Prime Minister of Barbados facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of Barbados
Standard of the Prime Minister
Coat of arms of Barbados
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 head of government for the country of Barbados. This means they are the main leader of the government. The prime minister is chosen by the President of Barbados. This process follows the rules set out in the Constitution. The President is in charge of holding parliamentary elections. After the elections, the President officially names one of the candidates as prime minister.

How the Prime Minister's Role Began

Sir Grantley Herbert Adams was the first person to hold a similar top leadership role in Barbados. He was named Barbados' first Premier on February 1, 1953. This happened when Barbados gained full self-government, meaning it could make its own decisions.

When Barbados became fully independent from Britain on November 30, 1966, the title changed. The office was then called Prime Minister. Even though the name changed, the main jobs and duties of the leader stayed pretty much the same.

How the Prime Minister is Chosen and Serves

Barbados used to be a British colony. Because of this, it uses many political ideas from Britain. It follows the Westminster system of government. In this system, the government's executive branch (the part that carries out laws) is responsible to the legislature (the part that makes laws).

A simplified look at how the government of Barbados is set up.

Until 2021, the Governor-General appointed the prime minister. Now, the President of Barbados makes the appointment. A prime minister can serve for a maximum of five years in Parliament. The President tries to find a candidate who has the support of most members in the House of Assembly. If no one can get enough support, the President must end Parliament early and call a new election.

If a prime minister loses their seat in an election, they cannot continue to be prime minister. If a prime minister dies while in office, the President chooses a new person from Parliament. This new person serves for the rest of the five-year term.

The prime minister must also have the support of the majority in the House of Assembly. If the prime minister loses this "confidence" of the House, they must resign. This means the whole Cabinet (a group of top government ministers) must also resign. Usually, the leader of the political party with the most seats in Parliament becomes prime minister.

The prime minister of Barbados is seen as "first among equals" in the Cabinet. This means their vote in Cabinet meetings is not more important than any other minister's vote. However, in reality, the prime minister usually has the most power in the government. Other ministers are chosen by the President, but only after the prime minister suggests them. The prime minister can also remove ministers from their positions at any time.

Who Has Held the Office

Before Barbados became independent, there were three Premiers. Since independence, there have been eight Prime Ministers.

What the Prime Minister Does

The prime minister gives advice to the President. They also choose the ministers who will lead different government departments. The prime minister's party usually has the most seats in the House of Assembly. The prime minister also chooses 12 senators for the upper house of Parliament. Even though the President officially appoints the prime minister, it is almost always the leader of the party that wins the most votes.

List of Prime Ministers

Taking the Oath of Office

When a new prime minister is appointed, they take an official oath. This is a special promise they make to serve the country well. In the oath, they promise to give good advice to the President. They also promise to keep Cabinet discussions private. This ensures they will always work for the good management of Barbados.

The British Privy Council

Before 2005, it was common for Barbadian prime ministers to be nominated to the British Privy Council. This is a group that includes important people from Britain and other Commonwealth nations. These are countries that share the same monarch (like a king or queen).

Here are the prime ministers who joined the Privy Council:

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

See also

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
• List of Privy Counsellors (1952–present)

Images for kids

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

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  Owen Arthur
  (served: 1994–2008)

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  David Thompson
  (served: 2008–2010)

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  Freundel Stuart
  (served: 2010–2018)