Government of Barbados

Last updated
Government of Barbados
Parliamentary Republic
Coat of arms of Barbados.svg
Formation30 November 1966;57 years ago (1966-11-30)
Founding document Constitution of Barbados
Country Barbados
Website www.gov.bb
Office of the President
Head of State President of Barbados
Seat State House
Legislative branch
Legislature Parliament
Meeting place Parliament Buildings
Executive branch
Head of Government Prime Minister of Barbados
Appointed by President of Barbados
Headquarters Ilaro Court
Main organ Cabinet of Barbados
Departments19 Ministries
Judicial branch
Court Supreme Court of Barbados
Seat Supreme Court of Barbados Complex

The Government of Barbados (GoB) is a unitary parliamentary republic, where the President of Barbados is the head of state and the Prime Minister of Barbados is the head of government.

Contents

Structure

Simplification of the government structure of Barbados Simplification of govt structure of Barbados(Republic).png
Simplification of the government structure of Barbados

The country has a bicameral legislature and a political party system, based on universal adult suffrage and fair elections. The Senate has 21 members, appointed by the President, 12 on the advice of the Prime Minister, two on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, and seven at the President's sole discretion. The House of Assembly has 30 members, all elected. Both houses debate all legislation. However, the House of Assembly may override Senate's rejection of money bills and other bills except bills amending the Constitution.

Officers of each house (President and Deputy President of the Senate; Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Chairman of Committees of the Assembly) are elected from the members of the respective houses.

In keeping with the Westminster system of governance, Barbados has evolved into an independent parliamentary democracy, meaning that all political power rests with the Parliament under a non-political President as head of state. Executive authority is vested in the President, who normally acts only on the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, who are collectively responsible to Parliament. "Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2021" (PDF). Parliament of Barbados. 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-10-09. Retrieved 29 October 2021. Barbadian law is rooted in English common law, and the Constitution of Barbados implemented in 1966, is the supreme law of the land.

Fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual are set out in the Constitution and are protected by a strict legal code.

The Cabinet is headed by the Prime Minister, who must be an elected member of Parliament, and other ministers are appointed from either chamber by the President, as advised by the Prime Minister.

Office of the Prime Minister of Barbados on Bay Street, Bridgetown, Barbados. (c.a. November 2000) Barbadian Prime Minister's Office.jpg
Office of the Prime Minister of Barbados on Bay Street, Bridgetown, Barbados. (c.a. November 2000)

The President appoints as Leader of the Opposition the member of House of Assembly who commands the support of the largest number of members of that House in opposition to the ruling party's government.

The maximum duration of a Parliament is five years from the first sitting. There is a simultaneous dissolution of both Houses of Parliament by the President, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister.

There is an established non-political civil service. Also, there are separate constitutional commissions for the Judicial and Legal Service, the Public Service, and the Police Service.

History

The government has been chosen by elections since 1961 elections, when Barbados achieved full self-governance. Before then, the government was a Crown colony consisting of either colonial administration solely (such as the Executive Council), or a mixture of colonial rule and a partially elected assembly, such as the Legislative Council.

Between 1966 and 2021, the head of state of Barbados was the Monarchy of Barbados represented by the Governor-General of Barbados as its representative. After decades of republicanism, the monarchy was abolished and replaced with a new head of state office, the President of Barbados, on 30 November 2021.

Since independence the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) held office 1966 to 1976, from 1986 to 1994, and from January 2008 to 2018. The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) governed from 1976 to 1986, from September 1994–2008 and has formed the government from 2018–Present.

Executive branch

Main office-holders
OfficeNamePartySince
President Sandra of Barbados.jpg
Independent 30 November 2021
Prime Minister Mia Mottley (2021) (cropped).jpg
Barbados Labour Party 25 May 2018

The Executive Branch of government conducts the ordinary business of government. These functions are called out by the Prime Minister and cabinet ministers. The prime minister chooses the ministers of government they wish to have in the cabinet but they are actually appointed by the President.

OfficeOffice HolderConstituencyPolitical Party
Prime Minister
Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, with responsibility for Culture, Security, Public Service, Caricom and Development Commissions
Mia Mottley St. Michael North East Barbados Labour Party
Deputy Prime Minister
Senior Minister
Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources
Sanita Bradshaw St. Michael South East
Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs
Senior Minister Governance
Dale Marshall St. Joseph
Minister of Energy and Business Development
Senior Minister
Kerrie SymmondsSt. James Central
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
Senior Minister, Social and Environmental Policy
Jerome Walcott N/A (Senator)
Senior Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, with responsibility for Infrastructure and Town Planning MattersWilliam DuguidChrist Church West
Minister of Homes Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams Christ Church East
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition SecurityIndar WeirSt. Philip South
Minister of Tourism and International TransportIan Gooding EdghillSt. Michael West Central
Minister for the Public Service, Home Affairs, Labour and Gender AffairsLisa CummingsN/A (Senator)
Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational TrainingKay McConneySt. Philip West
Minister of Housing, lands and MaintenanceDwight SutherlandSt. George South
Minister of People Empowerment and Elder AffairsKirk HumphreySt. Michael South
Minister of the Environment and National Beautification and Blue EconomyAdrian FordeChrist Church West Central
Minister of Labour, Social Security and Third SectorColin JordanSt. Peter
Minister of Industry, Innovation, Science and TechnologyDavidson IshmaelSt. Michael North
Minister of Youth, Sports and Community EmpowermentCharles GriffithSt. John
Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic DevelopmentRyan StraughnChrist Church East Central
Minister in the Office of the Prime MinisterChantal Munroe KnightN/A (Senator)
Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Sonia Browne St. Philip North
Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Ministry of Business DevelopmentSandra HusbandsSt. James South

