# Barbados - United States Department of State

- Assistant Secretary Robinson Travels to Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago Office of the Spokesperson													HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases&#8230;Assistant Secretary Robinson Travels to Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago				hide		if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}																										Assistant Secretary Robinson Travels to Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago																																		Media Note																														May 6, 2024																																							Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Todd D. Robinson will travel to Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago on May 6-10.In Saint Lucia, Assistant Secretary Robinson will underscore U.S. efforts to help our Caribbean partners counter firearms trafficking and announce additional INL assistance to further equip and train frontline customs officers to interdict small arms and light weapons at major Caribbean ports of entry. &nbsp;He will also meet with local officials to discuss opportunities to strengthen Eastern Caribbean regional security cooperation through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, including at the U.S.-supported Saint Lucia regional Forensic Center of Excellence.In Barbados, he will visit the Regional Security System and discuss U.S. investments into the Regional Police Training Center, which will serve as the future regional training hub for Caribbean law enforcement partners.In Trinidad and Tobago, the Assistant Secretary will highlight progress made on major deliverables announced by the Vice President last summer, including on the Caribbean Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU), a landmark unit helping to counter the influx of firearms to the Caribbean region.&nbsp; The event will emphasize the importance of collaboration with regional partners such as the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), law enforcement from across the entire Caribbean, and U.S. interagency partners.&nbsp; The Assistant Secretary also will discuss support of future law enforcement capacity building and criminal justice system modernization with the Minister of National Security and other government officials.For more information, please contact INL-PAPD@state.gov and follow INL on X/Twitter at @StateINL.						Tags																					Barbados																								Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																																														Combating Drugs and Crime																																							Counternarcotics																															Office of the Spokesperson																																Official International Travel																															Saint Lucia																								Trinidad and Tobago
- Barbados HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Barbados				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Barbados																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																								Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																																																		f. Transnational Repression																																																																											g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																																											h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																			Internet Freedom																																																																																																																		b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																											c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																									Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption in Government																															Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																															Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Barbados during the year.There were no credible reports of significant human rights abuses.The government took credible steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The constitution prohibited such practices, and there were no reports that government officials employed them.																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						There were no significant reports regarding adult prison or detention center conditions that raised human rights concerns.Abusive Physical Conditions:  In April media reported the coroner found prison authorities were grossly negligent regarding the care of a sick inmate who died in prison in April 2022.Administration:  The government permitted monitoring by independent nongovernmental observers.Independent Monitoring:  Human rights organizations could request access to monitor prison conditions; the superintendent of prisons reported that no requests were received during the year.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The constitution prohibited arbitrary arrest and detention and provided for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of their arrest or detention in court.  The government generally observed these requirements.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						The law authorized police to arrest persons suspected of criminal activity; a warrant issued by a judge or justice of the peace was typically required.  Authorities could hold detainees without charge for up to five days, but once persons were charged, police were required to bring them before a court within 24 hours, or the next working day if the arrest occurred during the weekend.  There was a functioning bail system.  Criminal detainees received prompt access to counsel and were advised of that right immediately after arrest.  The law prohibited bail for those charged with murder, treason, or any gun-related offense that was punishable by imprisonment of 10 years or more.Official procedures required police to question suspects and other persons only at a police station, except when expressly permitted by a senior divisional officer to do so elsewhere.  An officer had to visit detainees at least once every three hours to check on their condition.  After a suspect had spent 48 hours in detention, authorities were required to submit a written report to notify the deputy police commissioner and the police commissioner that the suspect was still in custody.Pretrial Detention:  Lengthy pretrial detention was a problem.  Press reported examples of decade-long waits before cases were brought to trial.  According to observers, the backlog of cases leading to lengthy pretrial detention was due to the need for increases in technical staff, courtrooms, and prosecutors.  In one instance, a High Court Justice refused to hear a case after a 16-year delay, declaring, “It would be an abuse of process to proceed with a trial at this time.”																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The constitution provided for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence and impartiality.																Trial Procedures						The law provided for the right to a fair and public trial, and the judiciary generally enforced this right.Lawyers, judges, and activists expressed concern regarding the overreliance of police on confessions to win convictions in cases.						Political Prisoners and Detainees						There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.																										f. Transnational Repression										Not applicable.																																				g. Property Seizure and Restitution										Not applicable.																																				h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The constitution prohibited such actions, and there were no reports that the government failed to respect these prohibitions.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media										The constitution provided for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, and the government generally respected this right.  An independent media, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for media members.Libel/Slander Laws:  Defamation was a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment.																Internet Freedom						The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content.																										b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The constitution provided for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The law provided for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights.  Married women were required to provide a copy of their marriage certificate when applying for a passport; married men were not required to provide this.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees, returning refugees, or asylum seekers, as well as other persons of concern.Access to Asylum:  The law did not provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government had not established a system for providing protection to refugees.  The Immigration Department was responsible for considering refugee and asylum claims.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																						The constitution provided citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.																										Elections and Political Participation										Abuses or Irregularities in Recent Elections:  National elections were widely reported to be fair and free of abuses and irregularities.Political Parties and Political Participation:  In March media reported that a High Court judge struck down a regulation that prohibited public servants from actively participating in politics, ruling it unconstitutional.In April media reported that a teacher, previously charged and suspended with half pay for contesting the 2022 general elections as a candidate for the opposition party, was cleared of disciplinary charges.  The teacher was able to resume her duties in a government school.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption in Government												    																						The law provided criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implemented the law effectively.																											Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																						A variety of human rights groups generally operated without government restriction to monitor or investigate human rights conditions and publish their findings.  Government officials were generally cooperative and responsive to the views of these groups.Government Human Rights Bodies:  The Ombudsman’s Office heard complaints against government ministries, departments, and other authorities for alleged injuries or injustices resulting from administrative conduct.  The ombudsman was generally considered independent and effective, although a review was underway on how to best evaluate ombudsman operations.																											Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence:  The law prohibited rape and applied to both men and women, including spousal and domestic or intimate partner rape and other forms of domestic and sexual violence, as well as so-called corrective rape of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI+) persons.  The maximum penalty was life imprisonment, but judges had the discretion to impose shorter sentences.  The government enforced the law effectively.The law prohibited domestic violence and protected all members of the family, including men and children.  The law applied equally to marriages and common-law relationships.  The law empowered police to make an arrest after receiving a complaint, visiting the premises, and perceiving indications that a crime was committed.  The government did not consistently enforce the law.Penalties for domestic violence depended on the severity of the charges and ranged from a fine for first-time offenders (unless the injury was serious) to the death penalty for cases in which the victim was killed.  Survivors could request restraining orders, which the courts often issued.  The courts could sentence an offender to jail for breaching such an order.  The government provided financial support to NGOs that assisted victims of sexual violence.In August the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision to deny a women’s request for a protection order against her former partner with whom she shared a child.  The landmark ruling strengthened protection for abused spouses and partners.  The Magistrate&#8217;s Courts and Court of Appeal in their interpretation stated the woman did not belong to category of spouse, cohabitational relationship, domestic relationship, or visiting relationship as defined by the domestic violence (protection orders) act.  The CCJ stated Parliament could not have intended such a restrictive interpretation of the amended domestic violence protective order act, since protecting only the child and not the mother would leave them both “exposed.”  The CCJ also ruled that imposing a time limit on an applicant’s capacity to make an application for a protection order after a breakdown in a cohabitational relationship, as decided by the Court of Appeal, would run counter to the “clear purpose” and policy objectives of the amended act.Other Forms of Gender-based Violence or Harassment:  The law prohibited sexual harassment in the workplace and established civil penalties.  Media reports indicated that sexual harassment was a problem, but there were no reports of high-profile cases during the year.Discrimination:  The law prohibited employment discrimination based on domestic partnership status, marital status, pregnancy, or gender.  The law provided the same legal status and rights for women and men.  The government enforced the law effectively.Women actively participated in all aspects of national life and were well represented at all levels of the public and private sectors, although some discrimination persisted, since the law did not mandate equal pay for equal work.  There were laws limiting types of work that women could do in factories.Reproductive Rights:  There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities.There were no legal barriers to accessing contraception.  The government provided access to sexual and reproductive health services for all persons who required it, including survivors of sexual violence.  The Barbados Family Planning Association offered emergency contraception and postexposure prophylaxis to survivors of sexual violence, a service that was advertised publicly.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										The country’s charter and laws protected racial, ethnic, and minority groups from broad forms of discrimination.  There were no reports of any systemic discrimination.																																				Children										Child Abuse:  The law prohibited child abuse but did not prohibit corporal punishment of children.  No law required a person to report suspected child abuse, but the government encouraged the public to report cases where they believed abuse might have occurred.  The government enforced the law effectively.Child abuse remained a problem.  In March the High Court struck down a section of the law pertaining to the offense of wandering, a law that previously criminalized children running away from home.  An NGO praised the move as children were no longer detained and given a criminal record for trying to escape a difficult home environment.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage:  The legal minimum age for marriage was 18.  Persons ages 16 and 17 could marry with parental consent.  The government enforced the law effectively.Sexual Exploitation of Children:  The law prohibited the sale, grooming, or use of children for commercial sexual exploitation, including sex trafficking.  Child pornography was illegal.  Authorities effectively enforced the law.  The minimum age for consensual sex was 16.																																				Antisemitism										The Jewish community was estimated to be no larger than 60 persons.  There were no reports of antisemitic incidents.																																				Trafficking in Persons										See the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization:  The law criminalized consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults, with penalties for conviction up to life imprisonment for men, and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for men and women convicted of “acts of serious indecency.”  There were no reports of the law being enforced.  Additionally, there were no reports of seemingly neutral laws disproportionately applied to LGBTQI+ persons.On May 25, the Barbados High Court issued a written judgement, declaring Section 9 of the Sexual Offenses Act unconstitutional, null and void, and of no effect to the extent that it applied to consensual same-sex sexual activity between persons 16 years or older and in private.  As of November, Parliament had yet to change the law and repeal the legislation.Violence and Harassment:  In September media reported that more than 200 persons – a record number – applied for asylum in Canada and the United Kingdom in 2022.  The majority of these were LGBTQI+ persons, both men and women, who sought asylum due to fear of persecution and discrimination.  An NGO reported that LGBTQI+ persons reported receiving verbal and physical abuse and experienced problems engaging with police.  Another NGO provided anecdotal reports that police did not take cases of violence against LGBTQI+ persons seriously, but police stated they made every effort to investigate, prosecute, and punish those complicit in violence and abuses by state or nonstate actors against LGBTQI+ persons.Discrimination:  The law did not prohibit discrimination by state and nonstate actors based on gender identity, expression, or sex characteristics.  A labor law prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition:  There was no legislation to allow transgender persons or gender-nonconforming individuals to legally change their gender.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices:  Civil society groups and NGOs reported no cases of involuntary or coercive medical or psychological practices specifically targeting LGBTQI+ individuals.  