Cabinet of Barbados

The Cabinet, formally Her Majesty’s Barbados Ministers,[1] are individuals of Barbados which execute the duties of the Government of Barbados.

A simplified diagram of the Barbados government

Under a Westminster system of governance, these powers are vested nominally in Elizabeth II, Queen of Barbados (represented by the Governor-General), but are exercised in practice by a Cabinet of Ministers, presided over by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is formally appointed by the Governor-General: the Governor-General must appoint as Prime Minister someone who can control a majority of votes in the House of Assembly. In practice, this is normally the leader of the largest political party or coalition in the house. If there is no clear majority in the House of Assembly, however, the Governor-General's role becomes more important: he or she must assume the role of arbitrator and open negotiations with the leaders of the various political parties, in the hope of finding someone whom a majority will accept as Prime Minister. In the event of that failing to take place, the Governor-General must dissolve the House of Assembly and call an early election.

History

The Cabinet system of government was implemented in the colony of Barbados on 1 February 1954 leading to attainment of full self-government. Prior to an official Cabinet, the role was fulfilled by the colonial era Executive Council on the island.[2] Under the Constitution of Barbados, Cabinet is not prescribed a maximum number Cabinet of Ministers, however, it must have no fewer than five members. The first Cabinet of Barbados was led by Premier Sir Grantley Herbert Adams.[3] The four other Ministers were:

The Hon. Dr. H.G.H. Cummins (Member 1935–36; 1940–1961);
The Hon. Mencea Ethereal Cox (later Sir Mencea,[4] member 1944–1961; senator 1976–1981;
The Hon. R. G. Mapp (later Sir Ronald, member 1946–1961; Senator 1976–1979);
The Hon. C. E. Talma (later Sir Edwy, member 1944–1948; 1951–1976)

Current

The current Prime Minister is the Honourable Mia Mottley QC, M.P. Below lists her Cabinet of Ministers to date.

July 2020 Reshuffle

On July 22, 2020 in a statement to the nation, the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, announced the following changes to take effect from July 23, 2020.

Government Minister	Cabinet Positions
Hon. Mia Mottley	Prime Minister Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment Minister of National Security and the Public Service
Hon. John King	Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for Culture and National Development
Hon. Marsha Caddle	Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment
Hon. Ryan Straughn	Minister in the Ministry of Finance
Hon. Dale Marshall	Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs
Hon. Santia Bradshaw	Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training
Hon. Sen. Jerome Walcott	Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
Hon. Sandra Husbands	Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Trade
Hon. Lt. Col. Jeffery Bostic	Minister of Health and Wellness
Hon. William Duguid	Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance
Hon. Kerrie Symmonds	Minister of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Hon. Cynthia Forde	Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs
Sen. Hon. Lisa Cummins	Minister of Tourism and International Transport
Hon. Wilfred Abrahams	Minister of Home Affairs, Information and Public Affairs
Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill	Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources
Hon. Charles Griffith	Minister in the Ministry of Water Resources
Hon. Adrian Forde	Minister of Environment and National Beautification
Hon. Colin Jordan	Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations
Hon. Ronald Toppin	Minister of International Business and Industry
Hon. Dwight Sutherland	Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment
Hon. Kirk Humphrey	Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy
Hon. Indar Weir	Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
Hon. Peter Philips	Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
Sen. Hon. Kay McConney	Minister of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology

The Original Cabinet

The 26-member Cabinet announced by the Barbados Labour Party as of 26 May 2018:[5]

