Barbados will return to the polls on February 11, after Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced the dissolution of Parliament and the launch of a snap general election, bringing forward a contest that was not constitutionally due until 2027.
The decision marks the second time within two terms that Mottley has opted for an early mandate. Her Barbados Labour Party (BLP) currently holds every seat in the House, having swept both the 2018 and 2022 elections with 30–0 victories over the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).
Speaking to supporters at a weekend political meeting in Westbury, Mottley confirmed that Parliament will be dissolved on January 19, with Nomination Day set for January 27. Polling will follow two weeks later.
She framed the move as a democratic necessity, telling party members that governments must periodically return to the electorate to renew their authority.
Behind the scenes, the BLP has already completed its candidate lineup, replacing retiring MPs in key constituencies and finalising a full slate of 30 candidates. Attorney Michael Lashley, a former DLP member who crossed the floor last year, filled the final vacancy.
The opposition enters the race under new leadership. Senior counsel Ralph Thorne assumed control of the DLP in February 2024, days after exiting the governing party. While the leadership change brought fresh energy, expectations remain subdued.
Political analysts suggest the election is less about whether the BLP will win, and more about whether the opposition can finally secure representation after two historic shutouts.
Speculation about an early poll has circulated for months. In December, Mottley signaled readiness for a 2026 campaign, urging party supporters to prepare for a full mobilisation year ahead of schedule.
Now, with the calendar confirmed, Barbados enters campaign mode under conditions that strongly favor continuity. The governing party seeks a third consecutive term, while the opposition faces the difficult task of re-establishing itself in a Parliament it has not occupied for nearly a decade.
The contest may be decisive not for power, but for political balance. In February, the real question may be whether Barbados remains a one-party chamber — or whether the opposition can finally break the silence.