There were no reports that medically unnecessary and irreversible “normalization” surgeries were performed on children or on nonconsenting adult intersex persons.Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly:  There were no legal restrictions on freedom of expression, association, or peaceful assembly regarding LGBTQI+ issues.																																				Persons with Disabilities										An NGO reported that while progress had been made to improve access to education, health care, and transportation, problems persisted for persons with disabilities.  Some children were not able to easily access mainstream schools, and there was limited understanding in society regarding the needs of persons with disabilities.The NGO reported the government had a public education campaign but there remained an entrenched cultural tendency to shun persons with disabilities.  The NGO received anecdotal reports of persons with disabilities having difficulties engaging police and obtaining financial services, insurance, and welfare benefits.  In some instances, persons with disabilities had to continue to prove to the welfare department every six months that they were still disabled to maintain benefits.  The NGO reported that domestic abuse shelters were unable to accommodate women in wheelchairs who experienced abuse.  They also noted that persons with intellectual disabilities and the hearing impaired were particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation, while disabled men were particularly vulnerable to financial and physical abuse.  An NGO reported that accessibility to polling stations was a problem.  The NGO stated persons with certain disabilities were unable to vote independently and had to be accompanied by a companion.  The NGO also reported early voting was not available for persons with disabilities.The law prohibited discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, but it did not extend protection to education or other state services.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The law provided for the right of workers to form and join unions and conduct legal strikes but did not specifically recognize the right to bargain collectively.  Moreover, the law did not obligate employers to recognize unions or to accept collective bargaining.  Although employers were under no legal obligation to recognize unions, most major employers did so when more than 50 percent of the employees made a request.  Companies were sometimes hesitant to engage in collective bargaining with a recognized union, but in most instances they eventually did so.The law prohibited antiunion discrimination and protected workers engaged in union activity.  A tribunal could order reinstatement, rehiring, or compensation for antiunion discrimination.  The law permitted all private-sector employees to strike but prohibited strikes by workers in essential services such as police, firefighting, electricity, and water.  Penalties were not commensurate with those for other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination.  Generally, the government effectively enforced the law in the formal sector.  Penalties were sometimes applied against violators.The law gave persons the right to have allegations of unfair dismissal tried before the Employment Rights Tribunal.  The process often had lengthy delays.A tripartite group representing labor, government, and the private sector (The Social Partnership) met regularly.  The group dealt with social and economic problems, formulated legislative policy, and worked towards harmonious workplace relations.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										See the Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										See the Department of Labor’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings/&nbsp;.																																				d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																														e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws:  The law provided for a minimum wage for all sectors.  It was above the World Bank poverty income level.  The standard legal workweek was 40 hours in five days.  The law provided employees with three weeks of paid vacation annually for persons with less than five years of service and four weeks of paid vacation annually after five years of service.  The law required overtime payment of time and a half for hours worked more than the legal standard and prescribed that all overtime hours be voluntary.  The law did not set a maximum number of overtime hours.Occupational Safety and Health:  The government set occupational safety and health (OSH) standards that were appropriate for its industries.  The law secured the provisions of safety, health, and welfare for persons in the workplace as well as those external to the workplace who could be impacted by the activities that occurred there.  The law was amended in July 2022 to include additional regulations covering, noise, workstations, personal protective equipment, general duties, drinking water, sanitary conveniences, washing facilities, and fuel station medical supervision.  The amendment also included the employer in the list of persons who could be penalized for contravening the act.The law provided for the right of workers to refuse dangerous work without jeopardy to their employment, and authorities generally protected employees in this situation.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement:  Labor inspectors were responsible for enforcing wage, overtime, and OSH regulations.  Labor inspectors were required during an inspection to notify employers of their presence, except where the inspectors considered that such a notification would impinge on the performance of their duties.  The law gave inspectors the power to initiate proceedings against employers for any violation or offense.  The number of labor inspectors was sufficient to enforce compliance.  Trade unions monitored safety problems to verify the enforcement of OSH regulations, as well as the correction of related problems by management.Penalties for OSH violations were higher than penalties for analogous violations, such as negligence.  They could include small fines, imprisonment for up to three months, or both.  Penalties were sometimes applied against violators.An Inter-American Development Bank study estimated up to 40 percent of the workforce engaged in informal work.  The government did not enforce labor laws in this sector.																																				    							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Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																							a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																						b. Disappearance																																																						c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																				Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																				d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																				Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																				e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																				Trial Procedures																																												Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																				f. Transnational Repression																																																						g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																						h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																			Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																							a. Freedom of Expression, Including for Members of the Press and Other Media																																																				Internet Freedom																																																																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																						c. Freedom of Religion																																																						d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																						e. Protection of Refugees																																																			Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																							Elections and Political Participation																																																			Section 4. Corruption in Government																Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																							Women																																																						Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																						Children																																																						Antisemitism																																																						Trafficking in Persons																																																						Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																						Persons with Disabilities																																																			Section 7. Worker Rights																																							a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																						b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																						c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																						d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																						e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																									Tags																					Barbados																								Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
- Venezuelan Supreme Court Rulings and the Barbados Agreement Matthew Miller, Department SpokespersonThe Venezuelan Supreme Court’s January 26 decision to disqualify democratic opposition primary winner Maria Corina Machado is inconsistent with the commitment by Nicolás Maduro&#8217;s representatives to hold a competitive Venezuelan presidential election in 2024.  The reinstatement process lacked basic elements, as Machado neither received a copy of the allegations against her nor was afforded the opportunity to respond to those allegations.This deeply concerning decision runs contrary to the commitments made by Maduro and his representatives under the Barbados electoral roadmap agreement to allow all parties to select their candidates for the presidential election.  The United States is currently reviewing our Venezuela sanctions policy, based on this development and the recent political targeting of democratic opposition candidates and civil society.
- Progress in Repatriations: How Foreign Assistance Is Addressing the Humanitarian and Security Crises in Northeast Syria: Part 1 of 2 Bureau of CounterterrorismChristine AsettaAs a result of intense United States diplomatic engagements, between 2022 and 2023, almost 30 countries repatriated nearly 7,000 family members associated with foreign terrorist fighters from northeast Syria, reducing the population in al-Hol displaced persons camp to fewer than 48,000 people.If we work together, we can not only mitigate the risk each country faces individually in bringing its nationals home but also reduce the risk of an ISIS resurgence that threatens us all.Between 2011 and 2019, tens of thousands of men, women, and children left their homes to fight for the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and its al-Qa’ida affiliate predecessor.  Following the global Coalition’s territorial defeat of ISIS in 2019, our local partners detained ISIS fighters, and relocated associated family members to displaced persons camps in northeast Syria.  Roughly 50 percent of al-Hol camp residents are under 12 years of age and unless action is taken, they will remain vulnerable to ISIS recruitment.  Children and families of ISIS fighters require basic life support services and advanced rehabilitation and reintegration support, which the de facto NES authorities cannot effectively provide.  The situation in northeast Syria presents grave humanitarian concerns and local, regional, and international security risks.  Conditions in the camps limit the provision of humanitarian aid and leave individuals susceptible to violence and radicalization to violence.  The Bureau of Counterterrorism leads efforts to encourage, facilitate, and support repatriations of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) and associated family members from northeast Syria.In 2022, we made significant progress repatriating more than 3,000 individuals to several countries, including Albania, Barbados, Canada, France, Iraq, Kosovo, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Netherlands, Norway, Sudan, Spain, and Slovakia.  Already in 2023, 14 countries have repatriated more than 3,500 of their nationals. With nearly 9,000 FTFs in custody, the Coalition’s D-ISIS partner, the Syrian Democratic Forces, manages the largest concentration of detained terrorists in the world.  The Bureau of Counterterrorism partners in Kazakhstan, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Iraq have demonstrated success in repatriating and prosecuting FTFs, but efforts to encourage other countries of origin to repatriate their nationals among this population have been less successful.  There are a variety of reasons for this, including a lack of political will and domestic support, along with concerns over threats returnees may pose.  The alternative to repatriation, however, is a possible resurgence of ISIS. Deputy Coordinator for the Bureau of Counterterrorism Ian Moss speaks at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.The United States is supporting partners to address this challenge in a way which reduces risks posed by returning FTFs.  “If we work together... we can not only mitigate the risk each country faces individually in bringing its nationals home but also reduce the risk of an ISIS resurgence that threatens us all,” said Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ian Moss, in his remarks to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Deputy Coordinator for the Bureau of Counterterrorism Ian Moss speaks at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. &nbsp;In part 2, I will outline foreign assistance programming aimed at supporting countries of origin in investigating, prosecuting, incarcerating, rehabilitating, and reintegrating their FTFs.For more information, read Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ian Moss&#8217;s Fireside Chat with Matthew Levitt.About the Author: Christine Asetta is a Program Manager in the Bureau of Counterterrorism, Office of Programs.
- Barbados National Day HomeThe Secretary of State Remarks &amp; Releases&#8230;Barbados National Day				hide		if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}																										Barbados National Day																																		Press Statement																														November 29, 2023																																							On behalf of the United States of America, I warmly congratulate the people of Barbados as you celebrate your independence on November 30.&nbsp;The United States and Barbados share a deep, historic partnership based on our strong people-to-people ties and our commitment to democratic values.&nbsp; In the year ahead, I know our close cooperation on regional security, addressing the climate crisis, and fostering regional economic integration will only strengthen this bond.Through initiatives such as the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030, the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, and the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity, the United States and Barbados will flourish.&nbsp;All the best to Barbados on this joyous Independence Day.						Tags																													Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity																															Barbados																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																																Caribbean Basin Security Initiative																																							Climate Change																																																					Economic Prosperity and Trade Policy																																							International Security																															The Secretary of State																																U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis
- Joint Statement on Venezuela Negotiations HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases&#8230;Joint Statement on Venezuela Negotiations				hide		if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}																										Joint Statement on Venezuela Negotiations																																		Media Note																														October 17, 2023																																							The following statement was released by Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs the Honourable Mélanie Joly, and the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly on the Venezuela Negotiations in Barbados on October 17, 2023.Begin text:We welcome the Venezuelan-led political agreement reached today in Barbados. This agreement represents a necessary step in the continuation of an inclusive dialogue process and the restoration of democracy in Venezuela.We support a peaceful negotiated outcome that leads to fair and competitive elections and a return to economic stability and security.We continue to call for the unconditional release of all those unjustly detained, the independence of the electoral process and judicial institutions, freedom of expression including for members of the press, and respect for human and political rights.We will work with our international partners and others to address the urgent needs of all Venezuelans inside and outside their country and to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.We are grateful to Barbados for hosting the negotiations and to Norway for its leadership in facilitating the negotiations.End text.						Tags																					Barbados																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																																Democracy																																							Elections																															Office of the Spokesperson																								Venezuela
