The British High Commission is divided into several sections.  Below you will find a very brief description of the ones you are likely to come into contact with.  

The Press & Public Affairs Section (PPA) is responsible for presenting and promoting Britain and British Government policy.  This involves liaising with other entities such as the British Council when required to ensure a co-ordinated effort.  PPA co-ordinates all media operations and provides a wide range of information services.  We publish a quarterly magazine called ‘UK Access’. 

The Commercial Section is responsible for representing Britain’s interests on all htmlects of trade policy.  This includes helping British companies to expand into the local market and local companies who wish to invest in Britain. 

The Consular Section is responsible for the consular protection of British nationals in Barbados and the Commonwealth of Dominica.  The section also handles British passport and entry clearance (visa) matters for the Eastern Caribbean. 

The Chancery is responsible for political relations.  They take the leading role in promoting the national interests of Britain, ensuring that they represent British views to local Government.  This makes sure that Britain and Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean can work as closely as possible together in pursuit of our common goals.

The Defence Section is staffed by a Royal Navy (RN) Captain (currently Captain Steve C Ramm, RN), who is known as the British Defence Adviser (Eastern Caribbean), a RN Chief Petty Officer (currently CPOWTR Paul R Johns), who is the Defence Adviser’s Staff Assistant and a locally employed civilian (currently Mrs Faye Hobson), who is the Defence Adviser’s Personal Assistant. The Defence Section telephone numbers whilst telephoning within the Caribbean are (1 246 430 7809/19 (start with 001 from the UK)). As well as overseeing British Defence interests in the region of the Eastern Caribbean (EC), Guyana and Suriname, the Defence Adviser also provides military advice to British High Commissioners, Resident British Commissioners and Governors in the EC. The Defence Adviser liaises closely with EC Governments, Defence Forces, Coastguards and Police Forces as well as other law enforcement agencies, advising on joint training and exercises, and UK military training courses amongst many other things. The Defence Section also offers advice to potential Commonwealth recruits into the British Armed Forces. One other key htmlect of the Defence Section is to oversee the operations of the British Warship and its Auxiliary – the Atlantic Patrol Task (North), APT(N), which operate in the Caribbean most of the year around. The APT(N)’s primary roles are drug interdiction, disaster relief and support to the British Caribbean Overseas Territories. ‘Defence Diplomacy’ is the key!

Click here to contact the British High Commission.