B a r b a d o s Governance institutions Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 139 Government and politics Last elections: 21 February 2013 Next elections: 2018 Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General, Sir Elliot Belgrave (2011–) Head of Government: Prime Minister Freundel Stuart Ruling party: Democratic Labour Party Sir Henry Forde’s Constitutional Commission’s much-delayed report was published in December 1998. Its main proposals were to introduce more checks and balances on the government, to create the institutional structures to ensure politicians behave with greater probity, and to replace the British monarch as the Head of State by a ceremonial President. In the general election of January 1999, the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) had a strong endorsement of their management of the economy and a mandate for their proposals for constitutional change. They gained 26 seats, with 65 per cent of the votes, while the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) took only two. Owen Arthur began his second term of office as Prime Minister. During 1999 and 2000 the new government pressed on with the proposed changes to the constitution, adding further issues to the agenda for public debate, for example limiting the number of terms a Prime Minister may serve, equal rights for women, and the independence of the judiciary. However, the debate proceeded slowly. In 2001, David Thompson, DLP leader in the 1994 and 1999 general elections, was succeeded by Clyde Mascoll. Arthur and the BLP were once again given a strong endorsement in the May 2003 elections, though with 23 seats to the DLP’s seven, not as strong as in 1999. The BLP still had the two-thirds majority needed to enact constitutional amendments, although constitutional issues, such as replacing the British monarch as the Head of State by a ceremonial President, had not been prominent in the election campaign. But in 2005 the UK Privy Council was replaced as the final court of appeal by the Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean Court of Justice. Thompson returned to head the DLP in 2006 following the defection of Mascoll to the BLP. The DLP went on to win the general election in January 2008 ending the BLP’s 13 years in government; the DLP taking 20 of the 30 contested seats and BLP 10. Thompson was sworn in as Prime Minister. Prime Minister David Thompson died on 23 October 2010. He was succeeded by Deputy PM and Attorney-General Freundel Stuart. In the February 2013 election Freundel Stuart and the DLP were returned to power by a narrow margin. The DLP won 16 of the 30 elective House of Assembly seats with 51.3 per cent of votes cast and the BLP – led by former PM Owen Arthur – 14 seats with 48.3 per cent. Local government The country comprises the city of Bridgetown and 11 parishes, but since 1969 there has been no devolved government. National development plan The National Strategic Plan of Barbados 2005–25 was launched in 2005 with the objective of realising by 2025 the national aspiration to become a fully developed society that is prosperous, socially just and globally competitive. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs is responsible for implementation and monitoring of the Strategic Plan and will undertake revisions from time to time. The ministry prepares five-year sectoral plans, with contributions from all stakeholders, and these plans drive the periodic revisions of the National Strategic Plan. The plan has six strategic goals in pursuit of the national vision for 2025: • To create a culture of equity and social justice, while building an inclusive society with opportunities for all • Vastly improved governance to realise a constitution free of all vestiges of colonialism; a modernised parliamentary and electoral system; enhanced political participation; and empowerment of all communities • A revolution in education to unlock the productive potential of all Barbadians; a well-developed public health system; and eradication of poverty • Social and economic development to be sustainable ensuring adequate water and energy supplies; a good transport system; and protection of the environment • To develop the economy with greater diversity and competitiveness, focusing on services such as tourism and international business • To continue consolidating the country’s international image, particularly on account of political stability, educational quality, democratic governance and good leadership Further information Barbados Government Information Service: gisbarbados.gov.bb Commonwealth Secretariat: www.thecommonwealth.org Commonwealth Governance: www.commonwealthgovernance.org Electoral and Boundaries Commission: www.electoral.barbados.gov.bb Barbados Parliament: www.barbadosparliament.com Government of Barbados: www.gov.bb Central Bank of Barbados: www.centralbank.org.bb Barbados Stock Exchange: www.bse.com.bb National Standards Institution: www.bnsi.bb
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