Barbados · Government
Government and administration in Barbados
How the executive, legislature and administrative state are organised, and which body is responsible for what.
The three branches
- Head of state — President
- Elected by joint sitting of both Houses; office created in 2021.
- Executive — Cabinet led by the Prime Minister
- Responsible to the House of Assembly.
- Legislative — Parliament
- House of Assembly (30 elected) and Senate (21 appointed).
- Judicial — Supreme Court of Judicature
- Court of Appeal and High Court.
How legislation is made
Bills pass three readings in the House of Assembly and the Senate, then receive presidential assent. The Senate may delay a money bill by one month and other bills by longer, but cannot block indefinitely. Constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority of all members of each House.
Enforcement institutions
- The Barbados Police Service
- Renamed from the Royal Barbados Police Force in 2021.
- Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
- Independent constitutional office.
- Financial Services Commission
- Regulates insurance, securities, credit unions and pensions.
- Office of the Ombudsman
- Investigates maladministration by government departments.
Government bodies and regulators
- executiveOffice of the Attorney GeneralPrincipal legal adviser to the government of Barbados.
- independentOffice of the Director of Public ProsecutionsIndependent authority for criminal prosecutions.
- independentFinancial Services CommissionRegulates non-bank financial institutions.
- independentOffice of the OmbudsmanInvestigates maladministration by government departments.
- executiveBarbados Revenue AuthorityAssesses and collects national taxes.
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