- Venezuelans Return to Negotiations HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases&#8230;Venezuelans Return to Negotiations				hide		if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}																										Venezuelans Return to Negotiations																																		Press Statement																														October 16, 2023																																							The United States welcomes the announcement by Maduro representatives and the Unitary Platform to resume Venezuelan-led negotiations in Barbados.Along with likeminded partners and other friends of Venezuela, the United States will continue its efforts to unite the international community in support of the Venezuelan-led negotiation process.						Tags																					Barbados																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Office of the Spokesperson																								Venezuela
- Barbados HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2023 Investment Climate Statements&#8230;Barbados				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Investment Climate Statements: Barbados																																																																																												 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																																									Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																																											Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																																											Business Facilitation																																																																											Outward Investment																																																																																	2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																															3. Legal Regime																																																									Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																																											International Regulatory Considerations																																																																											Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																																											Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																																											Expropriation and Compensation																																																																											Dispute Settlement																																																																			ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																																								Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																																																																																																International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																																																		Bankruptcy Regulations																																																																																	4. Industrial Policies																																																									Investment Incentives																																																																											Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																																											Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																																																	5. Protection of Property Rights																																																									Real Property																																																																											Intellectual Property Rights																																																																																	6. Financial Sector																																																									Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																																											Money and Banking System																																																																											Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																																			Foreign Exchange																																																								Remittance Policies																																																																																																																		Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																																																	7. State-Owned Enterprises																																																									Privatization Program																																																																																	8. Responsible Business Conduct																																																									Additional Resources																																																																											Climate Issues																																																																																	9. Corruption																																																									Resources to Report Corruption																																																																																	10. Political and Security Environment																															11. Labor Policies and Practices																															12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																															13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																															14. Contact for More Information																																																					EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				According to Central Bank of Barbados preliminary figures for 2022, the Barbados economy stood at $5.7 billion, making it the largest economy in the Eastern Caribbean. The economy has seen some recovery over the last two years particularly in the tourism sector. Like most of the Eastern Caribbean, the country continues to grapple with supply-chain delays and surging consumer food and fuel prices exacerbated by Russia’s war on Ukraine. As of May 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast the Barbadian economy to grow by 4.9% by the end of 2023.After exiting the IMF Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) program at the end of 2022, the country renewed discussions to re-enter a new arrangement with the Fund in early 2023. The near 40-million-dollar program known as BERT 2022 will be supported by the Extended Fund Facility and will be implemented under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility Arrangement. The agreement is subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board, which is expected to consider past IMF reviews in June. This new arrangement is expected to introduce reforms for state-owned enterprises, improvements in tax, public procurement, and customs exemption frameworks, and public finance management. It is also expected to support climate resilience and green investment efforts.The country’s services sector continues to hold the largest growth potential, especially in the areas of niche tourism, international financial services, information technology, global education services, health, and cultural services. The gradual decline of the sugar industry has opened land for other agricultural uses, niche manufacturing and agro- processing. The government has also identified renewable energy, life sciences, green and blue economy, and climate resilience projects as other top priorities. In 2021, Barbados joined the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) framework seeking to harmonize global corporate minimum tax rates at 15 percent.Barbados bases its legal system on the British common law system. It does not have a bilateral investment agreement with the United States, but it does have a double-taxation treaty and a tax information exchange agreement.In 2015, Barbados signed an intergovernmental agreement in observance of the United States’ Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), making it mandatory for banks in Barbados to report the banking information of U.S. citizens.Table 1: Key Metrics and RankingsMeasureYearIndex/RankWebsite AddressTI Corruption Perceptions Index202229 of 180 http://www.transparency.org/research/cpi/overview Global Innovation Index2022N/A https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/analysis-indicator U.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, historical stock positions)2021$ 36.4 M https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet World Bank GNI per capita2021$16, 900 M http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD 																																					1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment						    																																																Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment										The Government of Barbados, through Invest Barbados, welcomes foreign direct investment (FDI) with the stated goals of creating jobs, earning foreign exchange, transferring technology, enhancing skills, and contributing to economic growth. In 2021, the government announced plans to focus on encouraging foreign direct investment in renewable energy, manufacturing, technology, and biogenetic engineering.According to Invest Barbados, Barbados encourages investment in the following key sectors: niche tourism, international financial services, information technology, global education services, health, and cultural services. Opportunities in emerging sectors such as niche manufacturing, agro- processing, renewable energy, life sciences, and the green and blue economy also exist.Through Invest Barbados, the government facilitates domestic and foreign private investment. Invest Barbados’ mandate is to actively promote Barbados as a desirable investment location, to provide advice, and to assist prospective investors. Invest Barbados also provides customized support for investors to assist with the expansion and sustainability of their initial investment. It also serves as the primary liaison with the government for existing investors. In 2021, the government announced plans to establish a Barbados Free Economic Zone to help attract foreign direct investment. More information is available on the Invest Barbados website:  https://www.investbarbados.org /.																																				Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment										Local laws do not place any limits on foreign control in Barbados. Nationals and non-nationals may establish and own private enterprises and private property in Barbados. These rights extend to the acquisition and disposition of interests in private enterprises.No industries are closed to private enterprise, although the government reserves the right not to allow certain investments. Some activities, such as telecommunications, utilities, broadcasting, franchises, banking, and insurance require a government license. There are no quotas or other restrictions on foreign ownership of a local enterprise or participation in a joint venture.In 2012, the government introduced a special entry permit for high net-worth individuals who wish to reside in Barbados while working remotely. Individuals must have one of the following to apply: a net worth of USD five million, property valued above USD two million, and skills of critical need to the development of the country. Applicants must generally be 60 years or older although special provisions can be made for applicants under 60 years of age. The program is administered by the Barbados Immigration Department.As a response to the negative impact on the tourism sector by the Covid-19 pandemic, the government introduced the Barbados Welcome Stamp visa program in 2020, which allows eligible remote workers to apply for special residency status for up to one year. Under this program, the visa holder is exempt from local income taxes. The visa holder can also apply for an extension of the visa with the repayment of applicable fees. The program is administered through the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport.																																				Other Investment Policy Reviews										In October 2022, the World Trade Organization (WTO) conducted a trade policy review of Barbados. The full report is available at  https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp531_e.htm . There have not been any investment policy reviews of Barbados by civil society organizations in the past five years.																																				Business Facilitation										Invest Barbados is the main investment promotion agency that attracts and facilitates foreign investment. Invest Barbados offers guidance and direction to new and established investors seeking to pursue investment opportunities in Barbados. The process is transparent and considers the size of capital investment as well as the economic impact of a proposed project.Invest Barbados offers a website that is useful for navigating applicable laws, rules, procedures, and registration requirements for foreign investors. This is available at   http://www.investbarbados.org  . Invest Barbados’ iGuide website is an online guide that provides local and foreign investors with up-to-date information required to make certain investment decisions, including steps for setting up a business, opportunities for investment, labor and other business costs, and legal requirements, among other data. This is available at   https://www.theiguides.org/public-docs/guides/barbados  .The Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office (CAIPO) maintains an online e-registry filing service for matters pertaining to the Corporate Registry. It is available to registered agents, who are usually attorneys. Information is available at   www.caipo.gov.bb  . Investors interested in doing business in Barbados must register with the country’s Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office (CAIPO). In 2021, the Government of Barbados fully digitized the registration process and continues to upgrade all other services provided by CAIPO.In general, when starting a business, companies retain an attorney to prepare relevant incorporation documents. The business must register with CAIPO, the Barbados Revenue Authority, the Customs and Excise Department, and any relevant sector-specific licensing agencies.The Government of Barbados continues to facilitate programs and partnerships to assist entrepreneurs who are women and/or people with disabilities. The Government of Barbados remains committed to working with civil society and other organizations to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.																																				Outward Investment										While no incentives are offered, Barbados generally encourages local companies to invest in other countries, particularly within the Caribbean region. The government actively encourages local companies in Barbados to take advantage of export opportunities related to the country’s membership in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME). Export Barbados, formerly known as the Barbados Investment Development Corporation (BIDC), provides market development support for domestic companies seeking to enhance their export potential.																																												2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties						    																						Barbados does not have a bilateral investment treaty with the United States, but it does have a double taxation treaty and a tax information exchange agreement. Barbados has bilateral investment treaties with Canada, China, Cuba, Germany, Italy, Mauritius, Switzerland, the United Kingdom (UK), and Venezuela. In addition to the United States, Barbados also has tax information exchange agreements with Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and South Africa. Bilateral investment treaties with Belgium-Luxembourg and Ghana are awaiting ratification. Barbados has a vast double taxation agreement network of 40 countries including Spain, Italy, the UK, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, China, Austria, Iceland, San Marino, Mexico, Panama, and Canada, with others awaiting ratification or signature. Barbados is a member of the OECD Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting and is party to the Inclusive Framework’s October 2021 deal on the two-pillar solution to global tax challenges, including a global minimum corporate tax.Barbados is also party to the following:CARICOMThe Treaty of Chaguaramas established CARICOM in 1973 to promote economic integration among its 15 member states. Investors operating in Barbados have preferential access to the entire CARICOM market. The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishes the CSME, which permits the free movement of goods, capital, and labor among CARICOM states. CARICOM has bilateral agreements with Cuba, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. In 2013, CARICOM entered into a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the United States.Caribbean Basin InitiativeThe Caribbean Basin Initiative facilitates the economic development and export diversification of the Caribbean Basin economies. It encourages private sector initiatives by expanding foreign and domestic investment in non-traditional sectors, diversifying country economies, and expanding their imports, and it permits duty-free entry of eligible products manufactured or assembled in Barbados into the United States.CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership AgreementThe Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) and the European Community signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in 2008. The overarching objectives of the EPA are to alleviate poverty, promote regional integration and economic cooperation, and foster the gradual integration of CARIFORUM states into the world economy by improving trade capacity and creating an investment-conducive environment. The Agreement promotes trade-related developments in areas such as competition, intellectual property, public procurement, the environment, and the protection of personal data.CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership AgreementThe UK and CARIFORUM states signed an EPA in 2019, committing to trade continuity after Britain’s departure from the European Union. The CARIFORUM-UK EPA eliminates tariffs on all goods imported from CARIFORUM states into the UK, while those Caribbean states will continue to gradually cut import tariffs on most of the region’s imports from the UK.Caribbean/Canada Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN)The Caribbean-Canada Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN) is an economic and trade development assistance program for Commonwealth Caribbean countries. Through CARIBCAN, Canada provides duty-free access to its national market for most products originating in Commonwealth Caribbean countries.																																		