barbados

As Barbados delivers a third consecutive term to Prime Minister Mia Mottley, reinforcing political dominance, Prime Minister Philip Davis is also seeking a consecutive victory, with an election that could be called any day.

Davis is betting that continuity, paired with his message of “progress”, will resonate with voters.

Like Mottley, he is asking voters to stay the course with him rather than pivot, as the Bahamas, like Barbados, navigate inflation, crime, global geopolitical tension, and climate vulnerabilities.

But long dominance in politics can risk voter fatigue. Bahamians traditionally lean toward changing powers every election cycle.

Regional leaders watch these patterns closely.

Caribbean prime ministers tend to study each other. They observe what messaging worked in Barbados, what failed in Jamaica, and what energised voters in Trinidad. They pay attention to tone, whether voters reward assertive leadership or prefer softer, consensus-driven approaches.

They note whether economic messaging outweighs social issues like crime and the cost of living.

If a regional leader wins on a platform of continuity and global credibility, others may adopt that script. If voters punish arrogance or disconnect, that lesson is adapted too.

For Davis, Mottley’s consecutive victories may reinforce the belief that incumbency, when framed as progress, can overcome voter fatigue.

But Bahamian voters are not Barbadian voters. Their concerns differ.

As the Bahamas edges closer to an election, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s move is turning heads.

Over the weekend, Mottley announced a snap general election for February 11, even though her government still had time left on its constitutional term. It is the second time she has done this with at least a year remaining.

Mottley is widely admired across the Caribbean and the world, and leaders have publicly praised her leadership style.

Mottley led the Barbados Labour Party (BPL) to back-to-back 30–0 election victories in 2018 and 2022. The Opposition is newly led by Ralph Thorne of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), who crossed over from the BLP in 2024.  Mottley has recently finalized her slate of candidates. DLP said it is ready to contest the election with a full slate of candidates.

This raises an obvious question for the Bahamas. The next general election is not constitutionally due until September. But the political temperature in the country is intensifying. VAT relief on grocery items is scheduled to take effect in April. New constituencies have been added. Candidates are being ratified. Campaign messaging is intensifying on social media.

Like Mottley, Davis also platformed climate change.

Like Mottley, Davis also granted legal land titles to people.

Like Mottley, Davis is also seeking a second consecutive term, though Bahamian voters have historically elected the alternate party.

The risks are big as early elections can backfire if voters feel rushed or are still not convinced that the government should be reelected. Prime Minister Hubert Minnis attempted it but lost in 2021.

But Mottley is showing confidence, and it remains to be seen if conditions are favourable for a win.

No election date has been announced in the Bahamas.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to arrive in the Bahamas today, the final leg of their Caribbean tour.  But many believe their visit is to strengthen the monarchy as some island nations consider removing Queen Elizabeth as head of state.

It’s been four months since Barbados became a republic following in the footsteps of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Dominica.

Now Jamaica is in discussions to do the same. On Wednesday during Williams’ visit to the country, Prime Minister Andrew Holness told him “we’re moving on.”

“We intend to fulfill our true ambition of being an independent, fully developed and prosperous country.”

Before the visit, reports circulated that Holness had already given instructions to reform his country’s constitution to make the island-nation a republic.

Cries have become louder as more Caribbean nations express their willingness to abandon Britain while citizens have condemned its association with the slave trade and colonialism.

At the ceremony in Barbados marking the country’s transition, Williams’ father Prince Charles acknowledged the “appalling atrocity of slavery which forever stains our history.”

Though Barbados has become a republic, it still remains part of the Commonwealth nations.

The Queen’s youngest son, Prince Edward and his wife the Countess of Wessex will visit other Caribbean countries in April– Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Photo credit: Belle on Twitter (The couple on a parade in Jamaica before leaving for the Bahamas)

Mia Mottley serves a second time as prime minister of Barbados.

In a snap election called nearly three weeks ago, Mottley won all 30 seats in an election with low voter turnout, a repeat of the 2018 election when her party, the Barbados Labour Party won all 30 seats, but one MP chose to serve in opposition, a week later.

She campaigned on the slogan, “It’s safer with Mia – stay the course.”

In her victory speech, Mottley said the election results would allow her government to “lead the country first to safety and then to prosperity” and will prepare Barbados for the challenges of the next 10 to 15 years.

The Democratic Labour Party argued that 5,600 Bajans in quarantine were disfranchised after they were not allowed to vote. Mottley has been criticized for her leadership during the pandemic, some calling her a dictator.

The big story

As prime minister, Mottley has been praised for her COP26 speech, breaking from the British Monarchy and leading the island-nation to a Republic, and for making international singer Rihanna a national hero.

The Opposition Party, the DLP governed Barbados between 2008 and 2018.

What it means

Barbados will not have an official opposition for the next five years.

