Parliament of Barbados facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parliament of Barbados |
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Type | |
Type | |
Houses | • Senate • House of Assembly |
History | |
Founded | 26 June 1639 |
Leadership | |
President of the Senate
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Reginald Farley, BLP
Since 2020 |
Assembly Speaker
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Arthur Holder, BLP
Since 5 June 2018 |
Mia Mottley, BLP
Since 25 May 2018 |
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Ralph Thorne, DLP
Since 12 February 2024 |
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Structure | |
Seats | Senate: 21 House of Assembly: 30 |
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Senate political groups
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Government
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House of Assembly political groups
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Government
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Elections | |
Appointment by the President | |
First-past-the-post | |
House of Assembly last election
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19 January 2022 |
Meeting place | |
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Bridgetown, Barbados |
The Parliament of Barbados is the main law-making body of Barbados. It helps to create and change laws for the country. This Parliament has two main parts, like two different teams working together.
One part is the Senate, whose members are chosen by the President. The other part is the House of Assembly, where members are elected by the people. The President of Barbados is also part of the Parliament. Both groups meet in special rooms in the Parliament Buildings in Bridgetown, the capital city.
The Senate has 21 members. The House of Assembly has 30 members, plus the Speaker who leads their meetings. The Prime Minister can choose people from either the House or the Senate to be part of the Cabinet of Barbados. However, the Prime Minister must always be chosen from the House of Assembly.
Even though all three parts (Senate, House, and President) have power, the House of Assembly usually has the most influence. This is because the President usually follows the advice of the Prime Minister. Also, the Senate's powers are limited.
The way Barbados's Parliament works is based on the Parliament of England. This system is called the Westminster system. It means they follow similar rules and traditions for how government works.
Meetings for both the House and Senate usually happen once a month. Extra meetings can be called if needed. The House meets on Tuesdays, and their meetings are often broadcast on local radio. The Senate meets on Wednesdays.
Since February 2020, the Parliament has been meeting in different rented buildings around Barbados. This includes the Worthing Corporate Centre and the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre. They have not yet returned to their usual building in the capital.
Contents
History of Barbados's Parliament
When Parliament Started
The Parliament of Barbados began on June 26, 1639. This makes it one of the oldest law-making bodies in the Americas. It is also one of the oldest in the Commonwealth of Nations, a group of countries that were once part of the British Empire.
Governor Henry Hawley helped create the first Parliament in Barbados. He wanted a system of government similar to the Parliament in England. At first, this Parliament had only one house. It was mainly controlled by the wealthy plantation owners on the island. The first meeting of this Assembly happened in 1639.
Early Meeting Places
The first known meeting place was called the "Sessions House." It was located in an area now known as Spry Street. This building might have also been used for Captain Henry Hawley's courts. A monument was placed there in 1989 to remember this important site.
By 1653, the Assembly moved to the State House in Bridgetown. This building was destroyed by a big fire in 1668. For the next hundred years, elected officials met in different rented places around Bridgetown. These included taverns and homes of local business owners. The Roebuck Tavern was a popular spot.
In 1674, Governor Atkins noted that it was strange for such an important Assembly to meet in a public tavern. In 1724, a law was passed to build a proper place for the Council, Assembly, and courts. This building was finished in 1731–1732. 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 special old-fashioned style called neo-Gothic. They were built on land that had been destroyed by a large fire in 1860.
In 1968, the British House of Commons gave the Barbados Parliament two full libraries of books about parliaments and laws. 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 removed. In its place, the Senate was created in 1964. Over time, the structure of Barbados's government changed until both parts of the Parliament reached their current numbers of members.
What Parliament Does
Making Laws for Barbados
The Constitution of Barbados gives Parliament the power to make laws. These laws are for the "peace, order, and good government" of Barbados. This means Parliament creates rules to keep the country safe, organized, and running well.
Parliament also has the power to:
- Decide on the special rights 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 Constitution to become a republic. This means the country now has a President instead of the Queen as its head of state. Because of this change, Parliament is also responsible for choosing the country's President.
Members of Parliament
As of February 16, 2024, the Barbados Labour Party holds 29 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.
Elections in Barbados
When the Next Election Will Be
The next big 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 government in power can ask the President to dissolve Parliament and call an early election. This might happen if they want to get a new approval from the voters. 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 works with other parliamentary groups around the world. These connections help them share ideas and learn from other countries. 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.
Official Records
- The Official Gazette of Barbados is where official government announcements and laws are published.
See also
In Spanish: Parlamento de Barbados para niños
- Constitution of Barbados
- List of parliamentary constituencies of Barbados
- List of speakers of the House of Assembly of Barbados
- List of presidents of the Legislative Council of Barbados
- List of presidents of the Senate of Barbados
- List of members of the Senate of Barbados
- List of members of the House of Assembly of Barbados
- List of legislatures by country