3. Legal Regime						    																																																Transparency of the Regulatory System										Barbados’ legal framework establishes clear rules for foreign and domestic investors regarding tax, labor, environmental, health, and safety concerns. These regulations are in accord with international standards. The Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment; and Invest Barbados provide oversight aimed at ensuring the transparency of investment.Rulemaking and regulatory authority rest with the bicameral parliament of the Government of Barbados. The House of Assembly consists of 30 members who are elected in single-seat constituencies. The Senate consists of 21 members who are appointed by the President. Responsibility for Senate appointments shifted in 2021 when Barbados removed the UK’s Queen Elizabeth as head of state and became a republic.Foreign investment into Barbados is governed by a series of laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations are developed with the participation of relevant ministries, drafted by the Office of the Attorney General, and enforced by the relevant ministry or ministries.Additional compliance supervision is delegated to specific agencies, by sector, as follows:Banking and financial services – Central Bank of Barbados (CBB)Insurance and non-banking financial services – Financial Services Commission (FSC)International business – International Business Unit, Ministry of Energy and BusinessBusiness incorporation and intellectual property – CAIPOThe Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment monitors investments to collect information for national statistics and reporting purposes.All foreign businesses must be registered or incorporated through CAIPO and will be regulated by one of the other agencies depending on the nature of the business.Although Barbados does not have formal legislation that guarantees access to information or freedom of expression, access to information is generally available. The government maintains a website and an information service to facilitate the dissemination of information such as government office directories and press releases. The government also maintains a parliamentary website at  http://www.barbadosparliament.com  where it posts legislation prior to parliamentary debate and live streams House sittings. The government budget is also available on this website.Although some bills are not subject to public consultation, input from various stakeholder groups and agencies is enlisted during the initial drafting of legislation. Public awareness campaigns, through print and electronic media, are used to inform the public. Copies of regulations are circulated to stakeholders and are published in the Official Gazette after passage in parliament. The Official Gazette is available at  https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/the-official-gazette .Accounting, legal, and regulatory procedures are transparent. Publicly listed companies publish annual financial statements and changes in portfolio shareholdings, including share value. Service providers are required to adhere to international best practice standards including International Financial Reporting Standards, International Standards on Auditing, and International Public Sector Accounting Standards for government and public sector bodies.They must also comply with the provisions of the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Prevention and Control Act. Accounting professionals must engage in continuous professional development. The Corporate and Trust Service Providers Act regulates Barbados financial service providers. Failure to adhere to these laws and regulations may result in the revocation of a company’s business license and/or cancellation of work permit(s). The most recent Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) Mutual Evaluation assessment found Barbados to be largely compliant. The government does not promote or require companies’ environmental, social, and governance disclosures.The Office of the Ombudsman is established by the constitution to guard against abuses of power by government officers in the performance of their duties. The Office of the Ombudsman aims to provide quality service in an impartial and expeditious manner when investigating complaints by Barbadian nationals or residents who consider the conduct of a government body or official unreasonable, improper, inadequate, or unjust.The Office of the Auditor General is also established by the constitution and is regulated by the Financial Administration and Audit Act. The Auditor General is responsible for the audit and inspection of all public accounts of the Supreme Court, the Senate, the House of Assembly, all government ministries, government departments, government-controlled entities, and statutory bodies. The Office of the Auditor General’s annual reports can be found on the Barbados Parliament website.																																				International Regulatory Considerations										The OECD recognized Barbados as largely compliant with international regulatory standards. Barbados is a signatory to the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement, and the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Matters to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Sharing. In the international financial services sector, the government maintains regulatory oversight via the Central Bank of Barbados to prevent money laundering and tax evasion.The Barbados National Standards Institution (BNSI) oversees a laboratory complex housing metrology, textile, engineering, and chemistry/microbiology laboratories. The primary functions of the BSNI include the preparation, promotion, and implementation of standards in all sectors of the economy, including the promotion of quality systems, quality control, and certification.The Standards Act (2006) and the Weights and Measures Act (1977) and Regulations (1985) govern the work of the BNSI. As a signatory to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement to Technical Barriers to Trade, Barbados is obligated to harmonize all national standards through the BNSI to international norms to avoid creating technical barriers to trade.Barbados ratified the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement in 2018. The agreement improves the speed and efficiency of border procedures, facilitates trade costs reduction, and enhances participation in the global value chain. In 2019, Barbados implemented the Automated System for Customs Data, which streamlined document compliance and inspections by port authorities.																																				Legal System and Judicial Independence										Barbados’ legal system is based on the British common law. Modern corporate law is modeled on the Canadian Business Corporations Act. The Attorney General, the Chief Justice, junior judges, and magistrates administer justice in Barbados. The Supreme Court consists of the Court of Appeal and the High Court. The High Court hears criminal and civil (commercial) matters and makes determinations based on interpretation of the constitution.The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is the regional judicial tribunal. The CCJ has original jurisdiction to interpret and apply the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (RTC). In 2005, Barbados became a full member of the CCJ, making the body its final court of appeal and original jurisdiction of the RTC.The United States and Barbados are both parties to the WTO. The WTO Dispute Settlement Panel and Appellate Body resolve disputes over WTO agreements, while courts of appropriate jurisdiction in both countries resolve private disputes.																																				Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment										Invest Barbados’ foreign direct investment policy is to promote Barbados as a desirable investment location, to provide advice, and to assist prospective investors. The main laws concerning investment in Barbados are the Barbados International Business Promotion Act (2005), the Tourism Development Act (2005), and the Companies Act. There is also a framework of legislation that supports the jurisdiction as a global hub for business including insurance, shipping registration, and wealth management.All proposals for investment concessions are reviewed by Invest Barbados to ensure proposed projects are consistent with the national interest and provide economic benefits to the country.Invest Barbados provides complimentary “one-stop shop” facilitation services for investors to guide them through the investment process. It offers a website useful for navigating the laws, rules, procedures, and registration requirements for foreign investors:  http://www.investbarbados.org .																																				Competition and Antitrust Laws										Chapter 8 of the RTC outlines the competition policy applicable to CARICOM states. Member states are required to establish and maintain a national competition authority for facilitating the implementation of the rules of competition. At the CARICOM level, a regional Caribbean Competition Commission (CCC) applies the rules of competition. The CARICOM competition policy addresses anticompetitive business conduct such as agreements between enterprises, decisions by associations of enterprises, and concerted practices by enterprises that have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction, or distortion of competition within the Community and actions by which an enterprise abuses its dominant position within the Community. The Fair Competition Act codified the establishment of the Barbados Fair Trading Commission (FTC) in 2001. The FTC is responsible for the promotion and maintenance of fair competition participates in the CCC. The FTC regulates the principles, rates, and standards of service for public utilities and other regulated service providers. The Telecommunications Act regulates competition in the telecommunications sector.																																				Expropriation and Compensation										The Barbados constitution and the Companies Act (Chap. 308) contain provisions permitting the government to acquire property for public use upon prompt payment of compensation at fair market value. U.S. Embassy Bridgetown is not aware of any outstanding expropriation claims or nationalization of foreign enterprises in Barbados.																																				Dispute Settlement																										ICSID Convention and New York Convention						The Government of Barbados wrote the New York Convention’s provisions into domestic law but did not ratify the convention. The Arbitration Act (1976) and the Foreign Arbitral Awards Act (1980), which recognizes the 1958 New York Convention on the Negotiation and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, are the main laws governing dispute settlement in Barbados.Barbados is also a member of the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, also known as the Washington Convention. Individual agreements between Barbados and multilateral lending agencies also have provisions calling on Barbados officials to accept recourse to binding international arbitration to resolve investment disputes between foreign investors and the state.						Investor-State Dispute Settlement						The Barbados Arbitration Act (1976) and the Foreign Arbitral Awards Act (1980) provide for arbitration of investment disputes. Barbados does not have a bilateral trade treaty or a free trade agreement with an investment chapter with the United States.Barbados’ court system and bureaucracy are widely seen as slow and are considered impediments to timely resolutions of commercial disputes. Through the Arbitration Act of 1976, local courts recognize and enforce foreign arbitral awards issued against the government. In 2019, the Supreme Court of Judicature Act was amended to include the establishment of a commercial division in the High Court which will oversee proceedings regarding arbitration. The U.S. Embassy is not aware of recent cases of investment disputes in Barbados involving U.S. or other foreign investors.																		International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts						The Supreme Court of Barbados is the domestic arbitration body. Local courts enforce foreign arbitral awards. In 2019, two new court protocols in the Supreme and Magistrate courts were introduced for alternative dispute mechanisms in mediation and arbitration to be available to judges and attorneys for the remediation of civil matters.																										Bankruptcy Regulations										Under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (2002), Barbados has a bankruptcy framework that recognizes certain debtor and creditor rights. The act gives a potentially bankrupt company three options: bankruptcy (voluntary or involuntary), receivership, or reorganization of the company. The Companies Act provides for the insolvency and/or liquidation of a company incorporated under this act. In 2019, the Supreme Court of Judicature Act was amended to include the establishment of a commercial division in the High Court which will oversee proceedings connected to bankruptcy and insolvency.																																												4. Industrial Policies						    																																																Investment Incentives										In 2019, Barbados repealed its Fiscal Incentives Act, bringing the country into conformity with its obligations under the WTO and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. Manufacturers may still benefit from some concessions. Further information is available from Invest Barbados.The Small Business Development Act (1999) defines a small business as having no more than 25 employees. Small businesses must be registered under the Companies Act, which applies to domestic and foreign-owned micro and small enterprises. Small businesses are not eligible for incentives under the Tourism Development Act, the Special Development Areas Act, or the Shipping Incentives Act.Enterprises generating export profits (other than from exports within CARICOM) may receive an export allowance expressed as a rebate of corporate tax on those profits. The maximum rebate of 93 percent applies if more than 81 percent of an enterprise’s profits result from extra-regional exports. The export development allowance permits a company to deduct from taxable income an additional 50 percent of what the company spends in developing export markets outside CARICOM.Initial allowances or investment allowances of up to 40 percent on capital expenditure are available for businesses making capital expenditures on machinery and plants or on an industrial building or structure. The government also allows annual depreciation allowances on such expenditures.In the tourism sector, the government’s market development allowance permits a company to deduct an additional 50 percent of what it spends to encourage tourists to visit Barbados. Under the Tourism Development Act of 2002, businesses and individuals that invest in the tourism sector can write off capital expenditures and 150 percent of interest. These entities are also exempt from import duties and environmental levies on furniture, fixtures and equipment, building materials, supplies, and equity financing. The act expands the definition of the tourist sector beyond accommodation to include restaurants, tourist recreational facilities, and tourism-related services. The act encourages the development of attractions that emphasize the country’s natural, historic, and cultural heritage, and encourages construction of properties in non-coastal areas.Barbados has harmonized the legislative and tax frameworks for domestic and international companies in the international business sector. Companies conducting international business operate with a tax rate from 1 to 5.5 percent. Companies exporting 100 percent of their services or products can apply for a foreign currency permit. All corporate entities are taxed on a sliding scale:Taxable Income USD Rate %Up to 500,000  5.50Above 500,000 to 10 million  3.00Above 10 million to 15 million  2.50Above 15 million. 1.00There are no withholdings taxes on dividends, interest, royalties, or management fees paid to non-residents.The Government of Barbados offers various incentives to business owners engaged in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. A pamphlet outlining these incentives is available on the Ministry of Energy and Business website.																																				Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation										There are currently no foreign trade zones or free ports in Barbados. In 2021, the government announced plans to establish a Barbados Free Economic Zone to help attract foreign direct investment.																																				