This is a list of the heads of state of Barbados, from the independence of Barbados under the Barbados Independence Act 1966 to the present day.
From 30 November 1966 until 30 November 2021, the head of state was the Queen of Barbados, Elizabeth II, who was also the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, viceregally represented in Barbados by a Governor-General.
Since 30 November 2021, the head of state is the President of Barbados.
Monarch (1966–2021) The succession to the Barbadian throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.
Monarch Portrait Reign Royal House Prime Minister Reign start Reign end Duration 1 Elizabeth II 1966 2021 years Windsor BarrowAdamsSt. JohnBarrowSandifordArthurThompsonStuartMottley
Governors-General Under the Constitution of Barbados, before its amendment in 2021, the governor-general was the viceregal representative of the monarch in Barbados and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The governor-general was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. Since Barbados was granted independence by the Barbados Independence Act 1966, rather than being first established as a semi-autonomous Dominion and later promoted to independence by the Statute of Westminster 1931, the governor-general had always been appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Barbados, without the involvement of the British government, with the sole exception of John Montague Stow, the last colonial governor, who served as governor-general temporarily until he was replaced by Sir Arleigh Winston Scott. In the event of a vacancy the chief justice served as administrator of the government.
Status
Portrait Governor-General Term of office Prime Minister Monarch Took office Left office Tenure 1 John Montague Stow 1966 1967 Barrow Elizabeth II 2 Arleigh Winston Scott 1967 1976 Barrow – William Randolph Douglas 1976 1976 BarrowAdams 3 Deighton Lisle Ward 1976 1984 Adams – William Randolph Douglas 1984 1984 Adams 4 Hugh Springer 1984 1990 AdamsSt. JohnBarrowSandiford 5 Nita Barrow 1990 1995 SandifordArthur – Denys Williams 1995 1996 Arthur 6 Clifford Husbands 1996 2011 ArthurThompsonStuart – Elliott Belgrave 2011 2012 Stuart – Sandra Mason 2012 2012 Stuart 7 Elliott Belgrave 2012 2017 Stuart – Philip Greaves 2017 2018 Stuart 8 Sandra Mason 2018 2021 StuartMottley
Presidents (2021–present) Under the Constitution of Barbados, as amended in 2021, the position of president of Barbados replaced the monarch as head of state. The position of president is elected by parliament for a four-year term. In the event of a vacancy, or for any reason the president is unable to perform the functions conferred upon them by the constitution, those functions are performed by an acting president appointed by the prime minister, after consultation with the leader of the opposition. However, while the president is suspended from office in case of ongoing impeachment proceedings, the president of the Senate of Barbados serves as acting president. The presidential line of succession is not defined beyond that.
Portrait President Term of office Election Political affiliation Prime Minister Took office Left office Tenure 1 Sandra Mason 2021 2025 years 2021 Independent Mottley 2 Jeffrey Bostic 2025 Incumbent 2025 Barbados Labour Party
Timeline
Standards
References
World Statesmen – Barbados Rulers.org – Barbados