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Prime Minister of Barbados

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Prime Minister of Barbados
Coat of arms of Barbados (3).svg
Flag of the Prime Minister of Barbados.svg
Standard of the Prime Minister of Barbados
Mia Mottley (2021) (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Mia Mottley
since 25 May 2018
StyleThe Honourable
TypeHead of government
Member ofHouse of Assembly
ResidenceIlaro Court
SeatBridgetown
AppointerPresident of Barbados
Term lengthFive years, renewable indefinitely
Formation30 November 1966; 56 years ago (1966-11-30)
First holderErrol Barrow
SalaryBDS $213,334 annually[1]

The prime minister of Barbados is the head of government of Barbados. The prime minister is appointed by the president under the terms of the Constitution. As the nominal holder of executive authority, the president holds responsibility for conducting parliamentary elections and for proclaiming one of the candidates as prime minister.

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Head of government

Head of government

The head of government is the highest or the second-highest official in the executive branch of a sovereign state, a federated state, or a self-governing colony, autonomous region, or other government who often presides over a cabinet, a group of ministers or secretaries who lead executive departments. In diplomacy, "head of government" is differentiated from "head of state" although in some countries, for example the United States, they are the same person.

Barbados

Barbados

Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of 432 km2 (167 sq mi) and has a population of about 287,000. Its capital and largest city is Bridgetown.

President of Barbados

President 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. Before, the head of state was Elizabeth II, Queen of Barbados, who was represented on the island by a governor-general. The first and current president is Sandra Mason, who previously served as the last governor-general.

Constitution of Barbados

Constitution 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, 1978, 1990, 1992, 1995, 2002, 2003, 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.

Elections in Barbados

Elections in Barbados

Elections in Barbados are held to choose members to fill elective offices in the House of Assembly. Elections are held on Election Day. These general elections do not have fixed dates, but must be called within five years of the opening of parliament following the last election. A former minister of the DLP, Warwick Franklin summed up the general elections process in Barbados as saying it is really just, "30 by-elections on the same day."

Background

Sir Grantley Herbert Adams was appointed Barbados' first Premier on 1 February 1953 when Barbados attained full self-government.[2] When Barbados negotiated full political independence from Britain on 30 November 1966, the office was renamed Prime Minister.[3] Despite the renaming, the functions of the office were not significantly changed.

Appointment and tenure

Simplification of the government structure of Barbados
Simplification of the government structure of Barbados

As a former British colony, Barbados has largely adopted British political models and follows the Westminster, or Cabinet, system of government, in which the executive branch of government is responsible to the legislature.[4] The prime minister was historically appointed by the governor-general until 2021, and by the President of Barbados thereafter, to serve a maximum five-year term in Parliament. The president must endeavour to find a candidate acceptable to a majority in the House; if no such candidate can be found, the president must dissolve Parliament and call an election prematurely.

Incumbent prime ministers who lose their seat in a parliamentary election may not be prime minister. If the prime minister dies, as has happened on three occasions, the president appoints a replacement from Parliament to serve the remainder of the five-year term of Parliament. The prime minister must also be supported, or at least accepted, by a majority in the House of Assembly. If at any time the prime minister loses the "confidence" of the House, he must resign, along with the entire Cabinet. In practice, this usually reduces the prime minister's appointment to a formality, as the parliamentary leader of the majority political party or coalition is invariably appointed. If, however, no such majority party or coalition exists, whether due to electoral fragmentation or to party realignments after an election, the president's role becomes much more important.

The prime minister of Barbados is technically the "first among equals," whose vote in meetings of the Cabinet carries no greater weight than that of any other minister. In practice, the prime minister dominates the government. Other ministers are appointed by the president, but on the prime minister's "advice", and may be dismissed by the prime minister at any time (although hypothetically, the prime minister's control over ministerial appointments may be tempered by the realities of coalition politics: the leader or leaders of coalition partners may insist on having a say in the matter too).

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British Empire

British Empire

The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts established by England between the late 16th and early 18th centuries. At its height it was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power. By 1913, the British Empire held sway over 412 million people, 23 per cent of the world population at the time, and by 1920, it covered 35.5 million km2 (13.7 million sq mi), 24 per cent of the Earth's total land area. As a result, its constitutional, legal, linguistic, and cultural legacy is widespread. At the peak of its power, it was described as "the empire on which the sun never sets", as the Sun was always shining on at least one of its territories.

