Barbados elects first female Prime Minister

Mia Mottley is Prime Minister-elect of Barbados. Photo: CMC

Mia Mottley of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has been elected as the first female Prime Minister of Barbados.

Her party unseated the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) in a landslide victory on Thursday.

The DLP had been governing Barbados since 2008.

In the crushing victory, the Mottley-led BLP won all 30 seats in the Barbados House of Assembly.

Mottley, 52, becomes Barbados’ eight Prime Minister and the fifth female head of government in the English speaking the Caribbean joining the likes of the late Dame Eugenia Charles of Dominica, Janet Jagan of Guyana, Portia Simpson Miller in Jamaica and Kamla Persad Bissessar in Trinidad and Tobago.

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46 Comments

  1. Jonathan Y St Jean
    May 27, 2018

    According to George Chambers who was Prime Minister of T&T in the eighties, “not one damn seat for them. How often does this total rejection of a political party happen in the Caribbean? After a while, the electorate has had enough of a political party that doesn’t have a dynamic vision. In the case of Dominica, the intoxicating effect of the personal handouts will dissipate and dynamism will return to the country and the economy. There is still hope for Dominica

  2. Bajan citizen
    May 26, 2018

    Dear Citizens of Dominica

    Dominica is my second home. Of all the countries of the Caribbean I have been, after Barbados, I love Dominica the most… but your Prime Minister is the worst thing for your economy.

    Your Prime Minister is not as sincere and principled as he tries to profess to be. His Dominica Labour Party (DLP) is not a partner of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP).

    The DLP is a partner of the Barbados Democratic Labour Party (Barbados DLP). Mr Skerrit is a friend of Mr Freundal Stewart, the former Prime Minister and leader of the Barbados DLP which lost every seat contested.

    The fact is the BLP is aligned to the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) and not to the DLP.

    In conclusion, Mr Skerrit always tries to align himself to winners to try to give himself prominence., but he knows he is being deceptive when he says to the Dominican populace that his corrupt DLP is aligned to the newly elected BLP.

    Stop fooling your people Mr Skerrit and be honest for once…

    • Kermit
      May 28, 2018

      You not no damn bajan stop it and if you are stay out of our business.

  3. Ibo France
    May 26, 2018

    Let’s be very honest. Unless and until there are fair and sensible electoral reforms in Dominica the true will of the electors will never be manifested at the polls. If the status quo remain, we will always have election challenges in the courts. Why is only one political party so adamantly oppose to changes to the electoral system that will create a level playing field for all political parties? A government that wins because of a fraudulent electoral system cannot do justice for the people. They are bound to fail. Viva to Barbarians for their solid electoral system.

  4. Dombaje
    May 26, 2018

    Here are the reasons why we cannot compare Barbados to Dominica when it comes to politics:
    1: Barbados Politics is much older than Dominica. Maturity and Experience has taught that your vote actually has an impact on you, your family and country.
    2: Dominicans depend on handouts, galvanize and plywood for a vote, it appears to be a new culture (20 years). Bajans are more concerned with working for their own instead of prostituting themselves and family.
    3: Its no surprise that the BLP won, we put a government there to do a job, if you cannot do it we will remove you. There were 7 political parties who presented themselves to the electorate many with quality candidates, however Bajans vote on issues not pretty eyes or family ties.
    4: The quality of candidates presented were of substance, its not just who the people like, or who have pretty eyes, or whose nose too big… its… can you do the job? What can you contribute in moving the country forward for the betterment of the…

  5. May 26, 2018

    Barbados leading the way.

  6. CleanBowled
    May 25, 2018

    Congratluations and best wishes to Prime Minister Elect Mottley!!!. This is neither the time nor space to cast aspersions on the political state of affairs in our cherished country. Let us lift up our two nations and their citizenry in prayer as the challenges that face small island states are strikingly similar in this 21st century.

  7. KID ON THE BLOCK
    May 25, 2018

    But nothing from dem Blue Belly amphibians about A One Party State in Barbados. A clean SLATE; 30 OUT OF 30. Is there an oppositon? Just asking. Because the PM once talked of winning ALL 21 seats and he was criticized emensely by UWP and it’s supporters and was called a dictator and wanted to have a ONE PARTY STATE in Dominica.

