House of Assembly of Barbados

The House of Assembly of Barbados is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Barbados. It has 30 Members of Parliament (MPs), who are directly elected in single member constituencies using the simple-majority (or first-past-the-post) system for a term of five years. The House of Assembly sits roughly 40–45 days a year and is presided over by a Speaker.

House of Assembly

Lower house

of the Parliament of Barbados

Arthur E. Holder, BLP
since 5 June 2018

Mia Mottley, BLP
since 25 May 2018

Ralph Thorne, DLP
since 12 February 2024

Government

Barbados Labour Party (29)

Opposition

Democratic Labour Party (1)

First-past-the-post

19 January 2022

The Barbadian House of Assembly chamber is located in the east-wing of The Public Buildings on Broad Street, in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Oath of affirmation[edit]

Under section 59 of the constitution, before entering upon the functions of his office, the MPs must take the oath of allegiance to Barbados.

61(3) "...Parliament, unless sooner dissolved, shall continue for five years from the date of its first sitting after any dissolution and shall then stand dissolved."

62(1) "After every dissolution of Parliament the Governor General [since 30 November 2021: ] shall issue writs for a general election of members of appointment the House of Assembly returnable within ninety days from that dissolution."^[1]

President

The Constitution of Barbados reads, in part:

The next election is therefore due to be held in 2027, but can be held sooner if the President of Barbados so directs.

House of Assembly of Barbados