Barbados
Island country in the Caribbean, one of the Lesser Antilles. It is
about 483 km/300 mi N of Venezuela.
Government
The bicameral legislature dates from 1627, when the British settled.
The constitution dates from 1966 and provides for a system of parliamentary
government on the British model, with a prime minister and cabinet drawn
from and responsible to the legislature, which consists of a Senate
and a House of Assembly. The Senate has 21 members appointed by the
governor general, 12 on the advice of the prime minister, two on the
advice of the leader of the opposition, and the rest on the basis of
wider consultations. The House of Assembly has 28 members elected by
universal suffrage. The legislature has a maximum life of five years
and may be dissolved within this period. The governor general appoints
both the prime minister (on the basis of support in the House of Assembly)
and the leader of the opposition.
History
Originally inhabited by Arawak Indians, who were wiped out soon after
the arrival of the first Europeans, Barbados became a British colony
1627 and remained so until independence 1966. Universal adult suffrage
was introduced 1951, and the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) won the first
general election. Ministerial government was established 1954, and BLP
leader Grantley Adams became the first prime minister. A group broke
away from the BLP 1955 and formed the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).
Six years later full internal self-government was achieved, and in the
1961 general election the DLP was victorious under its leader Errol
Barrow.
Independence
When Barbados attained full independence 1966, Barrow became its first
prime minister. The DLP was re-elected 1971, but in the 1976 general
election the BLP - led now by Grantley Adams's son Tom - ended
Barrow's 15-year rule.
|
