House of Assembly of Barbados


The House of Assembly of Barbados is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Barbados. It has 30 Members of Parliament, who are directly elected in single member constituencies using the simple-majority system for a term of five years. The House of Assembly sits roughly 40-45 days a year and is presided over by a Speaker [of the House of Assembly of Barbados|Speaker].
The Barbadian House of Assembly chamber is located in the east-wing of The Public Buildings on Broad Street, in Bridgetown, Barbados.

History

The genesis of a legislature in Barbados was introduced by Governor Henry Hawley, creating a structure of governance to Barbados, itself patterned after the Parliament of England). The then unicameral Parliament originally was tasked with establishing a system of laws and was completely under the domination of the island's planter-class. The first meeting of the Barbados Assembly was held in 22 June 1639 making it the third oldest legislature in the Americas, and is among the oldest in the Commonwealth of Nations.

Oath of affirmation

Under section 59 of the constitution, before entering upon the functions of his office, the MPs must take the oath of allegiance to Barbados.

Next election

The Constitution of Barbados reads, in part:
  • 61 "...Parliament, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date of its first sitting after any dissolution and shall then stand dissolved."
  • 62 "After every dissolution of Parliament the Governor General shall issue writs for a general election of members of appointment the House of Assembly returnable within ninety days from that dissolution."
The next election is therefore due to be held in 2027, but can be held sooner if the President of Barbados so directs.

Previous elections

In previous elections the National Democratic Party, the Barbados National Party , the West [Indian National Congress Party] and Independents also won seats besides the two big parties - the Barbados Labour Party and the Democratic Labour Party. The DLP had been in opposition since 6 September 1994. Fourteen years later when they won a surprise victory of 20 seats to 10 on 15 January 2008, DLP Leader David Thompson was sworn in as the 6th Prime Minister of Barbados. Freundel Stuart was sworn in on 23 October 2010 because of the death of Prime Minister Thompson, who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March 2010. Two months later in May he became ill when the then acting prime minister Freundel Stuart had started, and five months later he was sworn in on 23 October as the 7th prime minister of Barbados. On 23 February 2013 he was sworn in as the 7th prime minister of Barbados by obtaining sixteen out of thirty seats. The general elections of 21 February were one of the closest elections Barbados has ever seen. On 24 May 2018, the BLP returned to power under Mia Mottley with a historic landslide victory that saw them win all 30 seats in parliament and Mottley becoming the first female prime minister and the 8th prime minister overall. This occurred once again on the 19 January 2022 when the Mottley Administration won all 30 seats again in another landslide victory.
Election BPL/BLP DLP NDP VA/BEA/PCP/BNP WINCP Independents
19 January 2022300
24 May 2018300
21 February 20131416
15 January 20081020
21 May 2003237
20 January 1999262
6 September 19941981
21 January 199110180
28 May 1986324
18 June 19811710
2 September 1976177
9 September 1971618
3 November 19668142
4 December 196151441
6 December 195615432
13 December 195115423
13 December 19481293
November 19469672
27 November 1944888
26 January 19425155
1940519