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Barbados: Politics and Governance

by Strong Americas | Jul 16, 2026

Barbados is a parliamentary democracy and, since November 2021, a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations. A President serves as head of state, a largely ceremonial role, while executive authority rests with the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The bicameral Parliament, one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere, consists of an elected House of Assembly and an appointed Senate.

Political life has traditionally been shaped by two major parties, the Barbados Labour Party and the Democratic Labour Party. Barbados has a long-standing reputation for political stability and strong democratic institutions, and it is an active member of CARICOM and other regional and international organizations.

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