In a landmark constitutional move, Barbados President Jeffrey Bostic has exercised his executive authority to appoint opposition senators amid the nation’s unprecedented absence of a parliamentary opposition. Following hours of meticulous deliberation extending into the early morning, President Bostic selected Ryan Walters of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and Karina Goodridge of the Friends of Democracy (FOD) party for the crucial Senate positions.
The appointments, conducted during a swearing-in ceremony at State House on Friday, mark a significant departure from conventional political processes. President Bostic confirmed his decision emerged from evaluating candidates across multiple political groups, not limited to the two names submitted by the DLP. This approach reflects the extraordinary constitutional circumstances created by the governing Barbados Labour Party’s third consecutive electoral sweep, which left no opposition representation in Parliament.
Addressing the newly appointed senators, President Bostic acknowledged the weight of his constitutional responsibility under Section 75 of the Barbados Constitution, which grants the President sole authority to appoint opposition senators when no parliamentary opposition exists. ‘I spent several hours into the early hours of this morning deliberating because I had a number of other persons from other groups that I was looking at before making my decision,’ the President revealed during the ceremony, which commenced approximately an hour behind schedule.
The selection process attracted significant public attention, with reports indicating the President had consulted beyond traditional political structures. Senator Walters, a seasoned legislator who previously contested St Michael North West, attended with family members, while Senator Goodridge, making her parliamentary debut, was accompanied by her husband, parents, and FOD general secretary Steve Blackett.
President Bostic offered particular encouragement to Senator Goodridge, noting that initial nervousness would be natural for any new senator. He emphasized that parliamentary officials would provide support during her transition into the ‘hallowed chamber’ of governance.
This appointment establishes a historic precedent as Senator Goodridge becomes the first third-party representative to assume parliamentary office in Barbados, challenging the nation’s traditional two-party dominance. The development follows the withdrawal of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2022, which proposed modifying the appointment process but was retracted in August 2022, maintaining the President’s current constitutional authority.