Barbados to elect first Prime Minister after becoming republic today

Bridgetown: Despite the chaos and the opposition’s failed attempts to cancel the general elections, the D-Day is here for Barbados when citizens will vote to choose their new Prime Minister. 

The Opposition of Barbados filed an injunction to cancel the snap general elections of the country that are going to take place today, January 19, 2022, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley informed on Monday. The application was filed on Monday, January 17, 2022, by the attorney at law Lalu Hanuman at around 4 pm. 

Speaking on opposition filing an injunction, the leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), as well as PM Mottley, cited, “What has happened is that a case been filed for an urgent injunction to call off the election on Wednesday“.  

The opposition has filed an injunction because it is well aware that they will not be able to win, PM Mottley asserted, adding, “Why? Because they know they are losing. They are now trying everything to stop you from returning the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to government and permitting us to continue the mission of transformation”.   

The opposition party earlier opposed the idea of not letting the COVID-19 positive patients to vote in the elections, citing that it is a violation of human rights and there is no law that prohibits them from voting. 

A total of 108 candidates of the seven political parties, along with nine independent candidates, are in the race and contesting the polls. Although, as per the data collected from the survey and ground report, this battle is anticipated to last between BLP and the Democratic Labour Party (DLP).   

Wednesday’s elections will be the first one since the Caribbean island became a Republic last year, removing Queen Elizabeth as their head. Meanwhile, PM Mottley is optimistic about the result of the general elections, following which she surprisingly announced snap elections in Barbados. 

Now, it is in the hands of Barbadians, whom picture and want as their leader for the next five years.