BARBADOS
— Seat of government: Bridgetown.
— Status: Democratic.
— Structure: The parliament comprises the House of Assembly, elected in geographical constituencies, which chooses the prime minister, and the Senate, chosen by the prime minister, the governor-general, and the parliamentary opposition. The governor-general is chosen by the prime minister.
— Governing party: Barbados Labour Party.
— Head of government: Mia Mottley, prime minister (since 2018).
— Chief opposition party: Democratic Labour Party, led by Verla De Peiza.
— Recent history: The BLP under prime minister Owen Arthur (1994-2008) was reelected in 2003 and 2006 with overwhelming parliamentary majorities; but the DLP was elected in 2008 with a two-thirds majority of its own, and DLP leader David Thompson (2008-10) became prime minister. Thompson died in office in 2010, replaced by Freundel Stuart (2010-8). The DLP was reelected narrowly in 2013. In 2018, the BLP won a sweeping victory, 73% of the vote and every seat in the House of Assembly.
— FH: 1-1, free.
— Updated: 2021 June 18.
O.T. FORD