Australia–Barbados relations
Encyclopedia
Australia – Barbados relations are foreign relations between Australia
and Barbados
. Neither country has a resident ambassador. The regional Australian High Commissioner to Barbados is accredited from Port of Spain
, Trinidad and Tobago
. Barbados is represented in Australia through its High Commission in Ottawa
, (Canada). Barbados maintains an honorary consul and a tourist office in Australia. Barbados and Australia established diplomatic relations on 7 January 1974. Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations
, and comprised as former parts of the British Empire
.
. In 2001, Winfred Peppinck
was appointed as High Commissioner
.
In 2004, due in part to the robust trade by Australian companies with Trinidad and Tobago's oil sector the Australian government moved the regional Australian High Commission
from Bridgetown, Barbados to Port of Spain
in Trinidad and Tobago. It now serves Barbados and 13 other Caribbean countries. The official opening of the new building was made on 14 December 2006. By 2010 Philip Kentwell held the position of High Commissioner, now renamed Plenipotentiary Representative of Australia to the Caribbean Community. Kentwell remarked to the media that a new resident consulate was presently being planned for Barbados awaiting an official appointee to that post.
, headquartered in Melbourne
, became the first company to be granted a concession to search for oil and gas in the maritime areas of Barbados. The company was awarded offshore blocks in Carlisle Bay and Bimshire. In 2011, the Barbados government minister of Finance stated that various legislation was remedied to allow the Australian energy company to begin exploration in the near-term.
In 2009 both nations have given some consideration for the signing of a double taxation agreement
between their two nations. Maxine McClean, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade for Barbados said: "You will no doubt agree that the negotiation and conclusion of relevant agreements will result in increased foreign direct investment, trade and general co-operation to our mutual benefit. In this regard Barbados looks forward greatly to the enhancement of its relationship and co-operation with Australia."
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
. Neither country has a resident ambassador. The regional Australian High Commissioner to Barbados is accredited from Port of Spain
Port of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
, Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
. Barbados is represented in Australia through its High Commission in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, (Canada). Barbados maintains an honorary consul and a tourist office in Australia. Barbados and Australia established diplomatic relations on 7 January 1974. Both countries are members of the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
, and comprised as former parts of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
.
History
Barbados and Australia established diplomatic relations on 7 January 1974 with J. C. Ingram as the first High CommissionerHigh Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
. In 2001, Winfred Peppinck
Winfred Peppinck
Winfred Marcel Peppinck was the Ambassador to the Caribbean from the former Australian High Commission in Bridgetown, Barbados.-Biography:...
was appointed as High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
.
In 2004, due in part to the robust trade by Australian companies with Trinidad and Tobago's oil sector the Australian government moved the regional Australian High Commission
Australian High Commission
*High Commission of Australia, London*List of Australian High Commissioners to Canada*List of Australian High Commissioners to the United Kingdom...
from Bridgetown, Barbados to Port of Spain
Port of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
in Trinidad and Tobago. It now serves Barbados and 13 other Caribbean countries. The official opening of the new building was made on 14 December 2006. By 2010 Philip Kentwell held the position of High Commissioner, now renamed Plenipotentiary Representative of Australia to the Caribbean Community. Kentwell remarked to the media that a new resident consulate was presently being planned for Barbados awaiting an official appointee to that post.
Economic relations
In 2009, multinational BHP BillitonBHP Billiton
BHP Billiton is a global mining, oil and gas company headquartered in Melbourne, Australia and with a major management office in London, United Kingdom...
, headquartered in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, became the first company to be granted a concession to search for oil and gas in the maritime areas of Barbados. The company was awarded offshore blocks in Carlisle Bay and Bimshire. In 2011, the Barbados government minister of Finance stated that various legislation was remedied to allow the Australian energy company to begin exploration in the near-term.
In 2009 both nations have given some consideration for the signing of a double taxation agreement
Tax treaty
Many countries have agreed with other countries in treaties to mitigate the effects of double taxation . Tax treaties may cover income taxes, inheritance taxes, value added taxes, or other taxes...
between their two nations. Maxine McClean, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade for Barbados said: "You will no doubt agree that the negotiation and conclusion of relevant agreements will result in increased foreign direct investment, trade and general co-operation to our mutual benefit. In this regard Barbados looks forward greatly to the enhancement of its relationship and co-operation with Australia."
See also
- Garfield SobersGarfield SobersSir Garfield St Aubrun Sobers AO, OCC is a former cricketer who captained West Indies. His first name of Garfield is variously abbreviated as Gary or Garry. He is widely regarded as one of cricket's greatest ever all-rounders, having excelled at all the essential skills of batting, bowling and...
, Barbados born cricketer playing in Australia - Arthur WindsorArthur WindsorArthur Lloyd Windsor was an Australian journalist noted for his work on the The Argus and the The Age.-Biography:...
(1833–1913), Australian publisher born at sea on a trip to Barbados - Caribbean AustralianCaribbean AustralianCaribbean Australian are people of Caribbean ancestry who are citizens of Australia.According to the 2006 Australian census, 4,852 Australians were born in the Caribbean while 4,242 claimed the Caribbean ancestry, either alone or with another ancestry....
- Foreign relations of AustraliaForeign relations of AustraliaThe foreign relations of Australia have spanned from the country's time as Dominion and later Realm of the Commonwealth to become steadfastly allied with New Zealand through long-standing ANZAC ties dating back to the early 1900s, and the United States throughout the Cold War, to its engagement...
- Foreign relations of BarbadosForeign relations of BarbadosThis article deals with the diplomatic affairs, foreign policy and international relations of Barbados.At the political level, these matters are officially handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which answers to the Prime Minister. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, since November 2008 is:...