View source for President of Barbados

{{Short description|Head of state of Barbados}}
{{Infobox official post
|post                     = President
|body                     = Barbados
|nativename               = 
|insignia                 = Coat of arms of Barbados (3).svg 
|insigniasize             = 100px
|insigniacaption          = [[Coat of arms of Barbados]]
| flag                    = Flag of the President of Barbados.svg
| flagsize                = 125px
| flagborder              = yes
| flagcaption             = Presidential standard
|image                    = Sandra of Barbados.jpg
|imagesize                = 200px
|incumbent                = [[Sandra Mason]]
|incumbentsince           = 30 November 2021
|department               = 
|style                    = [[Mr. President (title)|Madam President]] (informal)<br/>[[Excellency|Her Excellency]] (formal)
|member_of                = 
|reports_to               = 
|residence                = [[State House, Barbados|State House]]
|seat                     = 
|status                   = [[Head of state]]
|nominator                = 
|appointer                = [[Parliament of Barbados]]
|appointer_qualified      = 
|termlength               = Four years, renewable once
|termlength_qualified     = 
|constituting_instrument  = [[Constitution of Barbados]]
|precursor                = [[Monarchy of Barbados|Monarch of Barbados]]
|inaugural                = 
|formation                = {{start date and age|2021|11|30|df=yes}}
|first                    = [[Sandra Mason]]
|succession               = [[President of Barbados#Temporary vacancy|Line of Succession]]
|deputy                   = 
|salary                   = BDS $232,047 annually <ref>{{Cite book |title=SCHEDULES OF PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS |publisher=Government Printing Department BARBADOS |year=2022 |location=Barbados |pages=1 |language=English}}</ref>
|website                  = 
}}
{{Politics of Barbados}}

The '''president of Barbados''' is the [[head of state]] of [[Barbados]] and the [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Barbados Defence Force]]. The office was established when the country became a [[parliamentary republic]] on 30 November 2021.<ref>{{cite news|title=Barbados to become a parliamentary republic by November 30 |newspaper=Loop News |language=English |date=27 July 2021 |url=https://barbados.loopnews.com/content/barbados-become-parliamentary-republic-november-30 |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> Prior to that date, the head of state was [[Elizabeth II]], [[Queen of Barbados]], who was represented on the island by a [[Governor-General of Barbados|governor-general]]. The final person to hold that position, [[Sandra Mason]], is currently serving as Barbados' first president.

==History==
{{Main Article|Republicanism in Barbados}}

In 1979, a commission of inquiry known as the Cox Commission on the Constitution was constituted and charged with studying the feasibility of introducing a [[parliamentary republic]]an system. The Cox Commission came to the conclusion that Barbadians preferred to maintain the [[constitutional monarchy]]. The proposal to move to a republican status was therefore not pursued.<ref name="arthur_speech">{{cite web|url=http://blp.org.bb/news/34|title=Barbados Labour Party—news|date=11 February 2005}}</ref> The 1994 [[manifesto]] of the [[Barbados Labour Party]] dealt with the republic issue, proposing a [[referendum]]. In line with this promise, on 29 October 1996 a Constitution Review Commission, chaired by [[Henry de Boulay Forde]], was appointed to review the [[Constitution of Barbados]].<ref name="arthur_speech" /> The Commission reported back on 15 December 1998, and recommended that Barbados adopt a parliamentary republican system. In 1999, the Barbados Labour Party's manifesto proposed that the findings of the commission and its recommendation that Barbados become a republic would receive the early attention of the government.<ref name="arthur_speech" />

A referendum bill was introduced in parliament and had its first reading on 10 October 2000. With the dissolution of parliament just prior to the elections in 2003, the bill was not carried over.<ref name=arthur_speech/> 

