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Parliament name (generic / translated) Parliament of Barbados / Parlement de Barbade More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate Affiliation to the IPU No Affiliation date(s) LEADERSHIP President Arthur Holder (M)  Notes Elected on 5 June 2018. Secretary General Pedro E. Eastmond (M)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 30 / 30 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 6 (20.00%) Mode of designation directly elected 30 Term 5 years Last renewal dates 24 May 2018 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address House of Assembly Parliament Buildings BRIDGETOWN (Export mailing lists) Phone (1246) 426 3712 426 3717 Fax (1246) 436 4143 E-mail parliamentbarbados@caribsurf.com Website http://www.barbadosparliament.com/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parliament of Barbados / Parlement de Barbade Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 1 June 1971 Last amendment: 01/09/1990 Mode of designation directly elected 30 Constituencies 30 single-member constituencies. Voting system Majority: Direct election. Simple majority vote. Vacancies arising between general elections are filled through by-elections held within 90 days. Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 18 years - Barbados citizenship (or Commonwealth citizenship if residence in the country for 3 years before elections) - residence in a constituency for 3 months - disqualifications: insanity, imprisonment, death sentence CANDIDATES Eligibility Qualified electors - age: 21 years - Barbados citizenship - residence in the country for more than 7 years - ineligibility: undischarged bankruptcy, allegiance to a foreign State, imprisonment exceeding 6 months, conviction of felony or of an offence involving dishonesty, electoral fraud Incompatibilities - public officers - members of armed or police forces - judges - director of public prosecutions - Auditor-General Candidacy requirements - nomination by 4 electors - deposit equivalent to US$ 125, reimbursed if the candidate is elected or obtains more than 1/6 of the total votes cast in the constituency.

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parliament of Barbados / Parlement de Barbade Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 24 May 2018 Timing and scope of renewal Ms. Mia Mottley's Barbados Labour Party (BLP) swept all 30 seats in the House of Assembly, ousting Prime Minister Freundel Stuart's Democratic Labour Party (DLP), which had ruled the country since 2008. On 25 May, Ms. Mottley was sworn in as the new Prime Minister, becoming the first woman in Barbados to assume the post. The 2018 elections were held amid slow recovery from the global economic crisis in 2008. The DLP ran on the government's record, citing economic growth for eight consecutive quarters It promised to improve self-sufficiency in food products to 50% by 2026, which will mark 60 years of independence from the United Kingdom. The BLP criticized the DLP over taxation and the cost of living. It pledged to rebuild foreign currency reserves, bring tax relief, provide regular garbage collection and more buses for public transportation, and repair roads. Date of previous elections: 21 February 2013 Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 5 March 2018 Timing of election: Upon normal expiry* *The five-year term of the outgoing House of Assembly started on 6 March 2013. Elections were due within 90 days from 5 March 2018. Expected date of next elections: May - August 2023 Number of seats at stake: 30 (full renewal) Number of candidates: 135 (98 men, 37 women) Percentage of women candidates: 27.4% Number of parties contesting the election: 8 Number of parties winning seats: 1 Alternation of power: Yes Number of parties in government: 1 Names of parties in government: Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Date of the first session of the new parliament: 5 June 2018 Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Arthur Holder (Barbados Labour Party, BLP) STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 24 May 2018 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 255'654 Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Barbados Labour Party (BLP) 30 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 24 6 20.00% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Sources: Parliament (25.05.2018) https://www.electoral.barbados.gov.bb/ https://uk.reuters.com/ http://www.caribbeanelections.com/bb/elections/bb_results_2018.asp https://www.blp.org.bb/ https://dlpbarbados.org/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Parliament of Barbados / Parlement de Barbade Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title Speaker of the House of Assembly Term - duration: 5 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution Appointment - elected by all the Members of the Assembly - election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Assembly or when a vacancy occurs - after Members are sworn in Eligibility - any Member of the House of Assembly (except a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary) can be a candidate - candidatures must be submitted by a third party who is himself a Member of the House of Assembly - candidatures must be seconded by another Member of the House of Assembly Voting system - if only one candidature is submitted : the candidate is elected without a vote or debate - if several candidatures are submitted : a secret ballot is taken for each candidates in the order of their registration until one of them is elected. Procedures / results - the Clerk presides over the House of Assembly during the voting - the Clerk announces the results without any delay STATUS Status - in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker (or any other Member elected for that sitting) can assume his/her role and functions Board Material facilities NA (no information received) FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions, in exceptional case only - organises the debates and sets speaking time - examines the admissibility of questions, petitions, bills and amendments Chairing of public sittings - can open and close sittings, within the framework of the Standing Orders - can suspend sittings for short periods - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the House of Assembly - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives (the Member who catches the President's eye would have the floor) and withdraws permission to speak - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - checks the quorum - authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates - interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the House of Assembly Special powers - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the House of Assembly Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes part in voting, only in the case of a tied vote

This page was last updated on 10 August 2018
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