Performance and Data Localization Requirements										Foreign investors must finance their investments from external sources or from income that the investment generates. As a member of the WTO, Barbados is party to the Agreement to the Trade Related Investment Measures. While there are no formal performance requirements, the government encourages investments that will create jobs and increase exports and foreign exchange earnings. When a foreign investment generates significant employment or other tangible benefits for Barbados, the authorities may allow the company to borrow locally for working capital. Invest Barbados may provide a training grant to qualifying manufacturing and information and communication technology enterprises during the initial operating period.Except in the case of its medicinal cannabis and renewable energy industries, Barbados does not require that its citizens own shares of a foreign investor’s enterprise. Some restrictions may apply to share transfers. The Companies Act does not permit bearer shares. Foreign investors do not need to establish facilities in any specific location, although there are some zoning restrictions on residential and commercial construction for environmental reasons. There is no requirement that enterprises must purchase a fixed percentage of goods from local sources. Investors, particularly within the hospitality industry, are encouraged to use local products whenever possible.Barbados labor and immigration laws stipulate that non-nationals seeking to work in Barbados must apply for work permits, including for all managerial and technical staff. Nationals from CARICOM member states are exempt from this requirement. The work permit is specific to the job and employer and the permit may be granted for a period of up to five years. Short-term permits of up to six months are also available. To grant a work permit, the government requires that the expatriate must bring to the job special skills or knowledge not readily available in Barbados. While work permits are generally granted to senior management, the government may restrict the number of permits approved depending on the number of people employed by the local company. There are no restrictions regarding foreign directors of boards. More information is available at  http://www.immigration.gov.bb/pages/WorkPermit.aspx .There are no requirements for foreign information technology providers to turn over source codes and/or provide access to surveillance. The Barbados Data Protection Act (BDPA) became law in 2021. The BDPA created a data protection authority under a Data Protection Commissioner responsible for the general administration of the act. The BDPA prohibits the transfer of personal data out of Barbados unless the destination country or territory ensures an adequate level of protection for the rights and freedoms of data subjects vis-à-vis the processing of their personal data. Violations under the BDPA are subject to fines ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 (10,000 to 500,000 Barbados dollars) and allow for criminal convictions resulting in prison sentences ranging from two months to three years.																																												5. Protection of Property Rights						    																																																Real Property										There are no restrictions on foreign ownership of property in Barbados. Foreign investors and locals are treated equally regarding property taxes. Civil law protects physical property and mortgage claims. The CBB must verify real property purchases for non-residents. If a non-resident uses foreign funds and pays for the property in Barbados, the CBB will normally endorse the transaction. The sale of property is subject to a 2.5 percent property transfer tax in addition to a one percent stamp duty. Brokerage and legal fees are not included in these levies. Buyers should seek the advice of a local attorney when purchasing property.Commercial, industrial, hotel, and villa properties are subject to a 0.95 percent land tax on the improved value of the property. Holders of a certificate from the Barbados Tourism Authority enjoy rebates of 50 percent for hotels and 25 percent from villas. The Commissioner of Land Tax charges an annual fee based on the assessed property value on residential property. These tax rates are available on the Barbados Revenue Authority website:  www.bra.gov.bb .The government has included an additional procedure that has increased the time to record the conveyance at the Land Registry and pay transfer fees and stamp duties. This has made transferring property more onerous. The Land Registry has digitized records dating back to 1952 and plans to further digitize deeds dating back to 1640. A landowner may lose his or her title to land if a trespasser or squatter takes possession for a period of ten years.																																				Intellectual Property Rights										Barbados remains on the Special 301 Watch List in 2023. Barbados has a legislative framework governing intellectual property rights (IPR), though enforcement needs improvement. Barbados is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and is party to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, and the Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks. The Government of Barbados has enacted IPR legislation on topics including patents, copyrights, trademarks, industrial designs, integrated circuits topography, plant breeders’ rights, geographical indications, and protection against unfair competition. Barbados’ Trademark and Industrial Designs Act meets international standards.Barbados acceded to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) and WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT), collectively known as the WIPO Internet Treaties, in 2019. Last year’s review of draft amendments to Barbados’s Copyright Act to implement the treaties has been delayed, and parliament is now expected to discuss the amendments by the end of 2023. However, the lack of enforcement of intellectual property judgments, insufficient resources for law enforcement, weak enforcement of existing legislation, and long-standing backlogs in the judicial system remain concerns. In the realm of copyright and related rights, the United States continues to have concerns about the unauthorized retransmission of U.S. broadcasts and cable programming by local cable operators in Barbados, particularly state-owned broadcasters, without adequate compensation to U.S. right holders.Article 66 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the CSME commits all 15 CARICOM members to implement stronger intellectual property rights protection and enforcement. The CARIFORUM-EU EPA contains the most detailed obligations regarding intellectual property in any trade agreement to which Barbados is a party. The EPA provides for protection and enforcement of IPR. Article 139 of the EPA requires parties to “ensure an adequate and effective implementation of the international treaties dealing with intellectual property to which they are parties and of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property.”It is the responsibility of the importer to pay for and destroy counterfeit goods. Failure to observe certain standards regarding the importation of goods may result in a recommendation to the Comptroller of Barbados’ Custom and Excises Department to have the goods destroyed. If the goods fall under the Ministry of Health’s jurisdiction, they are destroyed under that ministry’s guidance. If the goods are prohibited and do not pertain to the Ministry of Health, the Customs and Excise Department will destroy them as appropriate. Information on the prevalence of counterfeit goods in the local market is not readily available, as there is no tracking method in place to collect data. Barbados is not listed in USTR’s 2022 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy.For additional information about national laws and points of contact at local IP offices, please see WIPO’s country profiles at  http://www.wipo.int/directory/en  .																																												6. Financial Sector						    																																																Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment										Barbados has a small stock exchange, an active banking sector, and opportunities for portfolio investment. Local policies seek to facilitate the free flow of financial resources, although some restrictions may be imposed during exceptional periods of low liquidity. The CBB independently raises or lowers interest rates without government intervention. There are a variety of credit instruments in the commercial and public sectors that local and foreign investors may access.Barbados continues to review legislation in the financial sector to strengthen and improve the regulatory regime and attract and facilitate retention of foreign portfolio investments. The government continues to improve its legal, regulatory, and supervisory frameworks to strengthen the banking system. The Anti-Money Laundering Authority and its operating arm, the government’s Financial Intelligence Unit, review anti-money laundering policy documents and analyze prudential returns.The Securities Exchange Act of 1982 established the Securities Exchange of Barbados, which was reincorporated as the Barbados Stock Exchange (BSE) in 2001. The BSE operates a two-tier electronic trading system comprised of a regular market and an innovation and growth market (formerly the junior market). Companies applying for listing on the regular market must observe and comply with certain requirements. Specifically, they must have assets of at least $500,000 (1 million Barbados dollars) and adequate working capital based on the last three years of their financial performance, as well as three-year performance projections. Companies must also demonstrate competent management and be incorporated under the laws of Barbados, or another regulated jurisdiction approved by the Financial Services Commission. Applications for listing on the innovation and growth market are less onerous, requiring minimum equity of one million shares at a stated minimum value of $100,000 (200,000 Barbados dollars). Reporting and disclosure requirements for all listed companies include interim financial statements and an annual report and questionnaire. Non-nationals must obtain exchange control approval from the CBB to trade securities on the BSE.The BSE has computerized clearance and settlement of share certificates through the Barbados Central Securities Depository Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the BSE. Under the Property Transfer Tax Act, the FSC can accommodate investors requiring a traditional certificate for a small fee. The FSC also regulates mutual funds in accordance with the Mutual Funds Act.The BSE adheres to rules in accordance with International Organization of Securities Commissions guidelines designed to protect investors; ensure a fair, efficient, and transparent market; and reduce systemic risk. Public companies must file audited financial statements with the BSE no later than 90 days after the close of their financial year. The authorities may impose a fine not exceeding $5,000 (10,000 Barbados dollars) for any person under the jurisdiction of the BSE who contravenes or is not in compliance with any regulatory requirements.The BSE launched the International Securities Market (ISM) in 2016. It is designed to operate as a separate market, allowing issuers from Barbados and other international markets. To date, the ISM has four listing sponsors.The BSE collaborates with its regional partners, the Jamaica Stock Exchange, and the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange, through shared trading software. The capacity for this inter-exchange connectivity provides a wealth of potential investment opportunities for local and regional investors. The BSE obtained designated recognized stock exchange status from the UK in 2019. It is also a member of the World Federation of Exchanges.In 2022, the BSE became the 112th member of the UN Sustainable Stock Exchange initiative. BSE has solidified its commitment to transparency and sustainability by becoming a partner exchange of the UN SSE initiative and now joins a global network of stock exchanges that are committed to promoting sustainable development.Barbados has accepted the obligations of Article VIII, Sections 2, 3, and 4 of the IMF Articles of Agreement and maintains an exchange system free of restrictions on current account transactions.																																				Money and Banking System										The government established the CBB in 1972. The CBB manages Barbados’ currency and regulates its domestic banks.The Barbados Deposit Insurance Corporation (BDIC) provides protection for depositors. Oversight of the entire financial system is conducted by the Financial Oversight Management Committee, which consists of the CBB, the BDIC, and the FSC. The private sector has access to financing on the local market through short-term borrowing and credit, asset financing, project financing, and mortgage financing.Commercial banks and other deposit-taking institutions set their own interest rates. The CBB requires banks to hold 17.5 percent of their domestic deposits in stipulated securities.The Caribbean region has witnessed a withdrawal of correspondent banking services by U.S., Canadian, and European banks due to risk management concerns. CARICOM remains committed to engaging with key stakeholders on the issue and appointed a Committee of Ministers of Finance on Correspondent Banking to continue to monitor the issue.Bitt, a wholly U.S. owned company founded in Barbados, developed digital currency DCash in partnership with the ECCB. The first successful DCash retail central bank digital currency consumer-to-merchant transaction took place in Grenada in 2021 following a multi-year development process. The CBB and the FSC established a regulatory sandbox in 2018 where financial technology entities could do live testing of their products and services for Barbados. This allowed regulators to gain a better understanding of the product or service and to determine what, if any, regulation is necessary to protect consumers. Bitt completed its participation and formally exited the sandbox in 2019. According to Bitt, it has no immediate plans to launch DCash in Barbados and focused first on Barbados’ Eastern Caribbean neighbors. Bitt also offers a digital access exchange, remittance channel, and merchant-processing gateway available via mMoney, a mobile application in Barbados.																																				Foreign Exchange and Remittances																										Foreign Exchange						Barbados’ currency of exchange is the Barbadian dollar (BBD). It is issued by the CBB. Barbados’ foreign exchange operates under a liberal system. The Barbadian dollar has been pegged to the U.S. dollar at a rate of BBD 2.00: USD 1.00 since 1975. This creates a stable currency environment for trade and investment in Barbados.						Remittance Policies						Companies can freely repatriate profits and capital from foreign direct investment if they are registered with the CBB at the time of investment. The CBB has the right to stagger these conversions depending on the level of international reserves available to the CBB at the time capital repatriation is requested.The Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment controls the flow of foreign exchange and the Exchange Control Division of the CBB executes foreign exchange policy under the Exchange Control Act. Individuals may apply through a local bank to convert the equivalent of $10,000 (20,000 Barbados dollars) per year for personal travel and up to a maximum of $25,000 (50,000 Barbados dollars) for business travel. The CBB must approve conversion of any amount over these limits. International businesses, including insurance companies, are exempt from these exchange control regulations.Barbados is a member of the CFATF. In 2014, the Government of Barbados signed an Intergovernmental Agreement in observance of FATCA, making it mandatory for banks in Barbados to report the banking information of U.S. citizens.																										Sovereign Wealth Funds										Currently, the CBB does not maintain a sovereign wealth fund.																																												7. State-Owned Enterprises						    																						State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Barbados work in partnership with ministries, or under their remit, and carry out certain ministerial responsibilities. There are over 60 SOEs in Barbados operating in areas such as travel and tourism, investment services, broadcasting and media, sanitation services, sports, and culture.SOEs in Barbados are not found in the key areas earmarked for investment. They are all wholly owned government entities. They are headed by boards of directors to which their senior management reports.As part of the ongoing IMF BERT 2022 program, the Government of Barbados is addressing the expenditure position of the SOEs by defining clear objectives for SOE reforms, reducing the wage bill of these entities, and implementing other necessary reform measures.																										Privatization Program										Barbados does not currently have a targeted privatization program. The government has announced plans for public-private partnerships in airport management and broadcasting services, which will still see the government retaining ownership of these entities. The process remains open to foreign investors and is transparent. More information can be obtained at  http://www.gisbarbados.gov.bb  .																																												8. Responsible Business Conduct						    																						The private sector is involved in projects that benefit society, including in support of environmental, social, and cultural causes. The non-governmental organization (NGO) community, while comparatively small, is involved in fundraising and volunteerism in gender, health, environmental, and community projects. The government periodically partners with NGOs and encourages philanthropy.Adoption of broad corporate governance codes such as the OECD guidelines is voluntary, as is disclosure of corporate governance practices. In practice, many companies in Barbados are influenced by international best practices. CBB and FSC guidelines regulate the purpose and role of the board of directors. The accounting profession is regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados, which is a member of the International Federation of Accountants.Barbados is not a signatory of the Montreux Document on Private Military and Security Companies or a participant in the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers’ Association.																										