Parliament of Barbados in the context of "Chambers of parliament"

Bridgetown (UN/LOCODE: BB BGI) is the capital and largest city of Barbados. Formerly The Town of Saint Michael, the Greater Bridgetown area is located within the parish of Saint Michael. Bridgetown is sometimes locally referred to as "The City", but the most common reference is simply "Town". As of 2014, its metropolitan population stands at roughly 110,000.

The Bridgetown port, found along Carlisle Bay (at 13°06′22″N 59°37′55″W / 13.106°N 59.632°W / 13.106; -59.632 (Bridgetown port)) lies on the southwestern coast of the island. Parts of the Greater Bridgetown area (as roughly defined by the Ring Road Bypass or more commonly known as the ABC Highway), sit close to the borders of the neighbouring parishes Christ Church and St. James. The Grantley Adams International Airport for Barbados, the only airport on the island, is located 16 kilometres (10 mi) southeast of Bridgetown city centre. It has daily flights to major cities in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and the Caribbean. There is no longer a local municipal government, but it is a constituency of the national Parliament. During the short-lived 1950s-1960s Federation of the British West Indian Territories, Bridgetown was one of three capital cities within the region being considered to be the Federal capital of the region.

This is a list of the 30 constituencies currently represented in the Parliament of Barbados, as at the February 2013 general election. From 1971, each constituency has been represented by a single Member of Parliament (MP). The number of seats were increased from 28 to 30 just ahead of the 2003 elections.

Samuel Jackman Prescod NH (c. 1806 – 26 September 1871) became the first person of African descent to be elected to the Parliament of Barbados, in 1843. He also helped found the Liberal Party, whose following included small landowners, businessmen, and coloured clerks. The Parliament of Barbados has enacted that he should be styled as "The Right Excellent" and that his life be celebrated on National Heroes Day (28 April) in Barbados.

The Barbados Labour Party (BLP), colloquially known as the "Bees", is a social democratic political party in Barbados established in 1938. It has served as the governing party of Barbados from 1954 to 1961, 1976 to 1986, 1994 to 2008, and since 2018.

The current Party Leader is Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, SC,MP while the Chairman is Reginald Farley, FB and General-Secretary is Dr. Jerome Walcott, FB, FRCS. Santia Bradshaw, MP is Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business in The House of Assembly, The Parliament of Barbados.

The Senate of Barbados is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Barbados. The Senate is accorded legitimacy by Chapter V of the Constitution of Barbados. It is the smaller of the two chambers. The Senate was established in 1964 to replace a prior body known as the Legislative Council. Besides creating and reviewing Barbadian legislation, the Senate generally reviews approved legislation originating from the House of Assembly (Lower House). One main constraint on the Senate is that it cannot author monetary or budget-related bills. Most of the non-political appointees to the Senate have been selected by the President of Barbados, from civil society organisations, labour collectives and public associations in Barbados. Prior to Barbados becoming a republic on the 30 November 2021, these functions were performed by the Governor-General, who was the viceroy of the Monarchy of Barbados which has since been abolished.

According to the Constitution of Barbados, 7 are chosen at the President's sole discretion, 12 on the advice of the Prime Minister and 2 on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition. In the absence of an opposition leader, the president appoints 2 extra senators bringing the total amount of independents to 9. The Senate sits for 20 to 25 days a year. The term of the Senate, and the House of Assembly, is five years; both chambers are dissolved before each election.

The House of Assembly of Barbados is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Barbados. It has 30 Members of Parliament (MPs), who are directly elected in single member constituencies using the simple-majority (or first-past-the-post) system for a term of five years. The House of Assembly sits roughly 40–45 days a year and is presided over by a Speaker.

The Barbadian House of Assembly chamber is located in the east-wing of The Public Buildings on Broad Street, in Bridgetown, Barbados.

The Parliament Buildings (also known as The Public Buildings, or more rarely Parliament House), is the seat of the Parliament of Barbados. Built between 1870 and 1874, the buildings have served as the meeting place for both chambers of Parliament since 16 June 1874, and were formerly the site of the Colonial administration of Barbados. It consists of two buildings in the neo-Gothic architectural style, and is reminiscent of the Victorian era of Great Britain.

The buildings are situated along the north bank of the Constitution River and are bordered by Upper Broad Street and National Heroes Square to the south; strategically at the heart of the capital city Bridgetown. Before the establishment of the buildings, the legislature met at the Town Hall building (beside the now abandoned National Library Service of Barbados building) on Coleridge Street.