  8. Not Me alone
    May 25, 2018

    Barbados, Antigua, Trinidad, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and others are all far more developed than Dominica and they all have their international airport; yet they all have changed their governments, while we keep getting worse every year under Skerrit, yet we keep voting him and giving him more power. What’s wrong with us man? We had the land and design for an international airport but Skerrit chose to cancel it and instead, chose to invest on night landing and LIE to us about international airport everytime election coming. For example, in 2007, they were preparing for the 2009 election and here was our airport: http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/btn20071217165104270/. They won the election and plans got buried. Then they were preparing for the 2014 election so here is our airport again:https://www.caribjournal.com/2014/05/17/dominica-talking-to-china-about-building-international-airport/#. They now preparing for election and Skerrit ready to build container airport

  9. Not Me Alone
    May 25, 2018

    Bajans and other Caribbean islands are forward minded and will not allow any administration to destroy their country like Dominicans have been allowing Skerrit to destroy Dominica. If only Dominicans were politically educated and und understood what it means to put country before party, I have no doubt that we would be more advanced than many of our sister islands. But we are not a smart and forward thinking people. We are only concerned about the piece of bread someone can give us now and forget about being able to buy our own bread, so Skerrit is feeding on our ignorance and poverty to stay in power. All of our sister islands have an international airport except us. Yet we allowed the DLP to pass give our international airport to St. Vincent and we were foolish enough to even clap when Ralph Gonsalves came here to tell us during a DLP convention that we didn’t need an airport because we couldn’t afford it, only to see him run and build his airport immediately after his DA trip.

  10. St. Joe
    May 25, 2018

    This was as a result of electoral reform laws which were pasted and the cleansing of the voters list. I hope the Concerned Citizens movement will continue their efforts to have the same changes done in Dominica.
    An educated people will always vote for better.

  11. May 25, 2018

    Congratulations to the people of Barbados and PM Mia Mottley; who are educating Dominicans and saying to us that no Administration should govern for more than two terms. Any time they pass two terms they become Greedy; Incompetent; Lazy; Corrupt and Intellectually and Politically dishonest.

  12. Ready Freedy
    May 25, 2018

    Remember the Labor Party in Barbados is different than the Labor Party in Dominica. Congratulations to Barbados people for doing the right thing. Dominica need to take note for next year election on the island.

  13. Silver fox
    May 25, 2018

    WHO else is there Dr Skerrit, and his administration are the only ones, Workers opposition party are all dead Rats. ?
    ALSO DNO I have noticed you are not printing my comments lately what are you afaird off or is it you lots are one of the same?

  14. Alick_redants
    May 25, 2018

    Congrats, i glad she win now hartly henry and work for the NEP to clean marigot.

  15. Bee
    May 25, 2018

    Well I do care which party win however I to look forward to the day when our elections are free and fair and far from fear!

  16. Tom Brown
    May 25, 2018

    Labour time. Started in Grenda, all seats no opposition. Now Barbados. Next Dominica.
    Who vex lost. Who jar bless no man curse. Labour Power

  17. jy
    May 25, 2018

    Hopefully the same thing will happen in DA next election

  18. Bajan in Dominica
    May 25, 2018

    As a Bajan Labourite, I want to congratulate Mia and the Barbados Labour Party on their resounding victory at the polls.

    Just to clarify, I came to Dominica in Freedom days and has been here ever since. I have always been a supporter of the Dominica Freedom Party (DFP) and will continue to do so because in Barbados I supported the Barbados Labour Party and our party is aligned to the DFP.

    Please note that our BLP is in no way affiliated with this corrupt Dominica Labour Party (DLP)… I do not expect to hear congratulatory messaged coming from members of the DLP because their corrupt friends the Barbados Democratic Labour Party (Barbbados DLP) lost every sit and was swept under the carpet in lovely Barbados…

    We Bajans don’t support corruption and accept handouts that make us dependent on one man whose most recent statement is to give Dominicans a airport made out of 2 containers. What a shame and a disgrace… That;s all for now

  19. Shaka Zulu
    May 25, 2018

    Thats the difference btw an educated society and a brain washed, brain drained intellectually dead society like Dominica. Lets see the PP (Punjab Phd ) spin this one. He said last time when results came from Grenada and incumbent took landslide that opposition parties in the islands don’t understand what it is to gov. The only country in the carribbean that multiply 2×2 and epect to get 22 is Dominica. There are some communities in Dominica like Portsmouth that have the dumbest concentration of electorate in the entire Caribbean. Portsmouth with the key to Dominica development is like a dump but they voteing labour while the whole community go to the dogs. Criminals and drugs run the place, pigs and cattle roam the streets, but they born labour they die labour. Change is good for any development. God forebid that labour party and roosvelt skerrit win next election. You guys will be crying for Maria to pass again. I am not wishing but history shows a stupid nation is doom.

