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Barbados: Government

Key Figures

Chief of State:
President Dame Sandra Mason
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Mia Mottley

Overview

Government Name:
Barbados
Constitution:
Adopted: 1966; Elaborates upon basic structure and power of both government officials and branches, and also discusses finance, public service, and citizenship in Barbados. Most recently amended in 2003.
Government Type:
Parliamentary Democracy
Barbados Flag
Coat of Arms of Barbados

Index of Economic Freedom

Grades each country on a scale of 0 to 100, based on ten freedoms, with 100 representing the greatest amount of economic autonomy from government intervention. Source: Heritage Foundation (2023)

Country Risk Rating

There is no Country Risk Rating for Barbados

Government Branches

Main Powers Election Process Election Cycle 1
Executive

The President will hold Executive power. The now current, and first, president of Barbados is Sandra Mason.

Elected by two-thirds majority vote of a joint House of Assembly and Senate session.

4 years
Judicial

The powers of the Barbados Judicial system are, first and foremost, the Supreme Court, broken into the High Court and the Court of Appeals. *Information could be out of date as country has recently become a Republic

The chief justice is appointed by the Governor-General after consultation with the Prime Minister and leader of the opposition. Other judges are appointed on advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission. *Information could be out of date as country has recently become a Republic

Judges serve until they are 65 years old.
Legislative

Barbados consists of a Parliamentary system for their legislative processes. It consists of the Senate and lower House of Assembly. The House of Assembly performs all major legislative functions. *Information could be out of date as country has recently become a Republic

Barbados executes direct democratic elections for their House of Assembly elections. They elect a total of 30 representatives. Senators, on the other hand, are appointed by the Governor General. Twelve are appointed with the advice of the Prime Minister, two are appointed with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, and seven are appointed at the Governor-General's discretion. A total of twenty-one Senators. *Information could be out of date as country has recently become a Republic

5 years

Regional Trade Blocs
CARICOM

International Organization Participation [2]

Environmental Agreements [3]

Tax Information [2]

Tax Authority:
Customs and Excise Department
Tax Name:
VAT

Sources:

  1. ElectionGuide http://www.electionguide.org/
  2. EY, http://www.ey.com
  3. CIA World Factbook, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/
  4. U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/