Additional Resources										Department of StateCountry Reports on Human Rights Practices ( https://www.state.gov/reports-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/)Trafficking in Persons Report ( https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/)Guidance on Implementing the &#8220;UN Guiding Principles&#8221; for Transactions Linked to Foreign Government End-Users for Products or Services with Surveillance Capabilities ( https://www.state.gov/key-topics-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/due-diligence-guidance/)U.S. National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises ( https://www.state.gov/u-s-national-contact-point-for-the-oecd-guidelines-for-multinational-enterprises/)Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory ( https://www.state.gov/xinjiang-supply-chain-business-advisory/)Department of the TreasuryOFAC Recent Actions ( https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/recent-actions )Department of LaborFindings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor Report ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings  )List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor ( https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/reports/child-labor/list-of-goods )Sweat &amp; Toil: Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking Around the World ( https://www.dol.gov/general/apps/ilab )Comply Chain ( https://www.dol.gov/ilab/complychain/ )																																				Climate Issues										Barbados published a national climate change strategy in 2012. Since then, the government has submitted both an initial and updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). It does not have a specific strategy for monitoring natural capital, including biodiversity and ecosystem services. The government hopes to achieve a fossil fuel-free economy by 2030. The government has also indicated that substantial support from the international community will be necessary to achieve this goal. Public procurement policies currently do not include environmental and green growth considerations. In early 2023, the government agreed to establish a Blue Green Bank which will fund climate mitigation efforts.																																												9. Corruption						    																						The law provides criminal penalties for official corruption, and the government generally implemented these laws effectively. Barbados signed but did not yet ratify the UN Convention on Corruption and the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption.In 2012, Barbados enacted the Prevention of Corruption Act, which includes standards of integrity in public life. It has not been proclaimed by the President and consequently is not in force. The Integrity of Public Life Bill 2020, which mandated declaration of assets by all politicians, senior public officers, chairpeople, and high-ranking managers of SOEs, passed in Barbados’ Parliament but was ultimately defeated in the Senate. Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s administration plans to bring the bill back to parliament but has acknowledged the need to reach agreement with opposing forces in the senate.The Government of Barbados has announced its intention to establish a public investment dashboard to provide information relevant to public sector investment projects, including cost overruns, procurement procedures, and company selection. The government also plans to establish an independent statistics and data analytics authority and to introduce a Freedom of Information Act.A government minister with the previous administration was arrested in the United States on charges of laundering proceeds from bribes paid in Barbados. In 2020, he was found guilty on two charges of money laundering and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He has since completed his sentence and returned to Barbados in March 2023.Barbados is a member of the regional Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies in the Commonwealth Caribbean.																										Resources to Report Corruption										The DirectorFinancial Intelligence UnitP.O. Box 1327, Bridgetown246-436-4734 director@barbadosfiu.gov.bb 																																												10. Political and Security Environment						    																						Barbados is considered politically stable and does not have a recent history of political violence. Elections are peaceful and considered generally free and transparent. The next election is constitutionally due in 2027.																																		11. Labor Policies and Practices						    																						Barbados’ active labor force was 128,400 people at the end of 2022. Recent statistics point to a return of employment levels to pre-pandemic numbers with unemployment falling to 8.2 per cent at the end of 2022.Labor regulations in Barbados are guided by a framework of laws including the Holidays with Pay Act, the Sick Leave Act, the Public Holidays Act, and the Protection of Wages Act, as well as policies regarding maternity leave, national insurance (social security) contributions, unemployment benefits, and severance pay. Barbados has ratified the eight core conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO). Barbados upholds the ratified conventions and is guided by the ILO’s other conventions.Wages in Barbados are some of the highest in the Caribbean. Minimum wages are administratively established for only a few categories of workers and are enforced by the Ministry of Labour’s Labour Department. The minimum wage for shop assistants is currently $4.25 (8.50 Barbados dollars) per hour. The Ministry of Labour recommends that companies recognize this as the de facto minimum wage, though most employees earn more than this. The standard legal workweek is 40 hours in five days, and the law provides employees with three weeks of paid holiday for persons with less than five years’ service and four weeks of paid holiday leave after five years’ service. The law requires overtime payment of time and a half for hours worked in excess of the legal standard and prescribes that all overtime must be voluntary.The law does not set a maximum number of overtime hours. Workers are covered by unemployment benefits legislation and national insurance legislation after 52 weeks of continuous employment. The government sets occupational safety and health standards.Workers are legally allowed to form and join unions and conduct strikes, but there is no specific legal recognition of the right to collective bargaining. Most major employers choose to recognize unions when more than 50 percent of employees request recognition. Smaller companies are less frequently unionized. Companies are sometimes hesitant to engage in collective bargaining with recognized unions, but in most instances they eventually do so. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination and protects workers engaged in union activity. Private-sector employees can strike, but strikes are prohibited by workers in essential services such as police, firefighting, electricity, and water.In general, the government effectively enforces labor laws, and penalties are sufficient to deter violations. The law gives employees the right to have allegations of unfair dismissal tried before the Employment Rights Tribunal, but the process often has lengthy delays. Workers’ rights are generally respected. Unions receive periodic complaints of violations of collective bargaining agreements, but most complaints are resolved through established mechanisms.The law provides for a minimum working age of 16. Compulsory primary and secondary education policies reinforce minimum age requirements. The Labour Department has a small cadre of labor inspectors who conduct spot investigations of enterprises and check records to verify compliance with the law. These inspectors may take legal action against an employer who is found to have underage workers.Under the Severance Payments Act, an employer is obligated to pay an employee a severance payment where the employee is terminated on account of redundancy. The Employee Rights Act, section 31, provides that dismissal of an employee on account of redundancy does not contravene the right not to be unfairly dismissed. Qualifying workers who are laid off for economic reasons are generally entitled to receive a severance payment on a graduating scale that starts at 2.5 weeks’ pay for every completed year of employment. All unemployed workers are eligible for unemployment benefits upon meeting the qualifying contribution periods established by the National Insurance and Social Security scheme.The Occupational Health at Work Act governs the general health and safety of workers in all workplaces except the armed forces and private household domestic service. The law requires firms employing more than 50 workers (fewer in certain sectors) to create a safety committee that may challenge the decisions of management concerning occupational safety and health. The Labour Department also enforces health and safety standards and follows up to ensure that management corrects problems. Trade union monitors can identify safety problems for government factory inspectors. The Labour Department’s Inspection Unit conducts routine annual inspections of government-operated corporations and manufacturing plants. Workers have the right to remove themselves from dangerous or hazardous job situations without jeopardizing their continued employment.According to government figures, the growing informal economy represents between 30 and 40 percent of GDP. The government has stated that by avoiding taxes and regulations, informal firms have an unfair advantage over more efficient formal firms, undermining economic growth and progress. In general, most sectors of the Barbados informal economy do not overlap with potential investment sectors for U.S. and other foreign businesses.																																		12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs						    																						Barbados is classified as a high- income country under the World Bank’s definition and is ineligible for DFC programs.																																		13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics						    																						Table 2: Key Macroeconomic Data, U.S. FDI in Host Country/EconomyHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or International Source of Data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherEconomic DataYearAmountYearAmountHost Country Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ($M USD)2022$57002021$4840www.worldbank.org/en/country Foreign Direct InvestmentHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or international Source of data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherU.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/A2021$36.4BEA data available at https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/Host country’s FDI in the United States ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/A2021$10.9BEA data available at https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/ Total inbound stock of FDI as % host GDPN/AN/A2021171.3%UNCTAD data available at https://unctad.org/topic/investment/world-investment-report   * Source for Host Country Data: Central Bank of Barbados, 2022 http://www.centralbank.org.bb/Portals/0/Files/Review%20of%20Barbados&#8217;%20Economy%20-%20January-March%202023.pdfTable 3: Sources and Destination of FDIData for Barbados is listed as not available.																																		14. Contact for More Information						    																						Political/Economic SectionU.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States246-227-4000Email:  BridgetownPolEcon@state.gov 																										    							View report by:																				Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											The Bahamas											Azerbaijan											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Chile											China											Colombia											Costa Rica											Côte d’Ivoire											Croatia											Cyprus											Czechia											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France and Monaco											The Gambia											Gabon											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guyana											Honduras											Haiti											Hong Kong											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iraq											Ireland											Israel											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kosovo											Kyrgyz Republic											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Macau											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nepal											Netherlands											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Philippines											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											Timor-Leste											Togo											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Türkiye											United Arab Emirates											Uganda											Ukraine											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vietnam											West Bank and Gaza											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																							Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																						Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																						Business Facilitation																																																						Outward Investment																																																			2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																3. Legal Regime																																							Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																						International Regulatory Considerations																																																						Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																						Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																						Expropriation and Compensation																																																						Dispute Settlement																																																				ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																												Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																																																																								International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																				Bankruptcy Regulations																																																			4. Industrial Policies																																							Investment Incentives																																																						Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																						Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																			5. Protection of Property Rights																																							Real Property																																																						Intellectual Property Rights																																																			6. Financial Sector																																							Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																						Money and Banking System																																																						Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																				Foreign Exchange																																												Remittance Policies																																																																																				Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																			7. State-Owned Enterprises																																							Privatization Program																																																			8. Responsible Business Conduct																																							Additional Resources																																																						Climate Issues																																																			9. Corruption																																							Resources to Report Corruption																																																			10. Political and Security Environment																11. Labor Policies and Practices																12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																14. Contact for More Information																						Tags																					Barbados																								Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