  20. Zammmmm
    May 25, 2018

    Barbadians are very forward thinking and a no nonsense country.
    Day in day out Dominicans are sticking to this labour party who continue to keep them down.
    Look at the progress after Maria, things still far from normal yet they playing politics with aid n the people money.
    Dominica needs a change in leadership. The present government has failed. Congrats Bajans

    • Observer
      May 25, 2018

      Some of you all before all you read something, before thinking is foolishness you all writing. What does their election have to do with Dominica. Dominica Labour Party is doing very well. Everyone has their faults. No government is perfect, but for Christ sake let’s be objective. Does this Dominica Opposition have what it takes to lead the country?.. No they don’t, now if you want to change leadership, then start shaping up urself to lead.

      • Ibo France
        May 28, 2018

        Observer, you have a loose relationship with the truth. You stated that Dominica is doing well. Nothing can be further from the truth. Dominica presently has the worsttttt performing economy in the sub-region, the latest IMF assessment confirmed this. The airport and seaport are of a bygone era, many of the roads and bridges are in a sorry state of disrepair, Dominican elite track and field athletes still practise on grass (unheard of in the sub-region), healthcare is deplorable, and I could continue ad nauseam. Can you truthfully point to the ‘very well’ successes of this government that you have stated so emphatically? This is a corrupt government. Civil servants, including the PM and his Ministers, don’t get rich from their salaries. How is it that the PM entered government almost penniless and now he is a filthy rich man? Can his monthly salary account for the enormous wealth he has accumulated? No fair minded person would answer that question in the affirmative.

  21. Met Boda Yo
    May 25, 2018

    Congratulation Mia.

  22. KID ON THE BLOCK
    May 25, 2018

    Congrats to you Mam. At least you were not that kind of Opposition Leader Dominica has. You stood your grounds with distinction and not as a TRAITOR TO YOUR COUNTRY to GAIN in power.

    • Cee
      May 25, 2018

      What do you know? Idiot!

  23. karifuna
    May 25, 2018

    Congrats Ms.Mottley am sure you will a splendid job,am for women in positions,the men are a bunch of waste,Move your island forward in a trust worthy way.May the good LORD GUIDE YOU.Eveywhere makes a change but not my people.they will wake up one day.

  24. Ibo France
    May 25, 2018

    The Dominica Labor unions (DLP) should meet the same fate as the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) of Barbados. I hope that all Dominicans would come to their right senses and realize that the country is going nowhere under the stewardship of a leader ………….whose party practises blind political tribalism (Red Clinic). The USP election slogan should be- ‘Not a Damn Seat For Dem’ with reasons why. Skerrit and his surrogates have figuratively packed all Dominicans but themselves into a round container, roll it over the steepest cliff, into a watery grave. After disastrous Maria, a good and charismatic leader, with all the money and donations he has received from almost everywhere on the globe, would have had his people feverishly enthusiastic about a better and brighter future. Instead, gloom, doom and inertia are presently taking a heavy toll on the people’s mental health. Many have resigned themselves to a life of eternal damnation (hell on earth).

    • May 25, 2018

      Your blue propaganda continues. Hope your party does not suffer the same fate as the as the loosing parties in Barbados and Grenada. As of now it looks as though Marigot is the only constituency that can prevent a clean sweep by the DLP at the next election.

      • Ibo France
        May 28, 2018

        Anon, I can sense trepidation in your comments. You seem like an intelligent guy but your intelligence is being misplaced by supporting a highly corrupt and inept administration. Sometimes the comments that you make in support of this kakistocracy make me think you are being sarcastic. No honest human being can give this current a passing grade on anything substantive (economy, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, tourism, bipartisanship, education, national security, the criminal justice system, fishery sector). The country is a rudderless ship bring tossed and turned by fluctuating fortunes.

    • Ibo France
      May 25, 2018

      Corrections: Seems like someone edited this post .
      * The Dominica Labor Party NOT Dominica Labor Unions
      *The UWP NOT USP

    • Colombo Thomas
      May 25, 2018

      Most Caribbean Politicians are backwards in their thinking. When they are opposition-everything for them is corruption, burn down with the intention of becoming king of the ashes. Hope they realize that the voter’s are getting more educated and astute. The latest election results in the Caribbean… people are demonstrating they are rejecting these backwards, vision less, angry politicians.

    • NUWP
      May 25, 2018

      Keep dreaming

      We are well fed so we voting red

      Our brain is not sticking like glue

      That’s why we will never vote for blue

    • May 25, 2018

      More rubish! ! It is such idiotic statements that will lead to another defeat of the UWP at the next election.