Source: St.Lucia Times Archived 2022-04-13 at the Wayback Machine

Parliamentary Secretaries
OfficeOffice HolderConstituencyPolitical party
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources, with responsibility for Water ResourcesRommel SpringerSt. Andrew Barbados Labour Party
Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder AffairsCorey LayneCity of Bridgetown

Source: St.Lucia Times Archived 2022-04-13 at the Wayback Machine

Permanent Secretaries
Ministerial OfficePositionOffice Holder
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade HEAD OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF FOREIGN TRADELouis Woodroffe
Prime Minister's OfficePERMANENT SECRETARYMs. Alies Jordan
Ministry of the Public ServiceDIRECTOR GENERAL (HUMAN RESOURCES)Ms. Gail Atkins
Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment PERMANENT SECRETARYMs. Nancy Headley
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade PERMANENT SECRETARYMs. Simone Rudder
Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal AffairsPERMANENT SECRETARYMs. Yvette Goddard
Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational TrainingPERMANENT SECRETARYMs. Betty Alleyne Headley
Ministry of Home AffairsPERMANENT SECRETARYMs. Deborah Payne
Ministry of Health & Wellness PERMANENT SECRETARYMs. Janet Philips
Ministry of Agriculture and Food SecurityPERMANENT SECRETARYMr. Terry Bascombe
Ministry of Labour and Social Partnership Relations PERMANENT SECRETARYDr. Karen Best
Ministry of Housing, Lands and Rural DevelopmentPERMANENT SECRETARYMr. Timothy Maynard
Ministry of International Business and IndustryPERMANENT SECRETARYMs. June Chandler
National Insurance DepartmentDIRECTORMs. Jennifer Hunte
Ministry of Tourism and International TransportPERMANENT SECRETARYMs. Donna Cadogan
Ministry of Youth and Community EmpowermentPERMANENT SECRETARYMs. Yolande Howard
Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder AffairsPERMANENT SECRETARYMs. Gabrielle Springer
Ministry of Energy, Small Business and EntrepreneurshipPERMANENT SECRETARY (SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS)Mr. Andrew Gittens
Ministry of Environment and National BeautificationPERMANENT SECRETARYMs. Daphne Kellman
Ministry of Energy, Small Business and EntrepreneurshipPERMANENT SECRETARY (SMALL

BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP)

Ms. Francine Blackman
Ministry of Transport, Works and MaintenancePERMANENT SECRETARYMr. Mark Cummins
Prime Minister's OfficePERMANENT SECRETARY (CULTURE)Mr. Jehu Wiltshire
Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue EconomyPERMANENT SECRETARYMs. Sonia Foster
Ministry of Innovation, Science and Smart TechnologyPERMANENT SECRETARYMr. Charley Browne
Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Public AffairsPERMANENT SECRETARYMs. Sandra Phillips
Cabinet OfficeCABINET SECRETARYMrs. Cecile Humphrey
Ministry of Energy, Small Business and EntrepreneurshipPERMANENT SECRETARY (Small Business and Entrepreneurship)Mr. Esworth Reid

Source: BGIS [ permanent dead link ]

Legislative Branch

Under Barbados' version of the Westminster system of government, the executive and legislative branches are partly intertwined. The only official Cabinet office (other than Prime Minister) expressly mentioned in the Constitution of Barbados is Office of the Attorney-General.

Law

The Constitution of Barbados is the supreme law of the nation. [1] The Attorney General heads the independent judiciary. Historically, Barbadian law was based entirely on English common law with a few local adaptations. At the time of independence, the Parliament of the United Kingdom lost its ability to legislate for Barbados, but the existing English and British common law and statutes in force at that time, together with other measures already adopted by the Barbadian Parliament, became the basis of the new country's legal system.

Legislation may be shaped or influenced by such organisations as the United Nations, the Organization of American States, or other international bodies to which Barbados has obligatory commitments by treaty. Additionally, through international co-operation, other institutions may supply the Barbados Parliament with key sample legislation to be adapted to meet local circumstances before enacting it as local law.

