
1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound 
  
  
 
  
 
 
1) None 
2) None 
3) None 4) Unbound 
  
 
Classifications are based on the Services Sectoral Classifica tion List. MTN.GNS/W/120 and the UN Provisional Central Product Cl assification.  
 TN/S/O/BRB 
Page 11 
 
 
 REFERENCE PAPER  
 Scope
 
 The following are defin itions and principles on the regulatory framework for the basic 
telecommunications services.   
 Definitions
 
 Users
 mean service consumers and service suppliers.   
 
Essential facilities  mean facilities of a public telecommunica tions transport network or service that 
  (a) are exclusively or predominantly provided by a single or limited number of suppliers;  
and 
 
 (b) cannot feasibly be economically or technica lly substituted in order to provide a service. 
 A major supplier
 is a supplier which has the ability to materia lly affect the terms of participation (having 
regard to price and supply) in the relevant market for basic telecommunications services as a result of: 
 
 (a) control over essential facilities;  or 
  (b) use of its position in the market.   
1. Competitive safeguards
 
 1.1 Prevention of anti-competitive practices in telecommunications
 
  Appropriate measures shall be maintained for the purpose of pr eventing suppliers who, alone or 
together, are a major supplier  from engaging in or continui ng anti-competitive practices. 
 
1.2 Safeguards
 
  The anti-competitive practices referred to above shall include in particular:  
 (a) engaging in anti-competitive cross-subsidization;   
  (b) using information obtained from competitors with anti-competitive results;  and   (c) not making available to other servic es suppliers on a time ly basis technical  information 
about essential faciliti es and commercially relevant info rmation which are necessary for 
them to provide services.  TN/S/O/BRB 
Page 12  
 
 2. Interconnection
 
 2.1 This section applies to linking with supplie rs providing public teleco mmunications transport 
networks or services in order to allow the users of one supplier to communicate with users of another 
supplier and  to access services  provided by another supplier, where specific commitments are 
undertaken. 
  2.2 Interconnection to be ensured
 
 
 Interconnection with a major suppl ier will be ensured at any technically feasible point in the 
network.  Such interc onnection is provided. 
  (a) under non-discriminatory terms, cond itions (including tec hnical standards and 
specifications) and rates and of a quality no less favourable than that provided for its 
own like services or for like services of non-affiliated service suppliers or for its 
subsidiaries or other affiliates; 
  (b) in a timely fashion, on terms, co nditions (including technical standards and 
specifications) and cost-oriented rates that are transparent, reasonable, having regard to economic feasibility, and suffi ciently unbundled so that the supplier need not pay for 
network components or fa cilities that it does not require for the service to be provided;  
and 
  (c) upon request, at points in addition to th e network termination points offered to the 
majority of users, subject to charges that reflect the cost of construction of necessary 
additional facilities. 
  2.3 Public availability of the procedures for interconnection negotiations
 
  The procedures applicable for interconnec tion to a major supplier will be made publicly 
available. 
  2.4 Transparency of interconnection arrangements
 
 
 It is ensured that a major supplier will make publicly availa ble either its interconnection 
agreements or a reference interconnection offer.   2.5 Interconnection:  dispute settlement
 
 
 A service supplier requesting in terconnection with a major supplie r will have recourse, either: 
  (a) at any time or   (b) after a reasonable period of time  which has been made publicly known 
 
to an independent domestic body, which may be a regu latory body as referred to  in paragraph 5 below, 
to resolve disputes regarding a ppropriate terms, cond itions and rates for in terconnection within a 
reasonable period of time, to the extent that  these have not been established previously. 
  TN/S/O/BRB 
 Page 13 
 
 
  
 3. Universal service
 
  Any Member has the right to define the kind  of universal service obligation it wishes to 
maintain.  Such obligations will not be regarded as anti-competitive per se , provided they are 
administered in a tr ansparent, non-discriminatory and compet itively neutral manner and are not more 
burdensome than necessary for the kind of universal service defined by the Member.        
4. Public availability of licensing criteria
 
  Where a licence is required, the following will be made publicly available:   (a) all the licensing criteria and the period of time normally requi red to reach a decision 
concerning an application for a licence  and 
  (b) the terms and conditions of  individual licences.   The reasons for the denial of a licence w ill be made known to the applicant upon request. 
 
 
5. Independent regulators
 
  The regulatory body is separate from, and not accountable to, any supplier of basic 
telecommunications services. The decisions of and the procedures used by regul ators shall be impartial 
with respect to all market participants. 
  6. Allocation and use of scarce resources
 
  Any procedures for the allocation and use of scarce resources, including frequencies, numbers 
and rights of way, will be carr ied out in an objective, timely, transparent and non-discriminatory 
manner. The current st ate of allocated frequency bands will be made publicly availa ble, but detailed 
identification of frequencies allocated for specific government us es is not required. 
  
__________