BARBADOS

This page contains the complete text of PARLINE database entry on the selected parliamentary Chamber or unicameral Parliament

GENERAL INFORMATION

Parliament (generic name):

Parliament of Barbados

Translated name:

Parlement de Barbade

Structure:

Bicameral

Chamber:

Senate

Translated name:

President:

Branford Taitt ( M)

Secretary General:

Pedro E. Eastmond ( M)

Members (statutory number):

appointed by the Governor-General

Members (current number):

Women (current number):

4 ( 19.05%)

Term:

5 years

Last renewal dates:

12 February 2008

Address:

Senate
Parliament Buildings
BRIDGETOWN
Tel.: (1246) 426 5331, 426 3717, 426 0926
Cable: Comparlas, Barbados
Telex: WB FOREIGN 9222
Fax: (1246) 436 4143
E-mail: parliamentbarbados@caribsurf.com

Web site:

http://www.barbadosparliament.com/

Affiliation to IPU:

Affiliation date(s):

ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Electoral Law:

1 January 1900

Constituencies:

(not applicable)

Voting System:

Vacancies are filled by appointment made according to how the seat was originally filled.

Voter requirements:

(not applicable)

Eligibility:

- age: 21 years
- Barbados citizenship
- residence in the country for at least 12 months immediately preceding appointment
- ineligibility: undischarged bankruptcy, insanity, allegiance to a foreign State, death sentence, imprisonment exceeding 6 months, conviction of felony or of an offence involving dishonesty, electoral fraud

Incompatibilities:

- public officers
- members of armed or police forces
- judges
- director of public prosecutions
- Auditor-General

Candidacy requirements:

(not applicable)

LAST ELECTIONS

Also available: Archive of past election results for this chamber

Dates of election / renewal (from/to):

12 February 2008

Purpose of elections:

Under the Constitution, the Senate is renewed simultaneously with the House.

Background and outcome of elections:

(not applicable)

STATISTICS

Comments:

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men:

Women:

Percent of women:

19.05

Distribution of seats according to age:

Distribution of seats according to profession:

PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENT

APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE

Title:

President of the Senate

Term:

- duration: 5 years (term of House)
- reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution

Appointment:

- elected by all the Senators
- election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Senate or when a vacancy occurs
- after Senators are sworn in

Eligibility:

- any Senator (except a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary) can be a candidate
- candidatures must be submitted by a third party who is himself a Senator
- candidatures must be seconded by another Senator

Voting system:

- if only one candidature is submitted : the candidate is elected without a vote or debate
- if several candidatures are submitted : a secret ballot is taken for each candidates in the order of their registration until one of them is elected.

Procedures / results:

- the Clerk presides over the Senate during the voting
- the Clerk announces the results without any delay

STATUS

Status:

- in the absence of the President, the Vice-President (or any other Member elected for that sitting) can assume his/her role and functions

Board:

Material facilities:

NA (no information received)

FUNCTIONS

Organization of parliamentary business:

- convenes sessions, in exceptional case only
- organises the debates and sets speaking time
- examines the admissibility of questions, petitions, bills and amendments

Chairing of public sittings:

- can open and close sittings, within the framework of the Standing Orders
- can suspend sittings for short periods
- ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders
- makes announcements concerning the Senate
- takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures
- establishes the list of speakers, gives (the Member who catches the President's eye would have the floor) and withdraws permission to speak
- calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities
- checks the quorum
- authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates
- interprets the rules of other regulations governing the life of the Senate

Special powers:

- is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Senate

Speaking and voting rights, other functions:

- takes part in voting, only in the event of tie

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

PARLIAMENTARY MANDATE

Nature of the mandate:

Start of the mandate:

Validation of mandates:

End of the mandate:

Can MPs resign ?

Yes

Can MPs lose their mandate ?

Yes

STATUS OF PARLIAMENT MEMBERS

Rank in hierarchy:

Indemnities, facilities and services:

Obligation to declare personal assets:

Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability:

Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability:

EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE

Training:

Participation in the work of the Parliament:

Discipline:

Code (rules) of conduct:

Relations between MPs and pressure group:

Also available: Archive of past election results for this chamber

General Information | Electoral System
Last Elections | Presidency of the Parliament | Parliamentary Mandate
PARLINE database: new search