50 Dollars 2007, Barbados
| in Krause book | Number: 70а |
| Years of issue: | 01.05.2007 |
| Edition: | 6 191 528 |
| Signatures: | Governor: Dr. Marion Williams (1999 - 2009) |
| Serie: | 2007 Issue |
| Specimen of: | 01.05.2007 |
| Material: | Cotton fiber |
| Size (mm): | 150 x 65 |
| Printer: | De la Rue currency,Loughton |
* All pictures marked 
are increased partially by magnifying glass, the remaining open in full size by clicking on the image.
** The word "Specimen" is present only on some of electronic pictures, in accordance with banknote images publication rules of appropriate banks.
Description
Watermark:
Map of Barbados, waves, flower Pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) and cornerstones.
Caesalpina pulcherrima is the national flower of the Caribbean island of Barbados, and is depicted on the upper left and right corners of the Queen Elizabeth II's personal Barbadian flag.
Caesalpinia pulcherrima is a species of flowering plant in the pea family, Fabaceae, native to the tropics and subtropics of the Americas. It could be native to the West Indies, but its exact origin is unknown due to widespread cultivation. Common names for this species include poinciana, peacock flower, red bird of paradise, Mexican bird of paradise, dwarf poinciana, pride of Barbados, flos pavonis, and flamboyant-de-jardin.
Avers:
Errol Walton Barrow, PC, QC (21 January 1920 – 1 June 1987) was a Caribbean statesman and the first Prime Minister of Barbados. Born into a family of political and civic activists in the parish of Saint Lucy, he was educated at Harrison College. He was also known as "Dipper Barrow" within the country itself.
Errol Barrow served in the Royal Air Force during World War II. He enlisted in the RAF on 31 December 1940 and flew some 45 operational bombing missions over the European Theatre. By 1945 he had risen to the rank of Flying Officer and was appointed as personal navigator to the Commander in Chief of the British Zone of occupied Germany, Sir William Sholto Douglas.
After the war he studied Law at the Inns of Court and economics at the London School of Economics concurrently, taking degrees in 1949 and 1950 respectively. During that time, Barrow also served as Chairman of the Council of Colonial Students where his contemporaries included Forbes Burnham, Michael Manley, Pierre Trudeau, and Lee Kwan Yew[citation needed], all destined to become political leaders in their home countries.
He returned to Barbados in 1950 and was elected to the Barbados Parliament in 1951 as a member of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). Feeling the fever of anti-colonialism he had inculcated during his student days in London, he quickly became dissatisfied by the incremental approach to change advocated by the party stalwarts.
In 1955 he founded the Democratic Labour Party as a progressive alternative to the BLP. He became its leader in 1958 and the party won parliamentary elections in 1961 within his constituency of St. John. Barrow served as Premier of Barbados from 1961 until 1966 when, after leading the country to independence from Great Britain, he became Prime Minister. He served continuously in that capacity as well as stints as Minister of Finance, and Minister of Foreign Affairs for the next ten years. During this period he had a lengthy affair with American musician and civil rights activist Nina Simone, who had fled to Barbados to avoid prosecution for tax resistance.
During his tenure the DLP government accelerated industrial development, expanded the tourist industry to reduce the island's economic dependence on sugar, introduced National Health Insurance and Social Security, and expanded free education to all levels.
Barrow was a dedicated proponent of regional integration, spearheading the foundation of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) in 1965. Eight years later CARIFTA evolved into the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), when Barrow, together with Forbes Burnham of Guyana, Dr. Eric Williams of Trinidad & Tobago and Michael Manley of Jamaica enacted the Treaty of Chaguaramas to bolster political and economic relations between the English-speaking Caribbean territories.
After another landslide victory in 1971, the DLP returned to the electorate in 1976 for a mandate after two years of bitter controversy over constitutional amendments put forth by the government. Barrow, who had invited public comment on the amendments verbally lashed out at those who had been critical of what he viewed as a minor procedural change in the appointment of judges. A general economic downturn which affected most countries in the hemisphere contributed to a shift in public sentiment resulting in the party's election defeat.
As an indomitable advocate of Caribbean sovereignty he fiercely opposed interference in Caribbean affairs. As opposition leader in 1983 he spoke out forcefully against the United States invasion of Grenada and he was scathing in his criticism of other Caribbean leaders who kow-towed to Washington in the hope of getting economic handouts:
"Mr. Seaga (Prime Minister of Jamaica, Edward Seaga) thinks that the solution to Jamaica's problems is to get President Reagan to play Santa Claus. I do not believe in Santa Claus."
In May 1986, after 10 years in opposition, Barrow was re-elected as Prime Minister in a landslide victory in which the DLP won 24 of 27 seats in the House of Assembly. The campaign was notable for an address he gave at a political rally some two weeks before the election which came to be known as the "Mirror Image" speech. In it, Barrow rhetorically asked Barbadians what kind of a future they saw for themselves when they looked in the mirror; contrasting a life of menial labour as an émigré in the developed world, or staying and building a strong and independent Barbados to rival other small states like Singapore.
