The Government of Barbados

Barbados - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Barbados, it was the name derives from the Portuguese "as barbadas," which means "the bearded ones" and can refer either to the long, hanging roots of the island's bearded fig trees or to the alleged beards of the indigenous Carib inhabitants. The Government system in this country is the parliamentary republic; a Commonwealth realm type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 11 parishes and 1 city*; Bridgetown*, Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas

National symbols

Neptune's trident, pelican, Red Bird of Paradise flower (also known as Pride of Barbados); national colors: blue, yellow, black.

The flag

The National flag of Barbados has three equal vertical bands of ultramarine blue (hoist side), gold, and ultramarine blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the band colors represent the blue of the sea and sky and the gold of the beaches; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident).

The National Anthem

Title	"The National Anthem of Barbados"
Lyric/music	Irving BURGIE/C. Van Roland EDWARDS

note: adopted 1966; the anthem is also known as "In Plenty and In Time of Need"

More about the government of Barbados

Constitution
Date of Independence	30 November 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday	Independence Day, 30 November (1966)
Legal system	English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
International law organization participation	accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
History	Adopted 22 November 1966, effective 30 November 1966; Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021 establishes Barbados as a republic and revokes the earlier Order in Council
Amendments	Proposed by Parliament; passage of amendments to constitutional sections such as citizenship, fundamental rights and freedoms, and the organization and authorities of the branches of government requires two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of Parliament; passage of other amendments only requires a majority vote of both houses; amended several times, last in 2021
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	yes
Citizenship by descent only	yes
Dual citizenship recognized	yes
Residency requirement for naturalization	5 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President Sandra MASON (since 30 November 2021)
Head of government	Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 25 May 2018)
Cabinet	Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
Elections/appointments	president elected by an electoral college of both Houses of Parliament for a 4-year renewable term; election last held on 20 October 2021 (next to be held in); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister
Election results	Sandra MASON elected as first president on 20 October 2021
Legislative branch
Description	Bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate (21 seats statutory - 21 current; members appointed by the president - 12 on the advice of the prime minister, 2 on the advice of the opposition leader, and 7 at the discretion of the president; members serve 5-year terms) House of Assembly (30 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms)
Elections	Senate - last appointments on 4 February 2022 (next appointments in February 2027) House of Assembly - last held on 19 January 2022 (next to be held in January 2027)
Election results	Senate - appointed - BLP 12, independent 9; composition - men 13, women 8, percentage women 38.1% House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - BLP 69%, DLP 26.5%, other 4.5%; seats by party - BLP 30; composition - men 22, women 8, percentage women 26.7%; note - total Parliament percentage women 32.7%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Supreme Court (consists of the High Court with 8 justices) and the Court of Appeal (consists of the High Court chief justice and president of the court and 4 justices; note - in 2005, Barbados acceded to the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final court of appeal, replacing that of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
Judge selection and term of office	Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister and opposition leader of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, a 5-member independent body consisting of the Supreme Court chief justice, the commission head, and presidential appointees recommended by the prime minister; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 65
Subordinate courts	Magistrates' Courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Noel Anderson LYNCH (since 11 January 2019)
Chancery	2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone	[1] (202) 939-9200
FAX	[1] (202) 332-7467
Email address and website	[email protected] https://www.foreign.gov.bb/embassies-high-commissions-and-permanent-missions/
Consulate(s) general	Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Roger F. NYHUS (since 19 January 2024) note - also accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Embassy	Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, W.I.
Mailing address	3120 Bridgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3120
Telephone	(246) 227-4000
FAX	(246) 431-0179
Email address and website	[email protected] https://bb.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	1 (cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison