Government and Politics of Barbados

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, held on January 19, 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 for the second election in a row. The DLP, despite receiving roughly a third of the popular vote, failed to convert any votes into seats under the first-past-the-post electoral system. Voter turnout was approximately 62%, reflecting a modest decline from the 2018 contest. The result cemented Mottley's position as one of the most dominant political figures in recent Caribbean history.

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

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

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

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