The Barbados Labour Party has retained power and won the 2022 General Election, Loop News has reported.
In a snap election called 18 months before it was constitutionally due, the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has been able to make history twice over by once again winning all 3o seats and also as the first party to win the first general election since Barbados transitioned to a parliamentary Republic.
According to Loop News, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has said that she believes in two-term leadership and believes that this may be her last term in elective politics. Now the ninth prime minister to lead Barbados, Mottley has further stamped her name in the annals of the country’s history.
At the launch of the BLP 2022 manifesto, Mottley, according to Loop News, cautioned residents and citizens against voting for an opposition and her request and word of warning have seemingly not fallen on deaf ears.
With counts commencing across most constituencies from after 9pm, Barbadians had to wait until the early hours of Thursday morning to learn who will be their next government.
“From the earliest boxes, it was clear that the incumbents would be hard to dislodge. Even those seats which were being closely watched turned out to be nothing more than a momentary blip,” Barbados newspaper, Nation News reported.
Neither the BLP’s main opposing contender Democratic Labour Party (DLP) under the leadership of Verla De Peiza, nor the emerging parties, including the coalition Alliance Party for Progress led by former Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley, made any impact with the electorate.
The DLP is expected to hold a news conference later today, concerning the election result.
Did Verla De Peiza and Bishop Joseph Atherley say the ELECTION was stolen?
Did THEY say DEAD PEOPLE VOTED? What did they really do or say? Are they causing trouble like the main opposition in Dominica?
Just asking a question!
KID you – “Congrats also to all the electorates of Barbados.”
This is twice now you have done this. Electorate (without the ‘s’) means all the people in a country who are eligible to vote. Elector is an individual who has the right to vote in an election.
I did all this to prevent you from embarrassing yourself in the future. Be good!
Mia at the BLP won not by a landslide but by a tsunami. The result reflects a the will of a united nation. That is democracy for your money.
This is the death of democracy right there . A ruling party with no opposition. Barbados was suffering before . I’m feeling sorry for the population now
A Glaring Failure
For those jumping with joy at the results of the Barbadian election, they need to reassess their analysis. Rather than reflecting a BLP with good policy for the masses, it is a reflection of a failed system of representation and governance. The System is a dysfunctional one in that it does not represent the people. Caribbean Nations need to adopt the more equitable Proportional Representation System. In so doing, Election results would truly represent the will of the people. The results in Barbados does not represent this. Caribbean Nations will continue to wallow in Gab and remain non-serious actors on the world stage.
Leighton R James
So, now you suddenly become a political pundit, lol. Why such a farfetched criticism. Here you have a political process that worked, and has been working. Barbados has been a model of the Parliamentary Democracy in the region, and the Commonwealth. The BLP policy for the masses, good or bad, has nothing to do with a reflection of a failed system of representation and governance, these are two separate distinct issues. As to your more equitable Proportional Representation System, it is just another an utopian dream, there is no ideal electoral system, just as there is no ideal political system, look at the US the pioneer model and exponent of Democracy after all those yrs following independence 245yrs they’re still today grappling about an ideal electoral system.
The glaring failure is the Opposition, the winner, the people electing a Government who they think will manage the Country affairs best as to the polices of the Government only time will tell.
Yeah Ibo, lf Pm Skerrit had won by that margin nasty people like you would have lots to say, because it is none other than Dominica Labour party it’s okay! Having said that well done to Pm Mia Mottley and the Barbados people keep these so-called political criminals out there are too many them posing as politicians stealing poor peoples money in the Caribbean.
I listened to Sean Douglas on the fake news,propaganda,lying radio station Q95.He red a 2014 report from the election observers,in which it said the was FREE but not necessarily FAIR.Crooked Sean went on to give reasons why the election was not NECESSARILY fair.Five years later in 2019 the same observers said the 2019 election was FREE and FAIR.That is the reason Sean was fired by Skerrit as government press secretary, double standard.
Q95 fm, the only fair and balanced news entity in Dominica. It’s a place where all ideas are allowed to contend.