- Press briefing with Todd D. Robinson, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Todd D.  Robinson, Assistant SecretaryBureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement AffairsMODERATOR:  Greetings to everyone from the U.S. Department of State’s Media Hub of the Americas in Miami, Florida.  I would like to welcome our participants who have dialed in from the United States and across the region.  This is an on-the-record press briefing with the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Todd D. Robinson. Assistant Secretary Robinson will discuss outcomes from Friday’s virtual ministerial to launch a Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats as well as next steps for the global coalition.  This coalition seeks to unite countries worldwide in a concerted effort to prevent the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs, identify emerging drug trends, and respond effectively to their public health impacts. As a reminder, today’s briefing is on the record.  And with that, I will turn it over to Assistant Secretary Robinson. ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you for joining this call today and for the opportunity to discuss the collective efforts we have undertaken to confront the important issue of synthetic drugs. Last Friday, as you know, Secretary Blinken hosted a virtual ministerial to launch a Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats.  Nearly 100 countries and international organizations participated in the launch, underscoring the shared concern about this public health and national security threat.  The coalition aims to unite countries worldwide in a concerted effort to combat the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs.  Together, we hope to strengthen efforts to prevent the production and trafficking of illicit synthetic drugs, identify emerging synthetic drug trends and use patterns, and promote efforts to respond effectively to the public health impacts they impose. Participants at the ministerial underscored the importance of sharing data and increasing efforts to mitigate the health impact of synthetic drug use.  As you all already know, synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine pose a grave risk to the health and security of our citizens here in the United States.  The consequences of these drugs are devastating as evidenced by the alarming statistics. In 2022, the CDC estimated that nearly 110,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses.  Recognizing the gravity of this situation, the Biden administration is fully committed to preventing drug use and minimizing its negative impact.  We understand the importance of connecting individuals to treatment and supporting the more than 20 million Americans in recovery.  President Biden’s National Drug Control Strategy has allocated a substantial $24 billion dollars in this fiscal year to strengthen drug-related public health interventions.  These measures not only safeguard the health of our citizens, but also exemplify our dedication at home as we look to other nations to also take action. It is vital to note that these dangers are not limited to the United States.  More countries than ever are facing an increasing threat from synthetic drugs like tramadol, Captagon, MDMA, and Ketamine.  Criminals are constantly innovating to create new synthetic drugs, adjusting formulas to avoid international controls and domestic regulations, and creating new demand.   One staggering number to note:  Over the past decade, more than 1,100 new synthetic drugs were detected and reported by the United Nations.  Through the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, we are harnessing international cooperation and shared knowledge to tackle this crisis head on.  By working together, we can more effectively disrupt the illicit synthetic drug supply chains, enhance our ability to identify and respond to emerging threats, and protect the lives and well-being of our own citizens and of people around the world. The United States has already been working with partners like Mexico, Canada, and other countries to drive urgent global action to disrupt the synthetic drug trade from beginning to end.  We are engaging with countries such as India to strengthen our partnerships on securing pharmaceutical and chemical supply chains to prevent criminal diversion of dual-use precursor chemicals, and we remain committed to engaging with the PRC to address the threat illicit synthetic drugs pose to our countries.  The Department of State also works within the UN, the Organization of American States, the G7, G20, and other organizations to improve the abilities of our countries to detect and disrupt the illicit manufacturing, diversion, and trafficking of precursor chemicals and finished drugs.   We have more important work to do, so in closing, let me express my gratitude to our international partners who have already joined us in this crucial endeavor.  The fight against synthetic drugs requires a global response, and we are confident that our collective efforts will yield significant results.  Together, we can create a safer and healthier future for our citizens and generations to come.   Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.   MODERATOR:  Thank you so much, Assistant Secretary.  We will now begin the question-and-answer portion of today’s briefing.  For those on the English line asking questions, please limit yourself to one question related to the topic of today’s briefing.  If you submitted your question in advance, I have incorporated the question into the queue.  Our first question today we received from Daniel – from Jim Carson of La Jornada in Mexico:  “What specific will be new out of this declaration?  Are you setting up a FinCEN-type structure to share information, do evaluations, and a secretariat, or is it simply a reiteration of past commitments without any specific additional actions?”   ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Great question.  The first thing I would say is we are – we are building on what we have done in the past and what has been done by other countries in the past.  The coalition is intended to be an inclusive forum for sharing best practices and identifying areas for collaboration to improve the global response to public health and security threats posed by synthetic drugs.  We ask that countries commit to working collaboratively with other coalition member countries at both political and technical levels to develop a joint framework for addressing synthetic drugs and develop actions in line with that framework.  Thanks.   MODERATOR:  Thank you.  We received a question from journalist Fernando Morales from Red Salvadoreña de Medios in El Salvador: “El Salvador is a corridor for the transit of synthetic drugs like fentanyl.  How is work being done to prevent the trafficking of these narcotics?”   ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  I’m sorry.  Could you say that again?  MODERATOR:  Absolutely, Assistant Secretary.  “El Salvador is a corridor for the transit of synthetic drugs like fentanyl.  How is work being done to prevent the trafficking of these narcotics?&#8221; ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Great question.  As our correspondent will note, the United States Government on several different levels is working with members of the civilian security forces in El Salvador and throughout the region – El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras – on things like investigations, going after the trafficking networks.  We have experts on the ground from DEA and the Department of Justice.   We also work on training.  As the correspondent will note, there is an International Law Enforcement Academy hosted by the Government of El Salvador where we can do training for police and prosecutors in the region on different techniques and modernized techniques for going after these networks.  So those are ways that we are – those are ways that we are trying to get after these – shut down these corridors.   MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  The next question will go to Jesús Esquivel from Proceso Magazine in Mexico.  Jesús, please unmute yourself.   QUESTION:  Hello.  Can you hear me?   MODERATOR:  Yes.  Please ask your question.  &#8212;    QUESTION:  Okay.  Yes.  Under Secretary, there has always been the accusations that the Mexican cartels are responsible for all the synthetic drugs in the United States, but as you probably know, the domestic cartels in the U.S. are also responsible for the distributions and sale of these drugs.   My question to you is:  What exactly or when exactly the U.S. Government for the first time is going to be exposing the domestic cartels in this problem and in the United States?  And also, if you think the accusations as – members of the U.S. Congress made to Mexico and threats that they probably going to invade Mexico to stop the drug trafficking, it will help in this global coalition in the case of – specifically of Mexico to cooperate with the U.S. Government?   ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you, Jesús.  Both good questions.  Look, first of all, I would – I would not exactly support the premise of your question.  We have never said that all of the fentanyl or synthetic opioids that are coming to the United States are coming from Mexico.  We know that this is a global – a global effort by cartels from different regions around the world, including criminals in the United States.  I don’t think the FBI or the Department of Justice or our local law enforcement authorities have been shy about exposing the criminal networks in the United States that are trafficking in these drugs.  I think they will continue to publicly expose them when available.  So that’s thing number one. Thing number two, we have – the United States has an excellent relationship with our counterparts in Mexico.  We are both working very close to go after the networks in Mexico, to increase our cooperation on both sides of our southwest border, your northern border.  And we are working together internationally to share our experiences with working together with other countries around the world.  I’m very proud of our relationship with our Mexican counterparts, and we’re going to continue to call on them as they call on us to work together to do more to stop – to stop this global trafficking of synthetic drugs. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary Robison.  The next question will go to Adyr Corral from El Sol de Mexico.  Adyr, please unmute yourself.  Go ahead.  Adyr, can you hear us?   Okay, unfortunately we’re going to have to move on.  I see we have a submitted question in our Q&amp;A from Brendan O’Boyle from Reuters in Mexico City: “Thank you, Ambassador.  Within the coalition, where is there concern about fentanyl’s short-term spread geographically?  In Mexico, some experts have sounded alarm about fentanyl spreading in drug supply domestically, though data is scarce.  Have coalition partners in Mexico recognized domestic spread?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  I’m sorry, can you repeat that question again? MODERATOR:  Sure, sir.  “Thank you, Ambassador.  Within the coalition, where is there concern about fentanyl’s short-term spread geographically?  In Mexico, some experts have sounded the alarm about fentanyl spreading in the drug supply domestically, though data is scarce.  Have coalition partners in Mexico recognized domestic spread?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  The short answer is I believe the Government of Mexico has recognized the short-term spread of synthetic opioids.  We are – and – but there’s a very good relationship between our Office of National Drug Control Policy and the secretary for Health in Mexico.  They are working very closely together on campaigns to raise awareness about synthetic opioids and what can be done to avoid falling into – into that addiction.  So we feel like we have a burgeoning story to tell, a better story to tell as we go forward on our cooperation on the messaging against the domestic – in Mexico, the domestic spread of the – and growth of the use of synthetic opioids. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  I’m told we’ve resolved the microphone issues with Adyr Corral, so we’ll go back to Adyr Corral from El Sol de Mexico.  Please unmute yourself. QUESTION:  Hi.  You can hear me? ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Yes. MODERATOR:  We can hear you. QUESTION:  Ah, thank you very much.  Sorry for the problems.  I would like to ask the assistant secretary for a comment on the initiative to designate the fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction in Congress.  How about that, Assistant Secretary? ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you, great question.  We have currently – the Department of Justice, DEA, FBI, Department of State – we feel like we have the authorities necessary to go after the networks that are trafficking in these drugs.  At the moment, we don’t see that classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction will give us any more authority than we already have to try to stop its trafficking.  So we feel pretty comfortable that we’re in a good place in terms of having the tools necessary to go after the drug and to go after the networks that are trafficking the drugs.  QUESTION:  Thank you very much.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  The next question was submitted in advance from Juan Silva from W Radio in Colombia:  “How do you assess the current situation in Colombia in terms of the fight against drugs?”  ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, as the correspondent, as Juan will know, we have a very long, very strong, very deep relationship with Colombia and Colombia’s security forces that has developed over a number of years.  We feel like we are – we have developed into great partners.  Colombia has become a net exporter of security globally, and that is in large part due to the very strong relationship that has developed with the United States.   Today we continue in that effort.  There are areas where we are hoping to start working – new areas where we are starting to – we want to begin working with the Petro government, and we are in constant conversation with Petro and his team to figure out how we can best help them bring greater security and safety to communities in Colombia, and by doing so, help shut down the networks that are trafficking drugs north to the United States.  Thanks.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.   Our next question we received from Eduard Ribas from EFE:  “What responsibility does China have on the trafficking of fentanyl precursors?  How can this coalition be successful without Chinese participation?”  ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, I would say the – we know good things happen when China is involved in conversations like this.  You will recall in 2019 the Chinese Government scheduled fentanyl and made it much harder to get out of the country directly and be shipped directly to other countries.  And when they did that, the trafficking of fentanyl itself in the United States from China went to almost zero.  So we think that there’s a lot more that can be done by the PRC in terms of greater monitoring and labeling and information-sharing on the precursor chemicals that are leaving the PRC, and they – we invited them to join the coalition.  We expect at some point that they will take us up on our invitation because they want to be responsible, a responsible country in this effort.  And we all know that they play – that there are companies in China that play an important role in the distribution of the precursor chemicals that go into making these drugs.  Over.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  We have time for about two more questions.  One was submitted in advance from a journalist in Guyana regarding CARICOM, Denis Chabrol from Demarara Waves Online News:  “How badly are Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations affected by synthetic drugs?”  ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you.  Again, this is a – that’s a great question.  I would say although we haven’t seen significant production in the Caribbean, it’s important to note that criminal chemists can easily synthesize fentanyl almost anywhere.  The Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats will provide a foundation for developing and implementing effective, practical solutions to prevent the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs.  It will help detect emerging drug threats, and we hope it will help respond to the – to their public health impacts.  Over. MODERATOR:  Thank you.  I see in the chat the journalist had added:  “What do we expect from CARICOM and what assistance the U.S. can provide?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, actually, I would turn it around.  The question should be:  What more can CARICOM countries do?  And I think, again, when we talk about things like exchanging information, when we talk about things like making sure that they are getting access, making sure their communities are getting access to the antidotes for overdoses, making sure that they are reporting to the international organizations that are collecting information that everybody else can use – those are the things that that we would hope we could get from countries that are involved in the global coalition.  And the United States and the international community will continue to help with training and equipping those police forces and prosecutors that are working on this issue.  Over. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  We had a question from Martin Villena from Andina News Agency in Peru:  “Concerning the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, does its launch also mean strengthening even more relations with countries such as Peru and Colombia, which face the issue and the related problems concerning cocaine productions in their territories?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, we’re always working to strengthening – strengthening the relationship with our good friends in Peru and Colombia.  But in fact, again, we will – what the establishment of this coalition is looking to do is to have our friends from Peru and Colombia share their experiences with other countries around the world and help other countries who don’t have the expertise that our countries do, help them address the issues in their countries.  We have great relationships with our partners in Peru and Colombia; I don’t expect that will change.  But we will – in the establishment of this coalition, we will be asking them to do more to help on a global level.  Over.   MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  We received a question from Carrie Kahn with NPR:  “How do proposals from some Republicans in the United States urging military intervention to stop fentanyl trafficking in Mexico affect your plans to enlist global partners?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, I would say we’re going to let Congress – the Senate and the House – develop and debate their own ideas.  We are going to – I am focused on working with our civilian security partners globally, making sure that they have the training, the equipment, the strategies; making sure they have access to the expertise necessary to focus on what is our responsibility, which is providing civilian security to our communities, both in the United States and around and world. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  I believe we’ve gone through all the questions that we had today, so that will conclude today’s briefing.  I wanted to thank you for joining us today, as well as all of the journalists on the line for their questions.  If you have any follow-up questions about today’s briefing, you may contact the Miami Media Hub at MiamiHub@state.gov.  An English recording and transcript will be available for this briefing, as well as transcripts in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.  Thank you so much and have a good day. ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thanks.  Thanks, everybody. 