New acts are passed by the Barbadian Parliament and require approval by the President to become law. The President, has the power to "withhold assent" from laws by vetoing the proposed law without parliamentary override. [2]

Judicial branch

The judiciary is the legal system through which punishments are handed out to individuals who break the law. The functions of the judiciary are to enforce laws; to interpret laws; to conduct court hearings; to hear court appeals. [3]

The local court system of Barbados is made up of:

Perception

Transparency International ranked Barbados as 29th place (of 180) in the world on its Corruption Perceptions Index in 2021, being the least corrupt country in the Caribbean. [5]

See also

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The Judiciary of Barbados is an independent branch of the Barbadian government, subject only to the Barbadian Constitution. It is headed by the Chief Justice of Barbados. Barbados is a common law jurisdiction, in which precedents from English law and British Commonwealth tradition may be taken into account.

The following is the Barbadian Table of Precedence.

  1. The President of Barbados
  2. The Prime Minister
  3. The Chief Justice
  4. The Members of the Cabinet
    1. The Attorney-General of Barbados, as the first minister to be sworn in after the Prime Minister.
    2. Other cabinet ministers, their own order unknown.
  5. The former Governors-General
  6. The National Heroes
  7. The President of the Senate
  8. The Speaker of the House of Assembly
  9. The Leader of the Opposition
  10. The former Prime Ministers, and the former Chief Justices
  11. The Members of the President's Privy Council of Barbados
  12. The Chairman of the Barbados Christian Council
  13. The Ambassadors and High Commissioners
  14. The Justices of the Court of Appeals, and the Judges of the High Court
  15. The Parliamentary Secretaries
  16. The Deputy President of the Senate
  17. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly
  18. The Members of the Senate
  19. The Members of the House of Assembly
  20. The spouses of deceased dignitaries such as: Governors-General, Prime Ministers, and National Heroes
  21. The Chairmen of the Commissions established under the Constitution
  22. The Head of the Civil Service
  23. The Ombudsman, Director of Public Prosecutions, and Auditor General
  24. The Director of Finance and Economic Affairs, the Solicitor General, the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, the Permanent Secretaries, and the Governor of the Central Bank
  25. The Ambassadors/High Commission (Overseas)
  26. The Chief of Staff for the Barbados Defence Force, and the Commissioner of Police
  27. 1. The Chancellor, University of the West Indies; 2. The Chairman;The Cave Hill Campus Council, University of the West Indies; 3. The Principal, Cave Hill Campus; and the Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies.
  28. The former Ministers
  29. The Members of The Order of the Caribbean Community, and the holders of knighthoods conferred under the monarchy of Barbados.
  30. The holders of the Companion of Honour of Barbados
  31. The holders of the Companions of the Order of St. Michael and St. George
  32. The Heads of the regional bodies with diplomatic status.
  33. The Related grades, and the Clerk of Parliament
  34. The Chargé d'affaires and Acting High Commissioners, Deputy High Commissioners, Counsellors in Embassies, High Commissions and Legations, Consul-General - Chefs de Poste
  35. The Consuls - Chefs de Posts
  36. The Members of the Commissions established under the Constitution
  37. The Chairmen of Statutory Boards
  38. The Heads of Government Departments, including the Chief Technical Officers of departments integrated in Ministries, The Chief Magistrate, and the Chief Executive Officers of Statutory Boards
  39. Honorary Consuls, Vice-Consuls in Embassies, and High Commissions and Legations
<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitution of Barbados</span> Supreme law of Barbados

The Constitution of Barbados is the supreme law under which Barbados is governed. The Constitution provides a legal establishment of the Government of Barbados, as well as legal rights and responsibilities of the public and various other government officers. The Constitution which came into force in 1966 was amended in 1974, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. The 1966 document succeeds several other documents concerning administration of Barbados. One of them, the Barbados Charter, is discussed in the present Constitution's Preamble. Prior statutes were created for the administration of Barbados as a colony. As a former English and later British colony, the Constitution is similar to those of other former Commonwealth realms, yet distinctly different in the spirit of the Statute of Westminster.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">President of Barbados</span> Head of state of Barbados

The president of Barbados is the head of state of Barbados and the commander-in-chief of the Barbados Defence Force. The office was established when the country became a parliamentary republic on 30 November 2021. Prior to that date, the head of state was Elizabeth II, Queen of Barbados, who was represented on the island by a governor-general. The final person to hold that position, Sandra Mason, is currently serving as Barbados' first president.

References

  1. The official Constitution of Barbados (1966) version.
  2. Constitution of Barbados, Section 58(3)
  3. "About the Judicial System | Barbados Judicial System". Archived from the original on 2021-01-12. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  4. 1 2 "Law Courts of Barbados". Lawcourts.gov.bb. Archived from the original on 15 August 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  5. "Barbados maintains strong ranking in Corruption Perception Index". Barbados Today. 2022-01-26. Retrieved 2022-03-08.

Further reading