Prime Minister [[Owen Arthur]] established in 1998 a constitutional commission led by Henry Forde. It concluded, "Barbadians, with few exceptions, believe that our head of state should be a citizen of Barbados by birth or descent, who lives in Barbados."<ref name=Camera>{{citation| url=https://thecaribbeancamera.com/republic-of-barbados-is-a-modest-fulfillment-of-owen-arthurs-1998-vision/| last=Drayton| first=Richard| title=Republic of Barbados is a modest fulfillment of Owen Arthur’s 1998 vision| date=2 December 2021| publisher=The Caribbean Camera| accessdate=17 August 2022}}</ref> Arthur subsequently called for a referendum on becoming a republic to be held in 2005.<ref>{{cite news| last=Thomas| first=Norman "Gus"| url=http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/2005/02/07/vote.shtml| title=Barbados to vote on move to republic| publisher=Caribbean Net News| date=7 February 2005| access-date=30 June 2006| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228082001/http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/2005/02/07/vote.shtml| archive-date=28 December 2007}}</ref> Accordingly, a second referendum bill was introduced in 2005,<ref name="cnn_republic">{{cite web |url=http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/2005/02/07/vote.shtml |title=Barbados to vote on move to republic |author=Norman 'Gus' Thomas |publisher=Caribbean Net News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228082001/http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/2005/02/07/vote.shtml |archive-date=2007-12-28 }}</ref> and passed into law in October 2005. The referendum under the 2005 act was planned to be held concurrently with the [[2008 Barbadian general election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Referendum on Republic to be bundled with election |author=Staff writer |url=http://www.cbc.bb/content/view/13417/10/ |agency=[[Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=26 November 2007 |access-date=23 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128050750/http://www.cbc.bb/content/view/13417/10/ |archive-date=28 November 2007 }}</ref> On 2 December 2007, reports emerged that this vote was put off due to concerns raised by the Electoral and Boundaries Commission.<ref>{{cite news| last=Gollop| first=Chris| url=http://www.nationnews.com/story/317791120649409.php| title=Vote Off| work=The Daily Nation|location=Barbados| date=2 December 2007| access-date=17 June 2008| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071228045102/http://www.nationnews.com/story/317791120649409.php| archive-date=28 December 2007}}</ref> Following the election, [[David Thompson (Barbadian politician)|David Thompson]] replaced Arthur as prime minister, and the plan was shelved.

On 22 March 2015, Prime Minister [[Freundel Stuart]] announced his intention to move the country towards a republican form of government "in the very near future".<ref>{{cite news|title=PM says Barbados moving towards Republic|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/PM-says-Barbados-moving-towards-Republic|access-date=23 March 2015|work=Jamaica Observer|date=23 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324053426/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/PM-says-Barbados-moving-towards-Republic|archive-date=24 March 2015}}</ref> The general secretary of the Democratic Labour Party, George Pilgrim, confirmed the move and said that it is expected to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Barbadian independence in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|title=Barbados plans to replace Queen with ceremonial president|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/23/barbados-plans-to-replace-queen-with-ceremonial-president|access-date=23 March 2015|work=The Guardian|date=23 March 2015}}</ref>

The Barbados Labour Party government of Prime Minister [[Mia Mottley]] announced in its Throne Speech in September 2020 that Barbados would become a republic by November the following year, abolishing the position of [[Monarchy of Barbados|monarch of Barbados]] and replacing that of governor-general with a president (of Barbadian nationality) as head of state,<ref>{{citation| url=https://www.barbadosparliament.com/uploads/bill_resolution/56f53e308108b4b315d1b367c2914f7a.pdf| author=Parliament of Barbados| title=An Act to alter the Constitution| date=28 September 2021| page=8| section=5(8)(a)| accessdate=17 August 2022}}</ref> as Mottley asserted that "Barbadians want a Barbadian head of state [sic]".{{#tag:ref|The Forde commission in 1998 found the Queen of Barbados to be "the Barbadian head of state".<ref name=Camera/>|group=n|name=HoS}}<ref>{{cite news| title=Barbados to remove Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and declare republic| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/barbados-republic-queen-elizabeth-head-state-b450871.html| access-date=16 September 2020| date=16 September 2020| work=The Independent}}</ref><ref name=2020proposal>{{Cite web| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/16/barbados-revives-plan-to-remove-queen-as-head-of-state-and-become-a-republic |title=Barbados revives plan to remove Queen as head of state and become a republic| language=en-GB| date=15 September 2020 |access-date=15 September 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref>[https://www.theweek.co.uk/news/world-news/americas/954991/what-next-for-barbados-as-it-becomes-a-republic What next for Barbados as it becomes a republic?]</ref> It was this proposal that was eventually enacted into law—on 20 September 2021, the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2021 was introduced to the Parliament of Barbados, and was subsequently passed on 6 October. Prime Minister Mia Mottley described the move as "having the confidence that we can be responsible for our affairs, in every respect";<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/barbados-head-of-state-1.6266193 Barbados is cutting ties with the Queen — but lack of public vote has some island residents asking why]</ref> though, the country had already been fully sovereign since 1966.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Barbados |title=Encyclopedia Britannica- Barbados |access-date=9 July 2019 |archive-date=8 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008193237/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/52655/Barbados/54603/History |url-status=live }}</ref> The law instituted a parliamentary republic with a prime minister as head of government and a predominantly ceremonial president as head of state.<ref>[https://www.totallybarbados.com/articles/about-barbados/people/president/ Leading Barbados into a New Era]</ref>