Mottley’s Political Timeline

1. Mia entered politics in 1991 at the age of 26
2. In 1994, following the BLP’s victory in the general election, Mia was appointed to the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Culture and at the age of 29, she became one of the youngest Barbadians ever to be assigned a ministerial portfolio.
3. She was elected General Secretary of the Barbados Labour Party in 1996
4. Mia was appointed Attorney-General and Minister of Home Affairs in August 2001 and is the first female in Barbados to hold this position.
5. In 2002, Mia served as Barbados’s second female Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Social Council of Barbados and the Deputy Chairman of Barbados’ Economic Council, a position she held until 2008
6. She assumed leadership of the BLP in 2008 becoming the first female to lead the party and the Opposition but her position was revoked in 2010 in favour of former PM Owen Arthur
7. She reportedly told a secondary school teacher that she will one day become the island’s first female Prime Minister         (Cited from Loop Barbados News)

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley is hoping that her internationally acclaimed profile will translate to a win at the polls on Wednesday.

Mottley called an early election last month and has been campaigning on the slogan, “It’s safer with Mia – stay the course.”

Mottley was praised for her COP26 speech, divorcing Queen Elizabeth to become a Republic, and for making singer Rihanna a national hero.

However, some have opposed her leadership. She received backlash during the pandemic and some called her a dictator.

The Democratic Labour Party led by Verla De Peiza accused her of depriving more than 5,500 Bajans of voting while they are in quarantine, as the country battles the Omicron variant.

Lucille Moe, a former minister who was sacked by Mottley, has sided with the opposition. “She is autocratic and does not allow anyone to have an opposing view or opinion. Everyone must be in the Mia Mottley choir,” Moe said.

The Barbados Labour Party (BLP), which she leads, won all 30 seats in the 2018 election and is now attempting to repeat history on Wednesday.

Voting begins at 6 a.m. on Wednesday and the polls will close at 6 p.m.

More than 55 years after Independence, Barbados is shedding its colonial past to become a republic.

The occasion was marked on Monday after midnight with fireworks, steel bands and the 21 gun salute where Prince Charles who was in attendance, wished the island-nation well and said Queen Elizabeth II sent the country her “warmest good wishes.”

“From the darkest days of our past and the appalling atrocity of slavery which forever stains our history, people of this island forged their path with extraordinary fortitude,” Prince Charles said.

Barbados will no longer pledge allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II.

The country will do away with the role of the Governor General who represented the Queen. Instead, the country swore in its first president, Sandra Mason.

Terms like “royal” and “crown” will no longer be used. The Royal Barbados Police Force will become the Barbados Police Service and “crown lands” will become “state lands.”

Some customs will remain the same. The country will remain a member of the Commonwealth. Its flag, coat of arms and national anthem will also remain the same.

The big story

Last year November, the country began talks about its relation with the monarchy, after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, USA. Subsequently, the country removed a bronze statue of British Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson who was considered a defender of the island’s slave trade, from its main square in Bridgetown.

Barbados joins Trinidad and Tobago in relinquishing its colonial past and becoming a republic.

The Queen remains the head of state of the Bahamas and many Caribbean nations.

Photo credit: Loop News

Five passengers aboard SeaDream-1 have tested positive for COVID-19. It is the first Caribbean cruise in the market to set sail since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

The ship set sail from Barbados last week Saturday, but the seven-day voyage was cut short after the first case was discovered. The ship re-docked in Barbados late Wednesday night after the discovery.

Gene Sloan, a journalist aboard the ship, broke the story.

Why it matters

• SeaDream 1 is the first line to make a comeback since March. It raises the question of whether or not cruises are safe as they attempt to return to the Caribbean. On its first cruise, there are cases.
• The Caribbean is the biggest cruise destination, thus cruise lines have been targetting a relaunch in the region.

The details

• The ship’s doctor and Barbados’ health officials performed further testing of the passengers and crew and confirmed the new cases.
• The ship contained 53 passengers and 66 crew members on board.
• The ship was anchored in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and was on its way to Grenada when the discovery was made.
• Passengers and nonessential crew members were asked to isolate themselves in their rooms.
• Passengers had to test negative for COVID-19 test several days before boarding the ship, and the day the ship set sail.
• A 3rd test was required yesterday, Wednesday 11th.
• Ship captain Torbjorn Lund announced that one passenger felt ill before the test.
• A doctor on board the ship and an assistant are testing passengers and crew using three Abbott ID Now testing machines that the vessel carries on board. The machines only can process one COVID-19 test every 15 minutes, which has made the testing process relatively slow.

What are passengers saying?

Ben and David Hewitt-McDonald, writers of a cruise blog who have been aboard the ship for nearly three weeks told The Daily Beast, “We are really upset because we really felt like the passengers, crew, and cruise line took COVID very seriously yet it still managed to get on board. SeaDream requires double the amount of the tests as the CDC will require going forward. So we ask ourselves is testing the way forward if it can still get onboard such a small ship?”

Featured Image: SeaDream website