Mia won Big indeed. At least she did not have to fly Barbadians into the country to secure her win. In addition Barbadians do not sell the citizenship.
In other words Mia was elected by people living in Barbados which is how it is done in a Democracy. Citizens living outside of their country should not be in a position to affect the outcome of a general election.
Even if I do not think a landslide victory for one party is good for a country, at least the winner did not have to cheat to achieve it.
Kid are you nuts?Dominicans are never going to vote UWP.UWP is against the international airport.UWP is against Clear Harbour.They are against NEP and Yes We Care.They supported Ross leaving Dominica.They are against the PEOPLE getting $250,000 and $300,000 houses free.UWP are against the government paying 2,700 senior citizens $300 monthly.They ,UWP lost 1,163 votes in the 2019 general election,and believe me Mr Kid they are going to lose Marigot and Roseau North for sure.They continue peddling fake news,propaganda and lies,year after year.Nothing new same BS just a different day.Have you Mr Kid ever heard UWP talk about how to win back the 1,163 votes they lost?.The election observers that UWP asked for, told the world the 2019 election held in Dominica was FREE and FAIR.Edincort St.Valle a member and supporter of UWP told Q95 the BARBADIAN PEOPLE were not smart to vote the BLP even on the Barbados election UWP is divided
Is now Barbados Finnish. A 1 party government with no opposition has never benefited any country in history. And don’t say China because that country failing as well
We all can agree a well versed opposition is vital to any country’s democracy. However, if and when the people decides to lawfully (non imported voters, no foreign troops to silence and intimidate the masses and other forms of corruption involved) give a mandate to a party we should all seat back and let them do their job. Be reminded that the same people under the same condition or by any means necessary will remove them if they fail to perform. In Barbados’ case, I have not heard of any malpractice by the mandated party that would push me to question the legitimacy of the election.
The opposition movement still has a voice because opposition is not a party as we in Dca see it due to our myopic thinking but rather “the people who oppose collectively”. This should serve as a lesson to the Dcan Dictator but I will hold my breath for now.
Way to go Mia!
I love it when a political party wins elections BIG Time without employing shananigans and paying millions to import voters. This shows in no uncertainty this is the will of the Bajan people. Now I wish the Dcan Dictator would do that so we can actually see what those at home think. But again, it takes “stones” like Mia’s which he does not have.
I always say Mr. Mia has more testicular fortitude than those empty barrel male ministers we have walking around “playing” minister. God bless Mia.
Correction: Mia has eggs not testicles. Empress Mia is quicK-witted, transparent, approachable, tactful, intelligent, inclusive and empathetic. Her qualities are those diametrically opposite to that of the corrupt, ill-suited occupant in the office of prime minister in Dominica.
“Correction: Mia has eggs not testicles”
In the next election in Dominica,UWP is going to lose Marigot and Roseau North,giving the DLP a 20-1 victory.
I see the plan for stealing is already in place. That does not surprise me but go ahead and we will see
I admire Mis Amor Mottley. She is progressive, savvy, articulate, patriotic, forthright, intuitive and open-minded. These are qualities we want to see in our leaders.
Having said that, I abhor one political party winning all seats. It isn’t good for democracy. Constructive opposition is important for democracy to thrive and grow from strength to strength. Monopoly in politics, business or anything else is not usually good. In fact, in politics, it usually leads to dictatorial rule.
I hope Ms. Motley will remain humble and not be carried away with her renewed dominance of political power in Barbados.
You blasted her for running Ross University away from Dominica, now, you admire her. She is progressive. Your crook. You have two tongues in your mouth. Ugly Lenny will neither be Prime Minister nor President in this beautiful country of ours. Skerrit will remain indomitable and progressive. You and your friends called her a snake under the grass, now, she is humble.and does not mumble like Ted Gumble in the rumble. That animosity you have towards Skerrit will lead you nowhere but to hell. You are nothing but a boom boom fly.
ds, you have caught your idol (Roosevelt) incurable disease. Stop lying on me.
