<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas
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<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> the new city of Bridgetown may be given parish status
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<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 30 November 1966 (from UK)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 30 November 1966
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Nita BARROW (since 6 June 1990)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Lloyd Erskine SANDIFORD (since 2 June 1987); Deputy Prime Minister Philip Marlowe GREAVES (since 2 June 1987)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister
<item><hi format=bold>Senate:</hi> consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governor general
<item><hi format=bold>House of Assembly:</hi> election last held 22 January 1991 (next to be held by January 1996); results—DLP 49.8%; seats—(28 total) DLP 18, BLP 10
<item><hi format=bold>Judicial branch:</hi> Supreme Court of Judicature
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Democratic Labor Party (DLP), Erskine SANDIFORD; Barbados Labor Party (BLP), Owen ARTHUR; National Democratic Party (NDP), Richie HAYNES
<item><hi format=bold>Other political or pressure groups:</hi> Barbados Workers Union, Leroy TROTMAN; People's Progressive Movement, Eric SEALY; Workers' Party of Barbados, Dr. George BELLE; Clement Payne Labor Union, David COMMISSIONG
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)