The first candidate for president of Barbados, the [[Governor-General of Barbados]], [[Sandra Mason]], was nominated jointly by the prime minister and the leader of the opposition on 12 October 2021,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barbadosparliament.com/uploads/sittings/attachments/11c0bb650b1c768dbdbee5a0208f6256.pdf|publisher=[[Parliament of Barbados]]|accessdate=16 October 2021|date=12 October 2021|title=Letter to the Speaker RE Nomination of Her Excellency Dame Sandra Mason as 1st President of Barbados}}</ref> and subsequently [[2021 Barbadian presidential election|elected]] by parliament on 20 October.<ref>[https://www.thenational.scot/news/19661398.barbados-just-appointed-first-president-becomes-republic/ "Barbados just appointed its first president as it becomes a republic"]. ''The National''.</ref> Mason took office on 30 November 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://constitutionnet.org/news/barbados-parliament-votes-amend-constitution-paving-way-republican-status#:~:text=republican%20status%20%7C%20ConstitutionNet-,In%20Barbados%2C%20parliament%20votes%20to%20amend%20constitution%2C%20paving,the%20way%20to%20republican%20status&text=Parliament%20voted%20by%20a%2025,into%20force%20by%20November%2030|title=In Barbados, parliament votes to amend constitution, paving the way to republican status|date=30 September 2021|publisher=ConstitutionNet|accessdate=9 October 2021}}</ref>

==Election==
{{see also|2021 Barbadian presidential election}}
The president is elected by the [[Parliament of Barbados]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=http://governmentprintery.gov.bb/portal/scripts/getpdf.php?i=1474 |title=Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2021—Government Printing Department |access-date=2021-12-02 |archive-date=2021-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202035552/http://governmentprintery.gov.bb/portal/scripts/getpdf.php?i=1474 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Prime Minister of Barbados|prime minister]] and the [[Leader of the Opposition (Barbados)|leader of the opposition]] jointly nominate a consensus candidate 90 days before the incumbent's term is due to expire, and that candidate is then elected in a [[walkover]] without a vote unless any member of Parliament lodges their objection. If an objection is lodged, the joint sitting is suspended and the two Houses of Parliament, the [[Senate of Barbados|Senate]] and the [[House of Assembly (Barbados)|House of Assembly]], meet separately and each vote on accepting or rejecting the nominee. A [[Supermajority|two-thirds majority]] of valid votes in each house separately is then required to elect a candidate on all rounds of balloting.<ref name=":0" />

If no consensus candidate is nominated by the 60th day before the end of the incumbent's term, the election is opened to other candidates. To gain [[ballot access]] in such an open election, a candidate must be nominated either by the prime minister, the leader of the opposition, or at least ten members of the House of Assembly. The requirement for a two-thirds majority of valid votes in each house separately also applies in an open election; this means that if only one candidate has been nominated, the voting system is the same as when a consensus candidate has been objected to.<ref name=":0" />

==Temporary vacancy==
Whenever the office of president is temporarily vacant; until a new president is appointed; and whenever the holder of the office is absent from Barbados, on vacation, or is for any reason unable to perform the functions conferred upon them by the Constitution, those functions are performed by an individual appointed by the prime minister, after consultation with the leader of the opposition, to serve as acting president. However, if the president is suspended from office in case of ongoing [[impeachment]] proceedings, the president of the [[Senate of Barbados]] serves as acting president. The presidential line of succession is not defined beyond that.

==Constitutional role==
[[File:Government House, Government Hill, Barbados-001.jpg|thumb|left|[[State House, Barbados|State House]] − the residence of the president of Barbados]]

[[Constitution of Barbados|Barbados' constitution]] gives the country a [[Westminster system|Westminster parliamentary system of government]] based on that of the [[United Kingdom]], wherein the role of the head of state is both legal and practical. Similarly to other [[parliamentary republic]]s in the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] such as [[President of India|India]] and [[President of Trinidad and Tobago|Trinidad and Tobago]], but unlike continental European parliamentary states such as [[President of Germany|Germany]] and [[President of Italy|Italy]], the president of Barbados is formally vested with great constitutional power extending to all three branches of government. In practice, the constitutional conventions that bound the head of state and her representatives when Barbados was a constitutional monarchy are expected to remain in force, meaning that executive power will continue to be exercised by the prime minister and cabinet as per the amended constitution. {{sfn|Constitution Amendment Act|2021|loc=Section 27}} The document codified this practice by requiring the president to "act in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or a Minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet"{{sfn|Constitution Amendment Act|2021|loc=Section 27 (34G(1))}} except in certain circumstances, usually described as the [[reserve powers]].{{sfn|Constitution Amendment Act|2021|loc=Section 27 (34G(1(a)))}}

