This update covers developments relating to the freedoms of expression, association and assembly in Barbados from November 2025 to August 2026.
Context
Mia Mottley wins historic third term after calling early election
On 11th February 2026, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley secured a historic third consecutive term in Barbados after calling an election almost a year early, with her Barbados Labour Party (BLP) winning all 30 seats in the House of Assembly for a third successive time.
Mottley called the snap election in mid-January 2026, exercising her constitutional discretion to dissolve parliament before the end of its term. She later pointed to global instability, crime and public safety. Some analysts viewed the timing as a strategic political decision taken while the BLP remained electorally strong and the opposition was fragmented. It was Mottley’s second snap election, after she called an early poll in 2022 amid the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact.
The February 2026 general election took place amid concerns, including accessibility issues and inaccuracies in the voters’ register. According to media reports, this was the first time that the election was monitored by observers from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the regional organisation that brings together Caribbean states for political and economic cooperation, and the Commonwealth, an intergovernmental organisation that supports member countries to achieve the Commonwealth's aims of development, democracy and peace.
CARICOM observers concluded that the election was peaceful, orderly and transparent and that the results reflected the will of the people. A Commonwealth Expert Team later reached a similar conclusion, while recommending reforms to voter registration and other aspects of electoral administration.
The campaign period was described as competitive, peaceful and conducted within a broadly respectful political environment. Political actors were able to engage freely with voters through rallies, community meetings, traditional media and digital platforms. While the media landscape provided a range of viewpoints, the report highlights the increasing influence of social media and the associated risks of misinformation, calling for clearer safeguards around digital campaigning and greater transparency in online political advertising.
- The Commonwealth Expert Team (CET).
Constitutional amendments introduce new rules for Parliament and MPs
On 25th November 2025, the House of Assembly passed constitutional amendments changing several aspects of the parliamentary system. The new legislation requires the Speaker of the House of Assembly to be elected from outside both chambers of Parliament, allows ministers to participate without voting in proceedings of the chamber to which they do not belong on matters within their portfolios, and gives the Attorney General broader rights to participate in either chamber. It also permits the number of registered voters in individual constituencies to range between 80 and 120 per cent of the national constituency average. The Senate passed the amendments by mid-December 2025.
On 2nd March 2026, a more far-reaching constitutional amendment entered into force. The Constitution (Amendment) Act 2026 requires a Member of Parliament (MP) elected as the candidate of a political party to vacate their seat if they resign from that party, are expelled by it or cross the floor. Where the party’s parliamentary leader informs the Speaker that an MP has crossed the floor, the Speaker must make a declaration at the next sitting and the MP immediately loses the seat. An MP alleged to have resigned or been expelled may challenge that allegation before the courts within 14 days, although they are prevented from carrying out parliamentary functions while the proceedings remain unresolved.
The reform raises concerns for political participation and freedom of association, as party expulsion may result in loss of an elected seat. International human rights standards require removal from office to rest on objective, reasonable grounds and fair procedures. The mechanism may also strengthen party control over MPs and discourage dissent.
Expression
Computer Misuse Act used over false election-related social media claim
On 9th February 2026, two days before Barbados’s general election, Akeem Renaldo Durant, a 27-year-old resident of Christ Church, posted a social media video falsely claiming that Wilfred Abrahams, then Barbados Labour Party candidate for Christ Church East and Minister of Home Affairs and Information, had sent him cash inside election campaign material. The same day, the Barbados Police Service arrested Durant and charged him with malicious communication under section 14 of the Computer Misuse Act. Durant subsequently retracted the allegation, apologised and said that he had intended the video as a joke. The video circulated widely online. On 10th February 2026, he pleaded guilty before the Oistins Magistrates’ Court and was released on BBD$5,000 bail pending sentencing.
Section 14 criminalises the use of a computer to send a communication that is indecent or obscene, threatening or “menacing in character”, where the sender intends to cause, or is reckless as to causing, annoyance, inconvenience, distress or anxiety. The provision does not criminalise false information or defamation as such and carries a maximum penalty of BBD$10,000, 12 months’ imprisonment, or both.
