Barbados is witnessing a pivotal moment in its democratic history as citizens cast their votes in a general election that could grant Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley an unprecedented third consecutive term in office. The nation’s first female leader since gaining independence in 1966, Mottley has achieved international acclaim for her vigorous climate advocacy and steadfast support for small island nations.
Recent nationwide polling data reveals overwhelming support for Mottley’s Barbados Labour Party (BLP), with approximately 80% of decided voters expressing their backing. The survey indicates Mottley personally commands 61.2% support, significantly outpacing her main opponent, Democratic Labour Party (DLP) leader Ralph Thorne, who trails at 18%. Merely 10% of respondents indicated they might consider voting outside the two dominant political parties.
The nation’s economic resilience has emerged as a central campaign theme, with World Bank data confirming Barbados achieved 4.0% real GDP growth in 2024. This robust economic performance has been primarily driven by vigorous activity across three key sectors: tourism, construction, and business services, with positive momentum continuing into 2025.
Ensuring electoral integrity, a three-member CARICOM Election Observation Mission (CEOM) has been deployed to monitor voting procedures and overall election conduct. The mission’s primary objective is to verify transparency, fairness, and strict adherence to democratic standards throughout the electoral process. The CEOM is scheduled to present its comprehensive findings during a closing media briefing on Thursday.