Mia Mottley calls snap elections for Barbados, January 19, 2022

PM Mia Mottley

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley stunned the nation from Ilaro Court, announcing general elections in a national address.

She said this was as a result of devisiveness in the country; and called on the nation to “unite around a common cause, a single Government and a single leader.” General elections were constitutionally due to be held in 2023.

“I earlier this evening met with her Excellency the Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, President of Barbados and advised that she dissolve the current Barbados Parliament with immediate effect.”

The Prime Minister told the nation, “I further advised Her Excellency that she, not on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, but in her own right as President of the Republic of Barbados issue writs for the holding of the new elections in Barbados,” Mottley declared.

Barbados political landscape is now shifting as January 19, 2022 has been announced as the election date, with Nomination Day being January 3. Leading the Barbados Labour Party (BLP)  in the May 2018 general elections Mottley had engineered a historic 30-0 whitewash of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).

This will be the first general election since Barbados became a Republic on November 30. [With reporting from Barbados Today]

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