On 16th February 2026, Acting Chief Magistrate Deidre McKenna ordered Durant to complete 80 hours of community service. Abrahams asked the court for leniency after Durant apologised personally and publicly. The magistrate reportedly accepted that Durant had regarded the post as a joke and had not intended anything “sinister”, while warning him about the consequences of publishing material on social media.
The case raises freedom of expression concerns. Although Durant’s apparent knowing that fabrication could legitimately attract proportionate legal liability, international human rights standards provide heightened protection to political expression concerning candidates and public affairs and strongly favour non-criminal remedies where the principal harm is to a public official’s reputation. The criminal prosecution may create a chilling effect on other people discussing candidates online.
Broadcaster and calypsonian’s dismissal raises risks for artistic expression as case continues
On 7th November 2025, Starcom Network, a private Barbadian media company, dismissed veteran broadcaster and calypsonian Ronald “De Announcer” Clarke, then programme director at Voice of Barbados, one of the company’s radio stations, following an internal disciplinary process.
According to his termination letter, reported by Barbados Today, the finding of “serious misconduct” concerned comments Clarke made during a 16th July 2025 YouTube programme about Starcom’s objection to his performance at the National Carol Festival, a calypso song—a Caribbean musical genre rooted in traditions developed by West African slaves brought to the Caribbean. The company found that three of Clarke’s statements breached internal policies, describing them as false, malicious and damaging to Starcom’s credibility.
Clarke challenged the decision, arguing that he had participated in the programme in his separate capacity as a performing artist and that the dispute raised questions of artistic and expressive freedom. In April 2026, Clarke affirmed that the decision was an unfair dismissal. Attempts at conciliation before the Chief Labour Officer failed, and by May 2026 the dispute had been referred to the Employment Rights Tribunal for determination. No reliable information was identified indicating that the Tribunal had ruled on the merits by the end of August 2026.
Earlier in 2025, the Barbados Association of Creatives and Artistes, an organisation representing cultural and creative-sector interests, had criticised Starcom’s restrictions on broadcasting the National Carol Festival. It argued that Clarke had written and performed the song as an independent calypsonian rather than as a company representative. Following his dismissal, on 15th November 2025, supporters marched in Bridgetown, Barbados’s capital, calling for fair treatment and protection of artistic expression.
Central Bank governor apologises after refusing cost disclosure
On 15th June 2026, Central Bank of Barbados Governor Kevin Greenidge declined to disclose the cost of BiMPay, a newly launched national instant payment system, when questioned by a journalist at a press conference. Greenidge asked why the journalist wanted the information and said the cost would become available through the Bank’s financial reporting: “Why do you want to know? Are you going to pay for it?” BiMPay, which became operational on 12th June, was developed by the Central Bank as part of the country’s national payments infrastructure.
The response drew public criticism over access to information and public scrutiny of government expenditure. Two days later, Greenidge apologised to the journalist and the wider public, acknowledging that he should have answered the question directly. He later disclosed that the first phase of BiMPay had cost approximately BBD$6.7 million, against an approved budget of BBD$10 million, and said expenditure on later phases would be published once the work was completed and reconciled.
Opposition Senator and Democratic Labour Party finance spokesperson Ryan Walters later cited the incident as evidence of what he described as a broader lack of financial transparency by public authorities and called for greater disclosure of public spending.
The controversy also fed into a wider debate over Barbados’s continued lack of comprehensive access to information legislation. On 12th July, Minister of Home Affairs and Information Gregory Nicholls addressed the annual general meeting of the Barbados Association of Journalists and Media Workers (BARJAM), the country’s main journalists’ association, which has continued to advocate for legislation guaranteeing access to official information. Nicholls acknowledged that freedom of information could strengthen democratic accountability, while arguing that any future framework would also need to protect legitimate interests including privacy, national security, Cabinet confidentiality and commercial sensitivity. “The pursuit of freedom of information is ultimately a pursuit of a stronger democracy,” said the Minister of Home Affairs.
Association
Trade unions challenge transport restructuring over lack of consultation
On 20th November 2025, the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB), a national trade union confederation, opposed government plans to restructure the state-owned Transport Board, saying the authorities had excluded unions from discussions before Cabinet approved the proposals. CTUSAB accused the government of bypassing the Social Partnership of Barbados, a voluntary tripartite mechanism through which government, employers and trade unions discuss economic and labour policy.