His re-election served as a catalyst for resurgent nationalism in the region, which by and large had subordinated itself to U.S. aid policy in the early 1980s. Barrow wasted no time in distancing himself from the "mendicant mentality" of his predecessors J. M. G. Adams and Bernard St. John. In his first press conference as Prime Minister he referred to Reagan as "that cowboy in the White House". In a British interview he characterized the President of the United States as "a zombie; he's programmed, a very dangerous person".
He chastised Washington for its treatment of not only the Caribbean states, but also of Canada and the United Kingdom, which he described as Barbados' closest allies. His political opponents deemed his attacks on Reagan as "tactically stupid", but for most Barbadians his outspokenness meant that "The Skipper" was back.
A year after his re-election, Prime Minister Errol Barrow collapsed and died at his home on 1 June 1987, becoming the second sitting Prime Minister to die in office.
By an act of Parliament in 1998, Barrow was named as one of the ten National Heroes of Barbados. 
Left of center is the coat of arms.
The coat of arms of Barbados was adopted on 14 February 1966 by royal warrant of Queen Elizabeth II. The coat of arms of Barbados was presented by the Queen to the President of the Senate, Sir Grey Massiah. Like other former British possessions in the Caribbean, the coat of arms has a helmet with a national symbol on top, and a shield beneath that is supported by two animals.
The arms were designed by Neville Connell, for many years curator of the Barbados Museum, with artistic assistance by Hilda Ince.
The national symbol found on top of the helmet for Barbados is the fist of a Barbadian holding two stalks of sugar cane, that are crossed to resemble St. Andrew's Cross. This is representative of the importance of the sugar industry as well as Barbados celebrating its national independence day on St. Andrew's Day.
The shield is gold in colour. Upon it are a pair of the national flower, known as the Pride of Barbados, and a single bearded fig tree (Ficus citrifolia). The shield is supported by a dolphin fish and a pelican. They stand for the fishing industry and Pelican Island, respectively.
At the bottom is Barbados' national motto ("Pride and Industry") on a scroll.
Centered is the Sailfin Flyingfish (Parexocoetus brachypterus).
The sailfin flyingfish (Parexocoetus brachypterus) is a member of the flying fish family. Like other members its family, P. brachypterus is known for its ability to leap out of the water and glide above its surface. They have a distribution range that encompasses the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. It is an epipelagic fish and can be found in in coastal waters but are rarely encountered in open oceans. They are known to spawn during the months of September to April in the waters near Barbados and Puerto Rico. Appearance wise, the sailfin flyingfish is known to have a robust build, blunt snout, short pectoral fins and having a long dorsal fin.
Stylized pelican, from coat of arms, is on right side.
On background and as a see-through feature are the tridents.
The trident symbol was taken from Barbados' colonial badge, where the trident of Poseidon is shown with Britannia holding it. The broken lower part symbolizes a symbolic break from its status as a colony. The three points of the trident represent the three principles of democracy: 1) government of the people, 2) government for the people, and 3) government by the people.
Denominations in numerals are in all corners, in words centered.
Revers:
On banknote - Trafalgar Square (National Heroes Square) in Bridgetown; Parliament buildings, The Fountain Dolphin, Cenotaph and the Careenage, Eastern Carlisle Bay, Bridgetown.
National Heroes Square, formerly Trafalgar Square, is located in Bridgetown, the capital and principal commercial center of the island-nation of Barbados. The square lies along Upper Broad Street and is on the northern shore of the Careenage ("Constitution River"), found directly in the center of Bridgetown.
The current name of the square was not so long ago - in 1999. Before that, it was Trafalgar Square - an echo of English colonization. Yes, and the square itself is an exact copy of London. On the square of heroes also stands a column with a monument to Admiral Nelson. By the way, Nelson in Barbados appeared earlier than in London. This happened in 1813, and the English twin was only put in thirty years.
The Heroes' Square is also a kind of zero kilometer. In Bridgetown it is customary to measure the distance from this area, or rather from its column.
The Government House (the XVII century), the Central Bank, the Parliament decorated with a small Big Ben, and the oldest building of the city - the attorney's office of Harford-Chambers, adjoin the square. The office building attracts attention with uneven masonry and Gothic pediments. The main decoration of the Square is the Anglican Church of St. Michael (1789). More than once the cathedral was destroyed by hurricanes, but it was always restored, as it was George Washington himself who prayed in his walls when he lived in the current house museum of Washington.
The Parliament Buildings (also known as The Public Buildings, or more rarely Parliament House), is the seat of the Parliament of Barbados. Built between 1870 and 1874, the buildings have been the meeting place for both chambers of Parliament since 16 June 1874, and a former site of Colonial administration of Barbados. It consists of two buildings in the neo-Gothic architectural style, and are reminiscent of the Victorian era of Great Britain.
