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Prime Minister of Barbados
Flag of the Prime Minister of Barbados.svg
Standard of the Prime Minister
Coat of arms of Barbados (3).svg
Mia Mottley (2021) (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Mia Mottley
since 25 May 2018
Style The Honourable
Member of House of Assembly
Residence Ilaro Court
Seat Bridgetown
Appointer President of Barbados
Term length Five years, renewable indefinitely
Formation 30 November 1966; 58 years ago (1966-11-30)
First holder Errol Barrow
Salary Barbadian dollars $213,334/US$ 106,667 annually


The prime minister of Barbados is the main leader of the government in Barbados. The President chooses the prime minister based on the country's Constitution. The President is in charge of holding elections and announcing who will be the next prime minister.

History of the Prime Minister Role

Sir Grantley Herbert Adams became Barbados' first Premier on February 1, 1953. This was when Barbados gained full self-government. When Barbados became fully independent from Britain on November 30, 1966, the job title changed to Prime Minister. Even though the name changed, the prime minister's duties stayed mostly the same.

How a Prime Minister is Chosen

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

Barbados used to be a British colony. Because of this, it uses a government system similar to Britain's, called the Westminster system. In this system, the government's main leaders are responsible to the country's law-making body.

The prime minister is chosen by the President of Barbados. Before 2021, the Governor-General made this choice. A prime minister can serve for a maximum of five years in Parliament. The President tries to find a person who most members of the House of Assembly agree on. If no one can be agreed upon, the President must call a new election.

A prime minister who loses their seat in an election cannot continue to be prime minister. If a prime minister passes away, the President chooses a new one from Parliament. This new prime minister serves for the rest of the five-year term. The prime minister must also have the support of most members in the House of Assembly. If the prime minister loses this support, they must resign, along with their entire group of ministers, called the Cabinet.

Usually, the leader of the political party that wins the most seats in an election becomes prime minister. Other ministers are chosen by the President, but only after the prime minister suggests them. The prime minister can also remove ministers from their jobs at any time.

Prime Ministers of Barbados

There were three Premiers before Barbados became independent. Since independence, there have been eight prime ministers.

What the Prime Minister Does

The prime minister gives advice to the President. They also choose other ministers and lead the majority in the Barbados House of Assembly. The prime minister also appoints 12 senators. Even though the President officially appoints the prime minister, it is almost always the leader of the party with the most votes.

List of Leaders

Main article: List of prime ministers of Barbados
Mia Mottley Freundel Stuart David Thompson (Barbadian politician) Owen Arthur Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Harold Bernard St. John Tom Adams (politician) Errol Barrow

Images for kids

  • Tom Adams (politician)

    John "Tom" Adams
    (served: 1976–1985)

  • Owen Arthur-2

    Owen Arthur
    (served: 1994–2008)

  • David John Howard Thompson - World Economic Forum on Latin America 2010 (cropped)

    David Thompson
    (served: 2008–2010)

  • Freundel Stuart

    Freundel Stuart
    (served: 2010–2018)

Official Promise of Office

When a person becomes Prime Minister, they say a special promise called an oath. This oath means they promise to always give their best advice to the President for the good of Barbados. They also promise to keep Cabinet discussions private.

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.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Primer ministro de Barbados para niños

  • List of Commonwealth heads of government
  • Politics of Barbados
  • Ilaro Court
  • Prime Minister of the West Indies Federation
  • Governor-General of Barbados
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