President of Barbados facts for kids

Quick facts for kids President of Barbados
Presidential standard
Coat of arms of Barbados
Incumbent Sandra Mason since 30 November 2021
Style	Madam President (informal) Her Excellency (formal)
Residence	State House
Appointer	Parliament of Barbados
Term length	Four years renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Barbados (1966)
Precursor	Monarch of Barbados
Formation	November 30, 2021 (3 years ago) (2021-11-30)
First holder	Sandra Mason
Succession	Line of Succession
Salary	BDS $232,047 annually

The president of Barbados is the official head of state for the country of Barbados. This important role also makes the president the commander-in-chief of the Barbados Defence Force, which is the country's military. The position of president was created when Barbados became a parliamentary republic on November 30, 2021.

Before this date, the head of state was Elizabeth II, who was the Queen of Barbados. She was represented in Barbados by a governor-general. The last person to hold the governor-general position, Sandra Mason, became Barbados' first president.

Becoming a Republic: A Brief History

Barbados has discussed becoming a republic for many years. This means changing from having a monarch (like a king or queen) as head of state to having a president.

Early Discussions and Referendums

• In 1979, a group called the Cox Commission looked into whether Barbados should become a republic. They found that most Barbadians wanted to keep the constitutional monarchy. So, the idea was put on hold.
• In 1994, the Barbados Labour Party suggested holding a public vote, called a referendum, on the issue.
• A new commission was set up in 1996 to review the Constitution of Barbados. This group recommended that Barbados become a parliamentary republic.
• In 2000, a bill for a referendum was introduced in Parliament but did not pass before the next election.
• Another attempt was made in 2005, and a referendum was planned for 2008. However, this vote was also postponed.

The Move to a Republic in 2021

• In 2015, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart announced that Barbados intended to become a republic soon.
• In September 2020, the government led by Prime Minister Mia Mottley declared that Barbados would become a republic by November 2021.
• This change meant replacing the monarch and the governor-general with a Barbadian president as head of state. Prime Minister Mottley stated that Barbadians wanted a Barbadian leader.
• On September 20, 2021, a bill to amend the Constitution was introduced. It passed on October 6, 2021.
• This law created a parliamentary republic. In this system, the prime minister leads the government, and the president is mainly a ceremonial head of state.
• Sandra Mason, who was the last Governor-General, was nominated to be the first president. She was elected by Parliament on October 20, 2021.
• President Mason officially took office on November 30, 2021.

How the President is Elected

The president of Barbados is chosen by the Parliament of Barbados.

Nomination Process

• The prime minister and the leader of the opposition work together to suggest a candidate. This usually happens 90 days before the current president's term ends.
• If no one in Parliament objects, this candidate is elected without a vote.
• If someone objects, both parts of Parliament – the Senate and the House of Assembly – vote separately.
• The candidate needs a two-thirds majority of votes in each house to be elected.

Open Election

• If the prime minister and leader of the opposition cannot agree on a candidate 60 days before the term ends, other candidates can be nominated.
• A candidate can be nominated by the prime minister, the leader of the opposition, or at least ten members of the House of Assembly.
• Even in an open election, a candidate still needs a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and the House of Assembly to win.

What Happens if the President is Away?

If the president's office is temporarily empty, or if the president is out of Barbados, on vacation, or unable to perform their duties, someone else steps in.

• The prime minister, after talking with the leader of the opposition, appoints an individual to serve as acting president.
• However, if the president is suspended from office (for example, during an impeachment process), the president of the Senate of Barbados becomes the acting president.

The President's Role in Government

State House – the official home of the president of Barbados

Barbados has a Westminster parliamentary system, similar to the United Kingdom. This means the head of state (the president) has important legal and practical roles.

Even though the president has many formal powers, they usually act on the "advice" of the prime minister and the cabinet. This means the prime minister and cabinet make most of the decisions.

Executive Powers

• The president is the formal source of executive power. This power is usually used based on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet.
• The president appoints the prime minister. This is usually the leader of the political party that has the most seats in the House of Assembly.
• If no party has a clear majority, the president uses their judgment to choose the best candidate for prime minister.
• The president also appoints at least five other ministers to the Cabinet, based on the prime minister's advice. All ministers are responsible to the House of Assembly and the people.

Legislative Powers

The Parliament of Barbados, located in Bridgetown

The president is one of the three parts of Parliament, along with the Senate and the House of Assembly.

• The president's role in making laws is mainly to approve bills and sign them into law.
• The president has the power to refuse to approve a bill passed by Parliament, which is like a veto.
• The president also appoints senators: twelve on the prime minister's advice, two on the opposition leader's advice, and seven at their own choice to represent different groups in Barbados.
• The president calls Parliament into session, ends sessions, and dissolves Parliament to call for a general election. These actions are almost always done on the advice of the cabinet.

Judicial Powers

• The president appoints judges based on the joint recommendation of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition.
• The president also has the power to pardon offenders.

Official Oath of Office

When a new president takes office, they must say or affirm an official oath. This oath is written in the Constitution of Barbados.

The oath is:

I, [name], do swear (solemnly affirm) that I will well and truly serve Barbados in the office of President. (So help me God. (to be omitted in affirmation))

See also

In Spanish: Presidente de Barbados para niños

• List of heads of state of Barbados