Government Minister	Cabinet Positions
Hon. Mia Mottley Q.C. M.P.	Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment
Hon. Dale Marshall Q.C. M.P.	Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs
Hon. Santia Bradshaw M.P.	Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training
Hon. George Payne Q.C. M.P.	Minister of Housing, Lands and Rural Development
Hon. Ronald Toppin M.P.	Minister of International Business and Industry
Senator Dr. Jerome Walcott J.P	Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
Hon. Trevor Prescod JP M.P.	Minister of the Environment and National Beautification
Hon. Cynthia Forde JP M.P.	Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs
Hon. Kerrie Simmonds M.P.	Minister of Tourism and International Transport
Hon. Dr. William Duguid JP M.P.	Minister of Transport, Works and Maintenance
Hon. Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic M.P.	Minister of Health and Wellness
Hon. Edmund Hinkson M.P.	Minister of Home Affairs
Hon. Dwight Sutherland M.P.	Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce
Hon. Wilfred Abrahams M.P	Minister of Energy and Water Resources
Hon. Ryan Straughn M.P.	Minister in the Ministry of Finance
Hon. Marsha Caddle M.P.	Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment
Hon. C. Sandra Husbands M.P.	Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Trade
Hon. Colin Jordan M.P.	Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations
Hon. Charles Griffith M.P.	Minister in the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Rural Development
Hon. Adrian Forde M.P	Minister of Youth and Community Empowerment
Hon. Kirk Humphrey M.P	Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy
Hon. Indar Weir M.P.	Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
Hon. Peter Philips M.P	Minister in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance
Hon. John King M.P	Minister of Creative Economy, Culture and Sports
Senator Kay McConney	Minister of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology
Senator Lucille Moe	Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Public Affairs

List of Government Ministries, Ministers and Permanent Secretaries


Ministry	Minister Responsible	Permanent Secretary
Prime Minister's Office	Hon. Mia Mottley, Q.C., M.P (Prime Minister) Hon. John King, M.P (Culture and National Development)	Ms. Alies Jordan (acting) Jehu Wilshire (Culture)
Ministry of the Public Service	Hon. Mia Mottley, Q.C., M.P	Ms. Gail Atkins
Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment	Hon. Mia Mottley, Q.C., M.P Hon. Ryan Straughn, M.P (Finance) Hon. Marsha Caddle, M.P (Economic Affairs and Investment)	Ms. Nancy Headley (Finance) Mr. Alyson Forte (Economic Affairs and Investment)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade	Senator Dr. Jerome Walcott Hon. Sandra Husbands, M.P (Foreign Trade)	Ms. Simone Rudder
Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs	Hon. Dale Marshall, Q.C., M.P	Ms. Yvette Goddard
Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training	Hon. Santia Bradshaw, M.P	Ms. Betty Alleyne Headley
Ministry of Home Affairs, Information and Public Affairs	Hon. Wilfred Abrahams, M.P	Ms. Deborah Payne (acting) (Home Affairs) Ms. Sandra Philips (Information)
Ministry of Health and Wellness	Lt. Colonel Hon. Jeffery Bostic, M.P	Ms. Janet Philips
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security	Hon. Indar Weir, M.P Hon. Peter Philips, M.P (Minister in the Ministry)	Mr. Terry Bascombe (acting)
Ministry of Labour and Social Partnership Relations	Hon. Colin Jordan, M.P	Dr. Karen Best
Ministry of Housing, Lands and Maintenance	Hon. William Duguid, M.P	Mr. Timothy Maynard
Ministry of International Business and Industry	Hon. Ronald Toppin, M.P	Ms. June Chandler
Ministry of Tourism and International Transport	Sen. Hon. Lisa Cummins	Ms. Donna Cadogan
Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment	Hon. Dwight Sutherland, M.P	Ms. Yolande Howard
Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs	Hon. Cynthia Forde, J.P, M.P	Ms. Gabrielle Springer
Ministry of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship	Hon. Kerrie Symmoonds, M.P	Mr. Esworth Reid Ms. Francine Blackman (acting) (Energy) Mr. Andrew Gittens (Special Projects)
Ministry of Environment and National Beautification	Hon. Adrian Forde, M.P	Ms. Daphne Kellman
Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources	Hon. Ian Gooding-Edghill, M.P Hon. Charles Griffith, M.P (Minister in the Ministry of Water Resources)	Mr. Mark Cummins (acting)
Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy	Hon. Kirk Humphrey, M.P	Ms. Sonia Foster (acting)
Ministry of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology	Senator Kay McConney	Mr. Charley Browne (acting)

Freundel Stuart 2015 Cabinet

The 18-member Cabinet announced by the Democratic Labour Party as of 3 July 2015:[6]

