Parliament of Barbados Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Parliament of Barbados

Type
Type	Bicameral
Houses	• Senate • House of Assembly
Leadership
President of the Senate	Reginald Farley, BLP Since 2020
Assembly Speaker	Arthur Holder, BLP Since 5 June 2018
Prime Minister	Mia Mottley, BLP Since 25 May 2018
Leader of the Opposition	Ralph Thorne, DLP Since 12 February 2024
Structure
Seats	Senate: 21 House of Assembly: 30

Senate political groups	Government BLP (12) Opposition Ind. (7) DLP (2)

House of Assembly political groups	Government BLP (29) Opposition DLP (1)
Elections
Senate voting system	Appointment by the President
House of Assembly voting system	First-past-the-post
House of Assembly last election	19 January 2022
Meeting place

Bridgetown, Barbados

The Parliament of Barbados is the main law-making body of Barbados. It has the power to create laws for the country. This Parliament has two main parts, like two separate teams working together.

One part is the Senate, also called the Upper House. Its members are chosen by the President of Barbados. The other part is the House of Assembly, known as the Lower House. Its members are elected by the people of Barbados. The President of Barbados is also part of the Parliament.

Both the Senate and the House of Assembly meet in different rooms. These rooms are in the Parliament Buildings in Bridgetown, the capital city.

The Senate has 21 members. The House of Assembly has 30 elected members, plus the Speaker of the House. The Prime Minister can choose members for the Cabinet of Barbados from either the House or the Senate. However, the Prime Minister must always come from the House of Assembly.

Even though all three parts (Senate, House of Assembly, and President) have law-making power, the House of Assembly holds most of the real power today. This is because the President usually follows the Prime Minister's advice, and the Senate's powers are limited.

The way the Parliament of Barbados works is based on the Parliament of England. This system is called the Westminster system of government.

Meetings for both the House and Senate usually happen once a month. Extra meetings can be called if needed. The House of Assembly meets on Tuesdays starting at 10:30 AM. You can even listen to these meetings live on Quality 100.7 FM radio! The Senate meets on Wednesdays.

Since February 2020, the government has been using different buildings around Barbados for Parliament meetings. This includes places like the Worthing Corporate Centre. They haven't said when they will return to the main Parliament Buildings in Bridgetown.

History of Barbados' Parliament
What Parliament Does
Who is in Parliament?
When are Elections Held?
International Connections
See also

History of Barbados' Parliament

The Parliament of Barbados was started on June 26, 1639. It is the third oldest law-making body in the Americas. Only the Virginia General Assembly and the Bermuda House of Assembly are older. It is also one of the oldest parliaments in the Commonwealth of Nations.

How Parliament Began

The idea for a law-making body in Barbados came from Governor Henry Hawley. He wanted to create a government system similar to the Parliament of England. At first, Parliament had only one house. Its main job was to create laws. It was mostly controlled by the island's wealthy plantation owners. The very first meeting of the Barbados Assembly happened in 1639.

Early Meeting Places

The first known meeting place was called the "Sessions House." It was located on Marlhill, which is now Spry Street. Captain Henry Hawley built this building. It might have also been used for his law courts. Today, there's a monument outside the Central Bank of Barbados to remember this historic spot.

By 1653, the Assembly moved to the State House in Bridgetown. In 1668, a big fire destroyed the State House. For the next 100 years, elected officials met in different rented places around Bridgetown. They used taverns and homes of local business owners. The Roebuck Tavern was a popular spot.

In 1674, Governor Atkins was surprised to see such an important group meeting in a public tavern. He said it was strange for a place as important as Barbados not to have its own building.

Building the Parliament House

In 1724, a law was passed to build a proper place for the Council, Assembly, Law Courts, and a jail. This building was finished in 1731–1732 on Coleridge Street. However, the House of Assembly still sometimes met in private homes and taverns.

The current Parliament Buildings were built in the early 1870s. They have a neo-Gothic style, which means they look like old Gothic churches. They were built on a spot that had been destroyed by a big fire in 1860.

In 1968, the British House of Commons gave the Barbados Parliament two full libraries of books about parliaments and constitutions. This was to celebrate Barbados becoming an independent country and joining the Commonwealth.

Modern Parliament Structure

The Parliament of Barbados, as we know it today, started after the 1961 general elections. In 1963, the old Legislative Council was closed down. In its place, the Senate was created in 1964. Over the years, the government structure in Barbados continued to change. Eventually, both the Senate and the House of Assembly reached their current number of members.

What Parliament Does

Parliament has the power to make laws for the "peace, order, and good government" of Barbados. This means they create rules to keep the country running smoothly and safely.

Parliament can also:

Decide on the special rights, protections, and powers of the Senate, the House of Assembly, and their members.
Change or update any parts of the country's constitution.

In 2021, Barbados changed its government to become a republic. Now, Parliament is also in charge of electing the country's President.

Who is in Parliament?

As of February 16, 2024, the Barbados Labour Party holds 29 out of 30 seats in the House of Assembly. The Democratic Labour Party holds 1 seat.

In the Senate, the Barbados Labour Party has 12 seats. The Democratic Labour Party has 2 seats, and independent members hold 7 seats.

When are Elections Held?

The next general election in Barbados is expected by 2027 at the latest. The Constitution of Barbados says that elections must happen at least every five years. The last general election was held on January 19, 2022.

The Constitution also allows the government to call an election earlier. The Prime Minister can ask the President to dissolve Parliament and announce a new election date. Also, if the Prime Minister loses a vote of no confidence, the President can announce a new election date.

International Connections

The Parliament of Barbados is part of several international groups. These connections help Barbados work with other countries and share ideas. Some of these groups include:

ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
Canada-CARICOM Parliamentary Friendship Group
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
ParlAmericas
Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA)
Pink Parliament, a program that encourages more women to get involved in politics.

Parliament of Barbados facts for kids

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