The politics of Barbados function within a framework of a parliamentary republic with strong democratic traditions;constitutional safeguards for nationals of Barbados include:freedom of speech,press,worship,movement,and association.
Owen Seymour Arthur was a Barbadian politician who served as the fifth prime minister of Barbados from 6 September 1994 to 15 January 2008. He is the longest-serving Barbadian prime minister to date. He also served as Leader of the Opposition from 1 August 1993 to 6 September 1994 and from 23 October 2010 to 21 February 2013.
The Barbados Labour Party (BLP),colloquially known as the "Bees",is a social democratic political party in Barbados established in 1938. It has been in power in 1954–1961,1976–1986,1994–2008,and 2018–present. The BLP has been the governing party of Barbados since 2018.
Dame Billie Antoinette Miller,DA,OCC is a Barbadian politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister. Miller is a member of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP).
The House of Assembly of Barbados is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Barbados. It has 30 Members of Parliament (MPs),who are directly elected in single member constituencies using the simple-majority system for a term of five years. The House of Assembly sits roughly 40–45 days a year and is presided over by a Speaker.
The Cabinet are individuals of Barbados which execute the duties of the Government of Barbados. Under a Parliamentary republic,these powers are vested nominally by the President of Barbados,but are exercised in practice by a Cabinet of Ministers,presided over by the Prime Minister of Barbados. The Prime Minister is formally appointed by the President:the President must appoint,as Prime Minister,someone who can control a majority of votes in the House of Assembly. In practice,this is normally the leader of the largest political party or coalition in the house. When there is no clear majority,the president assumers the role of arbitrator and opens negotiations with the leaders of the various political parties,in the hope of finding someone whom a majority will accept as Prime Minister. In the event of that failing to take place,the President must dissolve the House of Assembly and call an early election.
Mia Amor Mottley,is a Barbadian politician and attorney who has served as the eighth prime minister of Barbados since 2018 and as Leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) since 2008. Mottley is the first woman to hold either position. She is also Barbados' first prime minister under its republican system,following constitutional changes she introduced that abolished the country's constitutional monarchy.
Dale Dermot Marshall SC is the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs in Barbados.
Freundel Jerome Stuart,OR,PC,SC is a Barbadian politician who served as Prime Minister of Barbados and the leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) from 23 October 2010 to 21 February 2013;and from 21 February 2013 to 25 May 2018. He succeeded David Thompson,who had died in office on 23 October 2010 from pancreatic cancer.
Dame Sandra Prunella Mason is a Barbadian politician,lawyer,and diplomat who is serving as the first president of Barbados since 2021. She was previously the eighth and final governor-general of Barbados from 2018 to 2021,the second woman to hold the office. On 20 October 2021,Mason was elected by the Parliament of Barbados to become the country's first president,and took office on 30 November 2021,when Barbados ceased to be a constitutional monarchy and became a republic.
Cynthia Yvonne Forde ("Cinthy") is a Barbados born veteran politician,former first Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Barbados Labour Party,member of the Barbados Union of Teachers,current Member of Parliament for the constituency of St.Thomas and current Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.
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.
The 2021 Barbadian presidential election was held on 20 October 2021 to choose the first president of Barbados,an office established as part of Barbados becoming a republic. Sandra Mason,the incumbent governor-general of Barbados,was elected president,and she replaced Queen Elizabeth II as head of state of Barbados when she was sworn in on 30 November 2021.
Joseph Junior Sylvester Atherley is a Barbadian religious minister and politician who served as Leader of the Opposition in the House of Assembly of Barbados from 2018 to 2022,and as leader of the People's Party for Democracy and Development since 8 June 2019.
The People's Party for Democracy and Development (PdP),abbreviated as the People's Party, is a political party in Barbados established on 8 June 2019 and led by Joseph Atherley. At its foundation,it served as the main opposition party in both houses of the Barbadian Parliament,with one seat in the House of Assembly and two seats in the Senate from 8 June 2019 till 19 January 2022.
General elections were held in Barbados on 19 January 2022 to elect the 30 members of the House of Assembly. The ruling Barbados Labour Party won all 30 seats for the second consecutive election.
Jeffrey Davidson Bostic popularly known as "The Colonel" is a Barbadian politician and soldier. He was a cabinet minister in the cabinet of Mia Mottley. Bostic was the Minister of Health and Wellness of Barbados and a Member of the House of Assembly of Barbados.
Kerrie Symmonds is a Barbadian lawyer,politician and the cabinet minister in the government of Mia Mottley. He has served as the minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade since 2022,and was previously minister of energy and business development.
The Leader of the Opposition of Barbados is the Member of Parliament who leads the Official Opposition in the Barbados Parliament. The Leader of the Opposition is the leader of the largest political party in the House of Assembly of Barbados that is not in government.