Government Minister	Cabinet Positions
Hon. Freundel Stuart Q.C. M.P.	Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Public Service and Urban Development
Hon. Richard Sealy M.P.	Minister of Tourism and International Transport
Hon. Adriel Brathwaite M.P.	Attorney-General and Minister of Home Affairs
Hon. Christopher Sinckler M.P.	Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs
Hon. John Boyce M.P.	Minister of Health
Hon. Dr. David Estwick M.P.	Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries, and Water Resource Management
Hon. Ronald Jones J.P. M.P.	Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation
Hon. Dr. Denis Lowe M.P.	Minister of the Environment and Drainage
Hon. Donville Inniss M.P.	Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development
Hon. Denis Kellman M.P.	Minister of Housing, Lands and Rural Development
Sen. Dr. Esther R. Byer-Suckoo	Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development
Hon. Steve Blackett M.P.	Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development
Hon. Michael Lashley M.P.	Minister of Transport and Works
Sen. Hon. Patrick Todd	Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office
Sen. Maxine McClean	Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Leader of Government Business in the Senate

David Thompson 2008 Cabinet

The full Cabinet of the previous Barbados Government administration as of February 2006:

Government Minister	Cabinet Positions
Hon. David Thompson M.P.	Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Development, Energy Labour and the Civil Service
Sen. the Hon. Maxine McClean	Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office
Rt. Hon. Freundel Stuart, MP	Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs
Hon. Christopher Sinckler, MP	Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Business
Dr. the Hon. David Estwick, MP	Minister of Health, National Insurance and Social Security
Hon. Ronald Jones, M.P	Minister of Education and Human Resource Development
Dr. the Hon. Dennis Lowe, M.P	Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Urban Development
Hon. Patrick Todd M.P.	Minister of State, Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Urban Development
Hon. Richard Sealy, M.P	Minister of Tourism
Sen. the Hon. Haynesley Benn	Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Hon. George Hutson, M.P	Minister of Trade, Industry and Commerce
Hon. Michael Lashley M.P.	Minister of Housing and Lands
Dr. the Hon. Esther Byer-Suckoo, M.P	Minister of Family, Youth Affairs, Sport and Environment
Hon. Steven Blackett, M.P.	Minister of Community Development and Culture
Hon. John Boyce M.P.	Minister of Transport, Works and International Transport
Sen. the Hon. Darcy Boyce	Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office with responsibility for Finance and Energy
Sen. the Hon. Arnie Walters	Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office with responsibility for Employment, Labour Relations and The Social Partnership

In a reshuffle of his Cabinet late 2008, the following became the Cabinet until his passing.

Government Minister	Cabinet Positions
Hon. David Thompson, MP	Prime Minister and Minister of Finance & Investment, Labour, Civil Service & Energy
Hon. Fruendel Stuart, MP	Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney General, Minister of Home Affairs
Hon. George Hutson, MP	Minister of International Transport & International Business
Hon. David Estwick, MP	Minister of Economic Affairs & Empowerment, Innovation, Trade, Industry & Commerce
Hon. Dennis Lowe, MP	Minister of the Environment, Water Resources & Drainage
Hon. Donville Inniss, MP	Minister of Health
Hon. Christopher Sinkler, MP	Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment, Rural & Urban Development
Hon. Esther Byer Suckoo, MP	Minister of Family, Youth Affairs & Sport
Hon. Ronald Jones, MP	Minister of Education & Human Resource Development
Hon. Michael Lashley, MP	Minister of Housing & Lands
Hon. Richard Sealy, MP	Minister of Tourism
Hon. Steve Blackett, MP	Minister Community Development & Culture
Hon. John Boyce, MP	Minister of Transport & Works
Sen. Hon. Haynesly Benn	Minister of Agriculture
Sen. Hon. Maxine McClean	Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
Hon. Patrick Todd, MP	Minister of State: Education & Human Resource Development
Sen. Hon. Darcy Boyce	Minister of State responsibly for Finance, Investment, Telecommunications & Energy
Sen. Hon. Arnie Walters	Minister of State responsible for Labour & Immigration
Sen. Irene Sandiford Garner	Parliamentary Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office

Owen Arthur 2006 Cabinet