Barbados

Barbados

Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region of the Americas, and the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. It occupies an area of 432 km2 (167 sq mi) and has a population of about 287,000. Its capital and largest city is Bridgetown.

Cabinet (government)

Cabinet (government)

A cabinet is a body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the executive branch's top leaders. Members of a cabinet are usually called cabinet ministers or secretaries. The function of a cabinet varies: in some countries, it is a collegiate decision-making body with collective responsibility, while in others it may function either as a purely advisory body or an assisting institution to a decision-making head of state or head of government. Cabinets are typically the body responsible for the day-to-day management of the government and response to sudden events, whereas the legislative and judicial branches work in a measured pace, in sessions according to lengthy procedures.

Executive (government)

Executive (government)

The executive, also referred as the executive branch or executive power, is the term commonly used to describe that part of government which enforces the law, and has overall responsibility for the governance of a state.

Legislature

Legislature

A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government.

President of Barbados

President 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. Before, the head of state was Elizabeth II, Queen of Barbados, who was represented on the island by a governor-general. The first and current president is Sandra Mason, who previously served as the last governor-general.

Cabinet of Barbados

Cabinet of Barbados

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.

List of political parties in Barbados

List of political parties in Barbados

This article lists political parties in Barbados.

Elections in Barbados

Elections in Barbados

Elections in Barbados are held to choose members to fill elective offices in the House of Assembly. Elections are held on Election Day. These general elections do not have fixed dates, but must be called within five years of the opening of parliament following the last election. A former minister of the DLP, Warwick Franklin summed up the general elections process in Barbados as saying it is really just, "30 by-elections on the same day."

Advice (constitutional law)

Advice (constitutional law)

In constitutional law, advice is a formal and usually binding instruction given by one constitutional officer of state to another. Particularly in parliamentary systems of government, heads of state often act on the basis of advice issued by prime ministers or other government ministers. For example, in constitutional monarchies, the monarch usually appoints ministers of the Crown on the advice of their prime minister.

Holders

There were three premiers prior to independence and there have been eight prime ministers since independence.

Responsibilities

The prime minister advises the president, appoints ministers, controls a majority in the House of Assembly, and appoints 12 senators. Although the prime minister is appointed by the President of Barbados, they are almost always the leader of the majority party.[5]

List of prime ministers

Mia MottleyFreundel StuartDavid Thompson (Barbadian politician)Owen ArthurLloyd Erskine SandifordHarold Bernard St. JohnTom Adams (politician)Errol Barrow


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Official oath of office

I, _________________________, being appointed Prime Minister, do swear that I will to the best of my judgment, at all times when so required, freely give my counsel and advice to the President (or any other person for the time being lawfully performing the functions of that office) for the good management of the public affairs of Barbados, and I do further swear that I will not on any account, at any time whatsoever, disclose the counsel, advice, opinion or vote of any particular Minister or Parliamentary Secretary and that I will not, except with the authority of the Cabinet and to such extent as may be required for the good management of the affairs of Barbados, directly or indirectly reveal the business or proceedings of the Cabinet or the nature or contents of any documents communicated to me as Prime Minister or any matter coming to my knowledge in my capacity as such, and that in all things I will be a true and faithful Prime Minister. So help me God. [6]

British Privy Council

Prior to the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice in 2005, it was common for Barbadian prime ministers to be nominated to the British Privy Council, whose large membership includes prominent British persons and persons from other Commonwealth nations that continue to share the same person as monarch.

Prime ministers added to the Privy council (by year):

  • The Rt Hon. Errol Barrow, 1969;
  • The Rt Hon. Tom Adams, 1977;
  • The Rt Hon. Lloyd Erskine Sandiford, 1989;
  • The Rt Hon. Owen Arthur, 1995;
  • The Rt Hon. Freundel Stuart, 2014.

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Quasi-Cabinet of the Caribbean Community

Source: "Prime Minister of Barbados", Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, (2023, March 4th), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Barbados.

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See also
References
  1. ^ Government of Barbados. "Personal Emoluments of Barbados 2021-2022". Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  2. ^ "The History | BARBADOSPARLIAMENT.COM". www.barbadosparliament.com. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Barbados - Barbados since independence | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Caribbean Elections | Barbados Government Structure". www.caribbeanelections.com. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Caribbean Elections | Barbados Government Structure". www.caribbeanelections.com. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  6. ^ The Constitution of Barbados. Barbados. 1966. p. 96.
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