Barbados Holds First Elections Since Becoming Republic

Mia Mottley

Today, Barbados held its first General Elections since becoming a republic.  Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s Labor Party is widely expected to retain control since they held twenty-nine of the thirty seats in parliament. Mottley called elections in December.  According to Reuters News Agency, she said at the time that the vote would “promote unity in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.” In November, Barbados removed Queen Elizabeth as the head of state and replaced her with President Sandra Mason.  The opposition had sought a court injunction to try and stop the election. They claimed people being quarantined for coronavirus would be excluded from participation, thereby violating their voting rights.