The buildings are situated along the north bank of the Constitution River and are bordered by Upper Broad Street and National Heroes Square to the south; strategically at the heart of the capital city Bridgetown. Prior to the establishment of the buildings the legislature met at the Town Hall building on Coleridge Street.
In 1989 the Public Buildings were officially renamed the Parliament Buildings by Act of Parliament. In 2011 both buildings were designated as UNESCO protected properties within the World Heritage Site of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison area.
Careenage is the deep harbor of Bridgetown at the mouth of the Constitution River.
Not far from Trafalgar Square are two bridges, from where you can see a magnificent view of the bay of Careenage, and you can see how the elongated water ribbon literally breaks into the center of the city. Harbor Careenage serves as a parking lot for cruise liners, luxury yachts.
Cenotaph or War Memorial is visible on right side.
This War Memorial with its obelisk grey granite structure and coral stone basin is located in National Heroes Square and was erected in 1925 by the The Legislature of Barbados. This four panel War Memorial was erected in memory of those Barbadians who lost their lives in World War 1. (1914 - 1918)
The names of those Barbadians who lost their lives in World War II (1935 - 1945) were added in 1953 on a fourth panel.
In Barbados, a Remembrance Day Parade is held at the War Memorial which is located at National Heroes Square in Bridgetown. Churches from all over Barbados take part in this special early morning parade.
The Royal Barbados Police Force Band would normally play for both the parade and also for the march that takes place from Central Police Station to National Heroes’ Square.
Members of a number of armed and unarmed uniformed groups including The Close-up of the Names Inscribed on the War Memorial, Located in Bridgetown, Barbados Red Cross Society, The Barbados Regiment, The Barbados Legion, The Royal Barbados Police Force, The Barbados Cadet Corps, The Barbados Prison Service, Barbados Boy Scouts, The Girl Guide Association of Barbados, The Barbados Fire Service, The St. John Ambulance Brigade and The Barbados Coast Guard take part in this parade.
Wreaths are laid at the War Memorial by the Governor General, the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Opposition Leader, members of the diplomatic corps and other dignitaries at the end of the Two Minute Silence and the Sounding of the Last Post.
Family members of those who died in both World Wars are also to get involved in this wreath laying ceremony.
Remembrance Day in Barbados is also known as Poppy Day. (www.barbadospocketguide.com)
On right side is the fountain "Dolphin".
Ben’s Spring is one of the fresh water springs that flow from the base of the upper coral rock terrace that make up the center of the island. These coral rocks were the first to rise above the sea 1 to 2 million years ago.
In 1860 the Barbados Government decided that it was time that piped drinking water was provided for the inhabitants of Bridgetown.
Up to that time there was no piped water. Each property had its own well. In addition there were a few springs in the area, notably in the areas of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Spring Garden. This was a very unsanitary situation as each house also had a toilet well, usually close to the water well.
To get the water into Bridgetown a 12-inch cast iron pipe was laid from Ben’s Spring, in New Castle, St. John, to Bridgetown. The engineers laid the pipe so that the water flowed by gravity from the source to Bridgetown. This was an amazing engineering achievement, as it had to take a route that would not rise above the source height.
Ben’s Spring is approximately 100 Meters above sea level and the distance to town would be about 25 Km.
From New Castle it went down to Bath Plantation, passing close Bath Sugar Factory, up to Codrington College, Palmers, Between Oughterson and Busy Park, St. Philips Church, through the St. George valley, running parallel to the Train Line, and into the city.
The Pipe was completed on 29 March 1861. Fountain "Dolphin" was built in Trafalgar Square in honor of this achievement, on the donations of the wealthy Jewish merchant John Montefiore, in tribute of this achievement. The acting governor, Robert Millar Mundy Esq., officially opened it on the 27 July 1865 on behalf of the government of the island. The plaque on the side says: “This fountain was erected by public subscription to commemorate the bringing of piped water to the City of Bridgetown on 29 March 1861. Opened by acting Governor – Robert Miller Mundy ESQ. on the 27th July 1865 who accepted custody of this fountain on behalf of the Government of Barbados.”
Sections of this pipe are still in use although it is a constant source of leaks. It is over 140 years old, and the route in St. John is known for landslides.
Between Codrington College and Consett Bay it descends into a valley before climbing up to Palmers and Thicket. The pressure that the old pipe had to withstand was demonstrated a few years ago when a fitting failed and the water was spouting about 30 meters straight up.
The Barbados Water Authority is in the process of replacing it with a PVC pipe.
This is another example of Bajan ingenuity and hard work. It got fresh water to town without contributing to global warming! (www.barbadospocketguide.com)
Denominations in numerals are in three corners, in words - in lower left corner.
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