CTUSAB said it had learned about the proposals without prior consultation and criticised the government for sidelining the Social Partnership process. It also raised concerns about the possible effects of the restructuring on the affordability and quality of public transport. On 27th November, CTUSAB General Secretary Dennis DePeiza warned that greater reliance on private operators could lead to higher fares and poorer services, particularly for people who depend on public transport.
The government later stressed that the proposals remained subject to change. In January 2026, then Transport Minister Santia Bradshaw said discussions with workers and their representatives were continuing and that the Cabinet-approved proposals could be revised following consultation. She also said concessions for pensioners, schoolchildren and other protected groups would remain. The government rejected descriptions of the plan as straightforward privatisation, instead presenting it as an “enfranchisement” model intended to expand worker ownership while retaining public regulation through the proposed Mass Transit Authority.
Concerns about consultation later broadened into criticism of the Social Partnership itself. At a press conference in late April 2026, DePeiza said that the mechanism was “failing to operate effectively” and described a deterioration in engagement between government, employers and trade unions. He said the tripartite body had not met since 2025 and claimed that, at its most recent meeting, participants received the agenda only hours beforehand.
Barbados appoints first Human Rights Commissioner
On 1st December 2025, Barbados appointed former Senate President Kerryann Ifill as its first Human Rights Commissioner. The government said the new office would focus on developing a national human rights framework, “a regime to protect citizens from different forms of discrimination.” Ifill said her initial priority would be establishing the legislative and policy foundations for the institution.
The appointment represents a positive step towards the establishment of a national human rights institution, an objective recommended to Barbados during the latest Universal Periodic Review in 2025. By August 2026, the independent Human Rights Commission had not yet been fully established. Public consultation and institutional design work are under way.
Separately, on 5th June 2026, Parliament approved the reappointment of Dr Nigel Taylor as Ombudsman. The Ombudsman provides an existing independent mechanism for investigating complaints concerning maladministration by public authorities, although it is institutionally distinct from the proposed Human Rights Commission.
Peaceful Assembly
Portvale workers take industrial action over union recognition and working conditions at sugar factory
On 3rd November 2025, over a dozen workers at the Portvale Sugar Factory, one of the main sugar-processing facilities in the country, walked off the job in solidarity with a colleague who had been dismissed following a verbal dispute with a junior manager over unauthorised parking. According to media reports, the employee had parked inside the factory compound while grass was being cut in the designated parking area and was subsequently involved in an argument after being instructed to move his vehicle.
Unity Workers Union (UWU) General Secretary Caswell Franklyn alleged that the dismissal was procedurally unfair. Management did not publicly respond to these allegations at the time. Franklyn also alleged that the dismissal may have been connected to the worker’s choice of UWU representation and criticised management for recognising the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) rather than UWU. He claimed that 55 of approximately 83 hourly-paid employees belonged to UWU.
Labour tensions resurfaced on 18th March 2026, when dozens of Portvale workers again withdrew their labour, this time over a broader dispute concerning union recognition, working hours and conditions at the factory. Franklyn said UWU had first requested recognition in July 2025, claiming at that time to represent 55 of the factory’s 83 hourly-paid employees, and had written again in January 2026 warning that industrial action could follow. UWU alleged that workers were being required to work excessive hours without appropriate overtime or rest, were sometimes unable to leave their stations to use toilets, and were exposed to unsafe conditions including leaks near the factory powerhouse.
BESCO maintained that the BWU remained the recognised bargaining agent, disputed UWU’s claim to represent a majority of workers and said it was not standard practice to negotiate simultaneously with multiple bargaining agents covering the same workers. It described the withdrawal of labour as a “wildcat strike”, said participating workers would not be paid for time spent off the job and maintained that its existing overtime and shift arrangements had been negotiated with the BWU. BESCO also rejected UWU’s contention that the Shops Act governed working hours at the factory, arguing that Portvale operated as an industrial manufacturing facility rather than a retail establishment.