- Barbados HomeReportsOffice to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons2023 Trafficking in Persons Report&#8230;Barbados				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Barbados																																					Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons																																																																																																				 In this section										/																							BARBADOS (Tier 2)																																													BARBADOS (Tier 2)																															PRIORITIZED RECOMMENDATIONS:																																																																																		PROSECUTION																																																																																		PROTECTION																																																																																		PREVENTION																																																																																		TRAFFICKING PROFILE:																																																																																																								BARBADOS (Tier 2)				The Government of Barbados does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so.  The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Barbados remained on Tier 2.  These efforts included increasing investigations, continuing prosecution of five traffickers, and cooperating with other governments and an international organization on law enforcement and victim screening.  The government also finalized and began to implement victim screening SOPs in cooperation with an international organization, created a new tool to combat financial crimes related to trafficking and other crimes, and collaborated with foreign governments to prevent trafficking of overseas Barbadian workers.  However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas.  The government did not initiate any new prosecutions and has never secured a trafficking conviction under the anti-trafficking law.  The government did not identify any trafficking victims.  The anti-trafficking law did not provide penalties that were commensurate with other serious crimes.																																					PRIORITIZED RECOMMENDATIONS:						    																																															Proactively screen vulnerable groups including children; migrants, including non-Barbadians who engage in commercial sex; People’s Republic of China (PRC) nationals on PRC government-funded projects; and Cuban medical workers for trafficking indicators beyond points of entry and identify victims among these populations. Vigorously investigate and prosecute trafficking crimes and seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, which should involve significant prison terms. Reduce court backlog for trafficking cases. Amend the anti-trafficking law to remove sentencing provisions that allow fines in lieu of imprisonment for sex trafficking crimes. Fully investigate cases of missing non-Barbadians working in commercial sex who may be trafficking victims. Develop and implement written SOPs for victim identification and referral, regularly train frontline workers on their use, and improve coordination with NGOs for victim referral. Provide regular training for law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and judges on trafficking indicators, victim identification and referral, evidence-gathering, and implementing the anti-trafficking law. Fully implement the NAP. Provide trafficking victims, including potential victims, with adequate accommodations and access to trauma-informed service providers. Update and modernize labor laws on recruitment and public procurement to prevent trafficking and protect victims. Continue to raise awareness of human trafficking among officials and the public. 																																												PROSECUTION						    																																															The government maintained prosecution efforts.  The Trafficking in Persons Prevention Act (TIPPA) criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking.  The penalties prescribed for adult trafficking were up to 25 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to 1 million Barbados dollars (BDS) ($495,050), or both.  The penalties prescribed for child trafficking were up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to 2 million BDS ($990,100), or both.  These penalties were sufficiently stringent.  However, by allowing for a fine in lieu of imprisonment, the prescribed punishment for sex trafficking was not commensurate with those for other serious crimes, such as rape.  The government continued a process, begun in the previous reporting period with the assistance of a foreign government, to revise the sentencing guidelines for human trafficking and other crimes in order to eliminate fines as an alternative to imprisonment; the process remained ongoing at the end of the reporting period.The government reported it initiated seven investigations of 149 suspects – five cases of sex trafficking, one case of labor trafficking, and one case of an unspecified form of exploitation – compared with initiating investigations of 40 suspects in 2021 (25 for sex trafficking and 15 for labor trafficking) and two new investigations each in 2020 and 2019.  The government continued three investigations, two cases of sex trafficking and one case of labor trafficking, initiated in prior reporting periods.  The government did not report initiating any new prosecutions, compared with initiating prosecution of two Barbadian men for sex trafficking in 2021; the government had not reported initiating a prosecution prior to that since 2013.  The government and media reported the government continued prosecution of five suspected traffickers initiated in 2021 and 2013.  The government prosecuted the two traffickers from 2021 under the Sexual Offenses Act; the government did not prosecute the 2013 case under the TIPPA as it predated that legislation.  The government has never convicted a trafficker under the TIPPA, reflecting long lags between arrests and prosecutions across the justice system.  The government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government employees complicit in trafficking crimes.  The government continued to implement a regulation that prohibited police officers from moonlighting as security officers in adult entertainment venues and bars to avoid any actual or perceived conflict of interest in the police’s role in deterring, detecting, and responding to trafficking and other crimes.The Sex Crimes and Trafficking Unit of the Barbados Police Service (BPS) investigated all potential human trafficking cases, while the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was responsible for prosecuting trafficking cases.  These entities had island-wide jurisdiction and their responsibilities extended beyond trafficking, including sexual abuse.  However, observers noted BPS could not adequately investigate potential trafficking crimes or screen or identify potential victims among the PRC national population working on PRC-funded projects – or among mainly Muslim communities – due to limited ability to access these groups.  There were no courts solely dedicated to hearing trafficking cases; trafficking cases could be heard in one of the High Court’s eight criminal courts, up from five in the previous reporting period.  Serious criminal cases, including trafficking cases, required in-person jury trials unless the defendant pled guilty or the case involved no witnesses.  The government and outside observers reported pandemic delays in prior reporting periods continued to contribute to an already substantial court backlog, including in trafficking cases.  The government added courts and additional judges to improve the judicial process for all crimes, including the 2013 trafficking case.  The government reported the BPS, the DPP, and the courts had dedicated budgets, while the Sex Crimes and Trafficking Unit was funded through the BPS budget.  The government reported these entities had adequate financial resources; however, observers noted trafficking authorities lacked sufficient resources.  The government continued to report difficulties with evidence gathering, data collection, and analysis.  In a previous reporting period, BPS began to implement a digital case management system; implementation continued in the current reporting period.  The Sex Crimes and Trafficking Unit began to develop a database for investigative and victim data.  The Financial Intelligence Unit developed a typology of suspicious financial transactions for crimes including trafficking.  The government included human trafficking within introductory trainings for police and the Financial Intelligence Unit trained financial sector reporting entities on the suspicious financial crime typology.  The government reported that if a sex tourism case was associated with human trafficking, the suspect could be tried for crimes committed abroad, but it did not report initiating any such prosecutions.  The government participated in two regional law enforcement exercises that included intelligence-gathering and training and one operation with INTERPOL focused on trafficking indicators within migration flows to the island.  A foreign donor reported the government worked with it and INTERPOL on two ongoing investigations.																																												PROTECTION						    																																															The government maintained efforts to protect victims.  The government did not identify any victims, including from the new trafficking investigations.  This compared with identifying one child sex trafficking victim in 2021; prior to 2021, the government had not identified a victim since 2016, when the government identified eight victims.  The government screened 126 potential victims in cooperation with international partners and INTERPOL, compared with screening 26 potential victims in 2021.  The BPS utilized an interview checklist to screen potential trafficking victims.  The Sex Crimes and Trafficking Unit and the Immigration Department, in cooperation with an international organization, finalized and implemented updated victim screening SOPs drafted in the previous reporting period.  The government reported law enforcement screened for trafficking indicators when detaining or arresting individuals involved in commercial sex, migrants, or other vulnerable groups.The government and NGOs continued to use an unwritten process for victim care as required by law, by which the Sex Crimes and Trafficking Unit would identify a potential victim and then refer them to other members of the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons (Task Force) for service provision.  The Sex Crimes and Trafficking Unit also could place victims in protective care and refer them to an NGO-operated safe house, although it did not do so during the reporting period.  The government designated the Bureau of Gender Affairs as the government coordinator for local NGO assistance to victims.Under the TIPPA, all confirmed victims, including those with disabilities, had to be provided safe shelter, counseling, healthcare, and information regarding their rights.  The government had the capacity and financial resources to provide all services except housing, but reported no victims received these services during the reporting period.  There was no specialized shelter for trafficking victims.  The government provided funding to an NGO-operated domestic shelter accessible for the disabled that could house up to 35 women and their children; however, this shelter did not have specialized resources for trafficking victims and previously provided inadequate care.  The government reported the shelter could provide psychological, health, and educational services, including remedial English and math; assistance with resume writing, entrepreneur programs, and vocational training in arts and crafts; assistance obtaining medical, financial, housing, legal, employment, and additional education services; and provision of personal care supplies, clothing, and bus fares.  Authorities did not report any victims receiving these services during the reporting period.  Foreign victims and their dependents could also receive help to pay other living expenses and obtain documents.  The government had an agreement with an NGO to provide accommodations to male victims.  Adult victims could leave shelters unchaperoned and could work while receiving assistance.  The children’s care board could provide care for any identified child victims but did not report doing so during the reporting period.  The government reported accommodation, flights, and a monthly stipend to Cuban medical professionals were provided; observers noted there was limited information on the freedom of movement of the participants.The TIPPA authorized the government to provide safeguards for victims’ identities and those of their families, issue work permits, and provide transportation and security during legal proceedings.  Authorities allowed trafficking victims and witnesses to provide testimony virtually, including from other countries, but did not report using these measures.  Prosecutors processed trafficking cases through a voluntary bill of indictment; victims provided evidence only one time to avoid re-traumatization.  The government maintained an informal policy allowing foreign victims to receive temporary legal status as an alternative to their removal to countries where they would face hardship or retribution by traffickers.  The Minister of National Security could authorize victims, on a case-by-case basis, to remain and work in the country; however, the government did not report granting this status during the reporting period.  Government policy permitted victims to leave the country and return for hearings, but the government did not report any such instances.  The TIPPA allowed courts to order restitution from a trafficker after a conviction; however, no victims received restitution.  Victims could request government assistance to receive compensation.  NGOs reported the government had recently improved the police’s understanding of trafficking risks for vulnerable women.																																												PREVENTION						    																																															The government slightly increased prevention efforts.  The Attorney General headed the Task Force, which included representatives from nine government entities and a non-governmental professional women’s organization; the Task Force also worked with other government entities as needed.  The Task Force, in collaboration with an NGO, used social media to raise awareness.  The government did not report how often the Task Force met; in the previous reporting period, the Task Force met three times and the sub-committee on prevention met bi-weekly.  The government created a new sub-committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defense and Security to inform the Sex Crimes and Trafficking Unit and the National Task Force on trafficking trends; the sub-committee met for the first time in March 2023.  The government continued to implement activities in the 2021-2023 NAP.  In March 2021, the government allocated 125,000 BDS ($61,880) to implement the NAP for two years.  Observers noted the government continued to financially support citizens post-pandemic, which limited resources available for human trafficking activities.  The government continued a long-term awareness campaign through television, radio, social media, banners, and a roadshow in malls.  NGOs reported the government improved its awareness-raising.  The government operated a police hotline number that could receive information on potential trafficking crimes; authorities did not report receiving any trafficking information from the hotline.  The professional women’s association on the Task Force and an NGO each operated a hotline that could receive trafficking-related calls, but did not receive any such calls.The Labor Department regulated recruitment agencies under the Recruiting of Workers Act; however, neither the law nor the government identified the agency responsible for enforcing the law.  The government did not prohibit recruitment fees.  There were no private sector labor recruiters or brokers operating in the country during the reporting period.  The government’s Employment and Career Counseling Service offered services for workers recruited for employment overseas, including in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  The government also worked with Canadian government agencies to ensure good conditions for Barbadian overseas workers.  The government reported Barbadian overseas workers on the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program whose contract period had not expired, who no longer had enough work, and where both original and receiving employer agreed, could change employers by informing the Liaison Office.  The Labor Department’s Safety and Health Officers could initially investigate potential forced labor crimes and refer any cases to the Sex Crimes and Trafficking Unit for further investigation.  The government reported the Labor Department initiated an investigation of a contracting subsidiary of a PRC state-owned investment holding company, which conducted construction work on behalf of a local parastatal agency.  The government promulgated the Protocol to Address Migrant Labor Conditions, which described the legal framework governing employers, explained employees’ rights, and served to sensitize employers, employees, and the public about possible labor violations.  The government reported it drafted updated public procurement legislation to reflect current standards but did not finalize or release it during the reporting period.  The government reported migrant workers could enter and leave the country at will if they observed all health protocols.  The government reported it made no changes to these workers’ immigration status and made pandemic-related benefits available to anyone residing in the country.  The government joined an international organization focusing on migration and trafficking.  The government did not make efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex acts.																																												TRAFFICKING PROFILE:						    																																															As reported over the past five years, human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Barbados.  Documented and undocumented migrants from Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, and Venezuela are at high risk for trafficking, although individuals from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are also vulnerable.  The government’s strict entry protocols due to the pandemic caused a significant reduction in the number of people from source countries entering Barbados in 2021, but observers report the numbers of Jamaican and Venezuelan women traveling to Barbados to engage in commercial sex have returned to pre-pandemic levels, partly due to pandemic-induced economic hardship.  NGOs report young foreign women go missing in disproportionately higher numbers and police do not investigate the disappearances as they frequently are not reported to the authorities; these situations may sometimes amount to human trafficking.  Approximately 300 PRC nationals worked on PRC-funded projects; PRC nationals may have been forced to work by the PRC.  During the reporting period, Barbados and Cuba signed a Health Cooperation Agreement for 70 Cuban doctors and more than 60 Cuban nurses to work in Barbados; Cuban medical workers also provided health services in response to the pandemic.  Cuban athletic coaches work in the country on private contracts.  Cuban nationals in the country may have been forced to work by the Cuban government.  Previously, traffickers operated as part of an organization; more recently, they appear to operate individually.  Authorities have noted an increase in the use of social media to recruit victims.  Media reported research from March 2021 suggested Barbadians are largely unaware about the extent of human trafficking in the country.  However, the government reported in 2021 there was a high level of public awareness of trafficking.  NGOs reported general discrimination against foreigners may have increased their vulnerability to trafficking.																																				    							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