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Government and Politics of Barbados
Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Barbados.
Government Structure
Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.
- Government Type
- parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth
- Administrative Divisions
- 11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note - the city of Bridgetown may be given parish status
- Legal System
- English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
- Citizenship
- citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
- Executive Branch
- chief of state: President Dame Sandra MASON (since 30 November 2021); Barbados became a republic on 30 November 2021, removing the British monarch as head of state and transitioning from a constitutional monarchy to a parliamentary republic head of government: Prime Minister Mia Amor MOTTLEY (since 25 May 2018); she was re-elected following the January 2022 general elections, in which her Barbados Labour Party won all 30 seats in the House of Assembly, marking a historic clean sweep; Mottley was subsequently sworn in for her second term as prime minister cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: president elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of Parliament for a four-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister to the president for appointment
- Legislative Branch
- Barbados has a bicameral Parliament consisting of the Senate (21 members appointed by the Governor General) and the House of Assembly (30 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms). Elections: House of Assembly — last held on January 19, 2022 (next to be held by January 2027). Election results: House of Assembly — percent of vote by party: Barbados Labour Party (BLP) approximately 56.1%, Democratic Labour Party (DLP) approximately 33.7%, other/independents approximately 10.2%; seats by party — BLP 30, DLP 0. The 2022 election marked the second consecutive landslide victory for the BLP under Prime Minister Mia Mottley, with the party sweeping all 30 seats in the House of Assembly.
- Judicial Branch
- Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services)
- Political Parties
- Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP [Clyde Mascoll]
- Head of State
- President Dame Sandra MASON
- Head of Government
- Prime Minister Mia Amor MOTTLEY
- Cabinet
- Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
- Elections
- House of Assembly — last held on January 19, 2022 (next to be held by January 2027).
- Election Results
- House of Assembly — percent of vote by party: Barbados Labour Party (BLP) approximately 56.1%, Democratic Labour Party (DLP) approximately 33.7%, other/independents approximately 10.2%; seats by party — BLP 30, DLP 0. The 2022 election marked the second consecutive landslide victory for the BLP under Prime Minister Mia Mottley, with the party sweeping all 30 seats in the House of Assembly.
- Constitution
- 30-Nov-66
- Independence
- 30 November 1966 (from UK)
- National Holiday
- Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
- International Organization Participation
- ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
- Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.
- chief of mission: Ambassador Michael Ian KING chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-9200 FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York consulate(s): Los Angeles
- U.S. Diplomatic Representation
- chief of mission: Ambassador Mary E. KRAMER embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown; (courier) ALICO Building-Cheapside, Bridgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055 telephone: [1] (246) 436-4950 FAX: [1] (246) 429-5246, 429-3379
Capital City
Seat of government and political history.
- Capital City
- Bridgetown
- Location
- 13 06 N, 59 37 W
- Time Difference
- UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
- History
- named after a bridge constructed over the swampy area (known as the Careenage) around the Constitution River that flows through the center of Bridgetown
Embassy and Diplomatic Representation
Embassy location and contact details.
U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown Wildey Business Park Wildey St. Michael, Barbados Telephone: (246) 227-4399 Emergency after-hours telephone: (246) 227-4000 Facsimile: (246) 431-0179 Email: BridgetownACS@state.gov Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Barbadian and U.S. holidays.
Military
Branches, service obligations, expenditures, and manpower.
- Military Branches
- Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, Barbados Coast Guard
- Service Age and Obligation
- 18 years of age for voluntary military service, or earlier with parental consent; no conscription
National Symbols
Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.
National Flag
- Flag Symbolism
- three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, 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)
- Flag History
- The blue stands for the sea and sky, the yellow stands for the sandy beaches. The trident, an attribute of the mythical sea god Neptune, symbolizes some of the traditions of the past but the shaft is broken. indicating the break with the historical and constitutional ties of the past.
- Date of Adoption
- 30 November 1966
National Anthem
- Anthem Lyrics
- In plenty and in time of need When this fair land was young Our brave forefathers sowed the seed From which our pride has sprung A pride that makes no wanton boast Of what it has withstood That binds our hearts from coast to coast The pride of nationhood chorus We loyal sons and daughters all Do hereby make it known These fields and hills beyond recall Are now our very own We write our names on history's page With expectations great Strict guardians of our heritage Firm craftsmen of our fate The Lord has been the people's guide For past three hundred years. With Him still on the people's side We have no doubts or fears. Upward and onward we shall go, Inspired, exulting, free, And greater will our nation grow In strength and unity.
Other National Symbols
National Flower
Pride of Barbados, also known as Dwarf Poinciana & Flower Fence (Poinciana pulcherrima
The Pride of Barbados blooms most of the year, the more common varieties are a fiery red and yellow although other colour variations can be found. The flower has five petals with a yellow margin in a pyramidal inflorescence. Each flower is about 1½ inches across with five sepals. The ten stamens are long and the pistils project from the centre of the flower. The fifth petal is far smaller than the other four. The stamens have coloured filaments with anthers at the tips however, the eleventh filament bears a stigma and is the style. The branches are prickly and the leaves are large and doubly compound about one foot long and six inches wide with many small leaflets. The National Flower is accepted as the red variety with the Yellow Margin on the petals. It appears on the Coat of Arms
Coat of Arms
The grant of arms conveyed by royal warrant was presented by Her Majesty the Queen to the President of the Senate of the island on February 14, 1966 on the occasion of the Royal Visit to Barbados. Prior to this grant of Arms the only other heraldic device was the seal of the colony. It represented the British Sovereign in a shell chariot bein drawn by two sea horses through foaming waves. The seal was changed when there was a new monarch. King sits in the chariot while the Queens stand. The Golden Shield of the Arms carries two Pride of Barbados flowers (the National Flower) and the Bearded Fig Tree (ficus Citrifolia) which was common on the island at the time of its settlement. On either side of the shield are the supporters-on the right (dexter) is a dolphin symbolic of the fishing industry and on the left (sinister) is a Pelican. The association is made with a small island named Pelican Island which existed off Barbados and which was incorporated into the Deep Water Harbour development. Above the shield is a helmet and mantling and on a wreath is the arm and hand of a Bardadian holding two crossed pieces of sugar cane symbolic of the sugar industry. This is a saltire cross, the cross upon which Saint Andrew was crucified. Independence day in Barbados is celebrated on November 30, Saint Andrews Day. The Coat of Arms carries the motto “Pride and Industry.” The Barbados Coat of Arms was designed by Mr. Neville C. Connell. Mr. Connell was a director of the Barbados Museum for almost 24 years. He was a prolfic writer and contributed a great number of articles for the Museum Journals, local newspapers as well as publications overseas. He was educated at Harrison College, Barbados and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar at Grey's Inn. He served in the Royal Artillery on the outbreak of war. After his discharge he worked in an Antique Dealer's business and was also Assistant Secretary of the Institute Practitioners in Advertising. The Design of Barbados Coat of Arms was the result of exensive research conducted by Mr. Connell who was a student of Heraldy. He was assisted in this work by Mrs. Hilda Ince (now deceased), an excellent artist. The developmental sketches of the Coat of Arms remain in the possession of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society.
Motto
Pride and Industry