Industrial action continued over the following days. Some employees returned to work before withdrawing their labour again on 20th March, and by 23rd March UWU said its members would remain on strike until BESCO addressed the recognition dispute. Later that month, BESCO temporarily suspended the disputed shift system and restored regular daytime working hours. By 8th April, sugar processing had resumed following a three-day strike, although the underlying dispute over which union should represent the workers remained unresolved.
Construction workers strike after months of unsuccessful pay talks
On 6th November 2025, workers at C.O. Williams Construction Co. Ltd. withdrew their labour after several months of negotiations over salary and wage increases failed to produce an agreement. The action initially affected employees at the company’s Lears site in St Michael, one of Barbados’s 11 parishes, while the BWU said workers from C.O. Williams sites more broadly had joined the strike.
BWU Deputy General Secretary Dwaine Paul said negotiations had been under way since April 2025 without a breakthrough. After repeated unsuccessful talks, the parties referred the dispute to the Office of the Chief Labour Officer, the government authority responsible for facilitating the resolution of labour disputes. Workers said they would continue withholding their labour until the dispute was resolved.
Airport workers stage protests as unions raise wider concerns over pay, staffing and conditions
On 27th November 2025, employees of the Goddard Catering Group (GCG) Ground Services at Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA), the main international airport in Barbados, staged a one-hour work stoppage during negotiations over a new collective agreement. The action involved approximately 50 to 75 employees on the morning shift, including ground-handling, passenger-service, customer-service and maintenance staff, and coincided with what airport officials described as the busiest day of the year to date, with around 8,000 passengers expected to pass through the airport.
BWU said workers withdrew their labour following a breakdown in responses to outstanding negotiation issues concerning wages, salaries and conditions of employment. GCG disputed that negotiations had broken down, saying discussions with the union remained active and that the industrial action had taken the company by surprise. Workers resumed their duties after the union received correspondence from management addressing some of the outstanding issues, and further negotiations were scheduled. In January 2026, BWU again warned that further industrial action could follow if concerns at GCG, including wages, conditions and workplace facilities, remained unresolved.
On 12th May 2026, a group of employees at the GAIA represented by the NUPW left their posts and demonstrated over stalled wage negotiations. The union said it had submitted a proposal in December 2025 seeking a 20 per cent wage increase for the 2025-2027 bargaining period, but had received no counter-proposal. NUPW President Kimberly Agard said repeated attempts to resume negotiations had been delayed and that workers were frustrated with management’s handling of their representatives. Police attended the demonstration, but available information did not indicate that they restricted or interfered with the protest.
GAIA management disputed the allegation that it had failed to engage, documenting communications with the NUPW in February, April, and May 2026, and saying scheduling difficulties had arisen on both sides. It proposed a June 2026 meeting and reaffirmed its willingness to bargain.
In a separate incident, on 7th March 2026, a shortage of air traffic controller personnel in Barbados’s Air Navigation Services Department, which provides air traffic control services, resulted in a partial closure of the country’s airspace for approximately seven and a half hours and disrupted several international flights at the GAIA. The government attributed the disruption to insufficient staffing, while other reports referred to possible industrial action.
BWU and National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) linked the disruption to longstanding workplace concerns affecting air traffic controllers, including chronic understaffing, extended and double shifts, fatigue, delays in appointments and the creation of posts, compensation and wider occupational health and safety concerns. The government subsequently acknowledged significant staffing pressures, reporting just over 43 controllers and a projected deficit of approximately 26 posts, and announced plans to recruit and train additional personnel.
Activists protest outside US Embassy in solidarity with Cuba
On 13th June 2026, a small group of activists demonstrated outside the United States Embassy in Barbados in solidarity with Cuba and to protest US measures that were restricting Cuba’s access to energy supplies. David Denny, President of the Barbados-Cuba Friendship Association, used the demonstration to call for stronger regional support for Cuba, including humanitarian and material assistance from Caribbean governments.
Denny also urged CARICOM to consider admitting Cuba as a member. He affirmed that membership would strengthen regional solidarity and give Caribbean states a stronger collective voice on issues affecting Cuba. Denny welcomed CARICOM governments’ opposition to US measures affecting the country, but called on the regional bloc to take further steps to support the Cuban population.