ROSS University permanently existing Dominica was not by Mia’s urging. The was solely due to Roosevelt’s gross ineptitude. You should be ashamed of yourself for supporting an idiot who has destroyed one-time of Dominica’s income. You are perpetually drunk from imbibing too much of that red ale.
@Ibo France. Lovely post. Like you, I believe in a strong opposition (not having an opposition for the sake of having one). But where I disagree with you is on the point that one party winning all seats isn’t good for democracy. The underlying word is winning – not stealing as is the case in Dominica. If democracy is the will of the people and it’s the will of the people to give one party all the seats, how can this be bad for democracy? It’s something we have to grapple with, but we have to be careful not to appear to accept the democratic process (the will of the people) only when we like the results. When a party wins as overwhelmingly as the BLP did in 2018, when they won 74 per cent of the votes cast (I’m awaiting the final results of yesterday’s poll, but I suspect it won’t be far less), it’s clearly the will of the people. It cannot be bad for the very democracy that brought about such result. Let’s discuss other ways to implement checks and balances.
@Anon B True
I respect your argument but vehemently disagree with you. Undoubtedly the results clearly indicate the will of the people. I also respect that but I do not necessarily subscribe to your viewpoint.
When a political party secures all the parliamentary seats, there is no one in parliament to voice strong opposition against draconian legislations. These elected officials tend to become overconfident and too excessive with power. Remember the saying – Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Good politicians usually become corrupt and dictatorial when given absolute power. There is nothing to deter them.
In life, balance is always preferable if things are to go well. Vitamins are good for you but too much can get you seriously ill. No one person or party has a monopoly on ideas. Two heads are always better than one.
Finally, even if the vast majority of people agree with an idea, this dies not automatically makes it good or right.
@Ibo France, I don’t think we’re terribly far apart. I’d much rather have a strong opposition, but I believe so strongly in democracy – the will of the people – when there’s no election rigging and a vast majority vote – that I have to accept a clean sweep. If the people in consider what the various parties offer and decide they want nothing of the others, I believe their will must be respected. Unlike Dominica, there’s a senate in Barbados that scrutinises legislation and can return bills to the lower house if they are not comfortable. And there have been instances when they have, even when there’s an opposition. It’s one form of checks and balances. Interestingly, after securing all the seats in the 2018 election, the prime minister offered the opposition party two seats in the senate. They rejected the offer. I don’t know if she plans to do the same this time round. Another approach may be to add to the constitution provisions for the electorate to recall their…
Another approach may be to add to the constitution provisions for the electorate to recall their parliamentarians if they are unhappy with the level of representation. This, in my opinion, will further strengthen democracy. I agree wholeheartedly with the arguments that you made, but I believe that in a free and fair election, as was the case in Barbados, the will of the people trounces everything else.
I’ m truly in favour of a recall clause if elected parliamentarians are not productive. I would even take it to the extreme. Salaries of elected public officials should be withheld if these representatives are dead weights.
You said before the election results that politicians see politics as an avenue to gain personal wealth and aggrandize themselves, referring to Motley. Now she has won by a landslide, you are all in her face. She is humble, progressive, dominant, business-like, articulate, patriotic. Boy, you are a trip. Your two-faced bum. Skerrit has all the qualities of the late Maurice Bishop including handsomeness, people person, articulate, progressive, and patriotic. Ugly Lenny will neither be Prime Minister nor President of Dominica. Not on this earth, not on the next one.
Most politicians do ( use politics as a vehicle to feather their nest) but Mia is an exception. Robbin’ Hood and his brown-nosers are all, without exception, guilty of using political office to enrich themselves. Mr. Hood didn’t even own a decent pair of shoes before he entered politics. Look at him now. The wealthiest public figure in the Caribbean.
CONGRATES to the BLP… Congrats also to the electorates of Barbados. You voted for progress and not party like the people of Salisbury, Marigot and Roseau North in Dominica. Intelligent and smart people, YOU have displayed your patriotic quality that YOUR Country before PARTY. DOMINICANS take a page from Barbados.