    • Man bites dogs
      May 26, 2018

      WHO is that frat *** call Ibo France?Is he that same one they calling Francisco the PAPPY show from Wesley??

  25. Barbara Saunders
    May 25, 2018

    I listened to the comments from the victorious leader and the leader who lost the elections. What a gracious duo! The victorious leader asked her people to take note that the electioneering is over and it is time for building country because they are one people. She also commended the courage of the young person who had challenged her for the seat.
    The defeated leader extended congratulations to the victorious one and commiserated with his team who lost.
    What a civilised society. I actually felt a little wistful and regretful for my own country and the behavior almost four years after the elections. I also noted that an opposition party won a landslide against an incumbent. This defies the unsettling rhetoric used by some when not sure if the electorate will favour them.

    How I wish Dominica would return to the society we knew when elections were over and the people had spoken.

    • Willie
      May 25, 2018

      For this to happen the elections must be free and fair
      Let us have electoral reform free and fair elections and you will see how easy it will be for all to accept the results
      And move on

    • Ibo France
      May 25, 2018

      @Barbara
      Many Barbarians will confess that this was one of the worst elections in the history of elective politics in their country. The political rhetoric that came from the leader and politicians of the DLP was coarse and vile. Ms. Mia Ottley was the subject of derision and the most vicious personal attacks leading up to election day. The campaigning was brutal. Only after the elections, both leaders, Motley and Stuart, were very gracious in victory and defeat respectively. There is a strong message that was sent by the electors. Show me, what you have done for the country..

  26. Iamanidiot
    May 25, 2018

    Waiting to see the prime minister statement on this, since in the last two regional elections he criticized the opposition or not being in touch with the people. So lets wait for his insincere congratulation since the opposition won.

    • Colombo Thomas
      May 25, 2018

      The PM was alluding to opposition who only want to burn their country down and becomes king of ashes…. Right thinking opposition just don’t only criticize, label their opponents as corrupt with their hateful cannibalism behavior. They offered constructive criticism and tangible solutions. Right thinking and astute voters are rejecting these types of politician’s…

  27. Galileo
    May 25, 2018

    It would be interested to see what is the response of all those who were critical of me a few month ago in my comment on the minister from Barbados and the Dominican waiver issue in which I said he government was falling. On another note. We need to do better as a country and a people. Look around us. People vote on issues; issues which impact their lives. In Dominica we are stuck in party and party support. Here in the comments section we comment not on conscience, but on party support. Even the medium DNO is guilty. I see people insult people here but because their comments are of a certain leaning they are published ,but other comments, based on facts, are not published because they did not say what the establishment is comfortable with. Let’s support Dominica and end this childish partisan behaviour. Only then we will realize real growth and development.

  28. Greene
    May 25, 2018

    We voted on the issues and I hope my countrymen do the same the next time they are called to the polls

  29. Pioneer
    May 25, 2018

    Congratulations to the lady and the people of Barbados. These things only happen when you have good electoral practices. My people will wake up one day.
    I do not care which party wins in Dominica as long as the election is fair and good ethical safeguards are in place.

    • NUWP
      May 25, 2018

      It has always been fair and clean as experts and election observers keep saying

      These are trian people

      Lennox has no form of training yet still he want to tell professionals how it should be.

      Did you listen statesmanship from pm Steward after he lost so badly?

      He accepted defeat, he took responsibility for their demise

      He didn’t want to fight or burst people head with a zip bottle

      He didn’t ask to block road and burn down Roseau

      He man up

      And he gained respect

      But a brainless man like Lennox always in fight mode

      But I telling him if he know how we waiting for him in the next election he have to say is bad they do him when we Dominicans finish with him and UWP

      There shall be election in this country and nothing is stopping it.

      Blows on all you like old clothes next election

      Sacway sot zor yay.

      The Caribbean is moving and staying labour for a very long time.

      • Barbara Saunders
        May 31, 2018

        Ibo France
        Yes, I heard about the verbal attacks etc. during campaigning. I guess that is becoming the norm these days. Even four years after elections this is still going on in Dominica. The point that I am making is the leadership that was demonstrated after Bajans had spoken.

        The other thing that I noted is that Mia Mottley in opposition did not make a career of seeking to destroy Barbados locally, regionally and internationally in the hope of unseating the incumbent at the time. I guess her intelligence and experience as an attorney added to far-sighted responsible patriotism would not have allowed her to do that.

        About the free and fair elections, I would be the first to say that any reforms which can make the process more efficient should be implemented. From my assessment however, it is difficult to understand how in an unfair situation, the opposition was able to capture three seats held by the government in the last elections on the same electoral list…cont’d

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