State in Barbados

The President is the head of state. The Prime Minister leads the government together with the Cabinet; the Prime Minister comes from the House of Assembly, while ministers may belong to the elected lower chamber (House of Assembly) or the Senate. Parliament consists of the House of Assembly with 30 elected members and the Senate with 21 appointed members. Its term of office is no more than five years from its first sitting. Parliament adopts constitutional amendments; particularly protected provisions require a majority of at least two-thirds. Barbados has no federal or regional level of government. Bridgetown is in the parish of Saint Michael. Community advisory councils (Constituency Councils) support community consultation and service referrals but, according to the sources reviewed, do not have independent legislative or taxing authority. Public services are delivered through ministries, departments and statutory public authorities (Statutory Authorities), depending on the matter. The Ministry of Public Service deals, among other things, with personnel policy, appointments, qualifications and compliance in the public service. Constitutional Service Commissions take on certain personnel and powers-related functions. State decisions may be challenged or reviewed before the Magistrates' Courts, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and, as the final instance, the Caribbean Court of Justice. The High Court handles, among other matters, constitutional remedies. The Attorney General's Office is responsible for constitutional matters, the justice system and prosecution functions; the Director of Public Prosecutions carries out independent prosecutorial functions. The Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment, the Treasury or Accountant General, the Barbados Revenue Authority, the Central Bank of Barbados and the Financial Services Commission perform different financial and supervisory functions. Parliament approves the annual budget through Estimates and an Appropriation Act. The public financial management law (Public Finance Management Act 2019) governs public financial management. The public procurement law (Public Procurement Act 2021) and its 2023 amendment govern public procurement; suppliers generally need registration, which the portal states is free. For January to June 2026, a budget surplus of BDS 347.4 million and a primary surplus of BDS 537.5 million were reported. Gross public-sector debt was approximately BDS 15.1 billion, or 93.7 percent of gross domestic product. The economic reform programme (BERT programme 2026) pursues, among other objectives, a debt anchor of 60 percent of gross domestic product by fiscal year 2035/36. Oversight is provided, among others, by the independent Auditor General or Barbados Audit Office, the Public Accounts Committee, the Ombudsman, the police complaints body (Police Complaints Authority) and the Integrity Commission. The Ombudsman investigates improper, unlawful, inadequate or unfair conduct by ministries, departments and Statutory Authorities. Complaints should generally be filed within twelve months; an extension may be possible. The Police Complaints Authority monitors and investigates complaints against the police. Access is free and open to the public or an authorised representative. Complaints generally have a two-year time limit, while a review usually takes place within three months. Public information channels include the Barbados Government Information Service, the Government Printing Department, the official legal gazette (Official Gazette), Parliament and the portals of public authorities. The Gazette publishes laws, Statutory Instruments, legal and public notices, and parliamentary orders; since 2020 it has appeared five days per week. A general statutory Freedom-of-Information right could not be confirmed in the official sources reviewed. Data protection tasks are handled by the data protection regulator (Data Protection Commission) under the data protection law (Data Protection Act 2019-29), including registration, education and complaints about data breaches. Chapter III of the Constitution protects, among other things, life, liberty, security, protection of the law, privacy, property, freedom of conscience, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly and association. These rights also entail duties to comply with laws, taxes and fees. Security responsibilities are divided among the Defence and Security Division of the Office of the Prime Minister, the national defence force (Barbados Defence Force), the Barbados Police Service, the Fire Service, the Prison Service and the Department of Emergency Management. The Barbados Defence Force protects the territory and supports internal security; the Coast Guard belongs to it. The emergency numbers are 211 for the police, 311 for the fire service and 511 for emergency medical services. Fees and deadlines depend on the specific service and should be checked with the responsible authority.