===Executive powers===
[[File:Simplification of govt structure of Barbados(Republic).png|alt=Simplification of govt structure of Barbados(Republic)|thumb|right|300px|Simplification of the government structure of Barbados]]

The president is the nominal source of [[executive power]]. Under the amended Constitution, the president is bound, with few exceptions, to exercise this power on the [[advice (constitutional)|advice]] of the prime minister and cabinet. Hence, in normal practice, as is the case with  [[heads of state]] in other [[Westminster system]]s, executive authority is exercised by the prime minister and their cabinet, on behalf of the president.{{sfn|Constitution Amendment Act|2021|loc=Section 27}}

The president appoints as prime minister the individual most likely to maintain the support of the [[Barbados House of Assembly|House of Assembly]];<ref>[[Constitution of Barbados]], Section 65(1)</ref> usually this is the leader of the [[List of political parties in Barbados|political party]] with a majority in that house or the leader of the senior partner in a governing coalition. However, in a scenario when no party or coalition holds a majority (referred to as a [[minority government]] situation), the president's judgement about the most suitable candidate for prime minister is brought into play. Even then, the House of Assembly's right to hold a [[vote of no confidence]] in the government limits the president's freedom of action. The president must additionally appoint to Cabinet, on the advice of the prime minister, at least five other ministers.<ref>[[Constitution of Barbados]], Section 64(1)</ref> All ministers are accountable to the democratically elected House of Assembly and, through it, to the people.

===Legislative powers===

[[File:Bridgetown barbados parliament building.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Parliament of Barbados]], in [[Bridgetown, Barbados|Bridgetown]]]]

The president, along with the [[Senate of Barbados|Senate]] and the House of Assembly, is one of the three components of [[Parliament of Barbados|parliament]]. Since the president is almost always required to act on the advice of the cabinet, the president's role in the legislative process is limited to assenting to bills and signing them into law.{{sfn|Constitution Amendment Act|2021|loc=Section 26}} However, the president has the absolute power to withhold assent to [[Bill_(law)|Bills]] passed by Parliament (i.e. to [[veto]] without parliamentary override).<ref>[[Constitution of Barbados]], Section 58(3)</ref> Furthermore, a form of [[pocket veto]] exists: the Constitution does not give a specific time frame for presidential action on a Bill passed by Parliament, thus the president can hypothetically postpone the signature of a Bill indefinitely, effectively vetoing it. Further, the Constitution outlines that the president is responsible for appointing senators — twelve on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and seven by the president at their discretion to represent various religious, social, economic, or other interests in Barbados.<ref>[[Constitution of Barbados]], Section 36(4)</ref>

The president additionally summons, [[Legislative session|prorogues]], and [[dissolution of Parliament|dissolves]] parliament; after the latter, the [[Writ of election|writs for a general election]] are usually [[Dropping the writ|dropped by the president]] at [[State House, Barbados|State House]]. In practice, these powers are almost always exercised on the advice of the cabinet.

===Judicial powers===
The president has the right to appoint judges on the joint recommendation of the prime minister and leader of the opposition,<ref>[[Constitution of Barbados]], Section 80(1)</ref> and pardon offenders.

== Official oath of office ==

According to the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2021 and the First Schedule section of the [[Constitution of Barbados]], the official [[oath of office]] or affirmation for the president of Barbados is as follows:

{{cquote|I, [name], do swear (solemnly affirm) that I will well and truly serve Barbados in the office of President. (So help me God. (to be omitted in affirmation)){{sfn|Constitution Amendment Act|2021|loc=Section 15}}}}

==See also==
* [[List of heads of state of Barbados]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=n|30em}}

==References==
* [http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Barbados.html World Statesmen – Barbados]
*[http://rulers.org/rulb1.html#barbados Rulers.org – Barbados]

===Citations===
{{reflist}}
===Works cited===
{{refbegin}}
{{cite web|url=http://governmentprintery.gov.bb/portal/scripts/getpdf.php?i=1474|title=Constitution (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2021|date=2021|publisher=Barbados Government Printing Department|accessdate=29 October 2021|ref={{sfnref|Constitution Amendment Act|2021}}|archive-date=2 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202035552/http://governmentprintery.gov.bb/portal/scripts/getpdf.php?i=1474|url-status=dead}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [https://www.gov.bb/Visit-Barbados/president Barbados Government - President of Barbados]

{{Barbados topics}}
{{Heads of State of Barbados}}
{{Heads of state and government of North America}}

[[Category:Presidents of Barbados| ]]
[[Category:2021 establishments in Barbados]]
[[Category:Heads of state of Barbados]]
[[Category:Republicanism in Barbados]]