PM Mia Mottley signals possible early election in Barbados

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has given her strongest signal yet that Barbadians could be heading to the polls early next year, despite general elections not being constitutionally due until 2027.

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Speaking at a cocktail reception at her official residence, Ilaro Court, on Thursday night, Mottley urged supporters of the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to prepare for work in 2026 — remarks widely interpreted as a sign that an early election is being considered.

“Whilst there is work to be done, there is work for the Barbados Labour Party and its soldiers to do, and we are all turning up for work in 2026,” Mottley said. “We are all turning up for work in 2026, because if something can be done, it is this Barbados Labour Party that will do it, always, always, always.”

She encouraged party supporters to rest over the Christmas period but made clear that she expects them to be ready when called upon.

“When I start to call on you, I don’t want you to tell me that you are tired,” she said to loud applause. “I want you to tell me, ‘Prime Minister, we are ready. We are red and ready.’”

The prime minister also highlighted Barbados’ recent economic performance, pointing to what she described as significant national progress, while acknowledging that challenges remain.

“We have now had 17 straight quarters of growth, we have the lowest unemployment ever in the history of our nation, we no longer go to sleep worrying about foreign reserves; our foreign reserves are the highest they’ve ever been,” Mottley said.

If elections are called next year, it would be the second consecutive time Mottley has dissolved Parliament with a year remaining in her term. She previously led the BLP to landslide 30–0 victories in both the 2018 and 2022 general elections.

Political scientist Peter Wickham recently told Barbados TODAY that a 2026 election was highly likely, citing Mottley’s established pattern of calling early polls.

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The BLP has also begun preparing on the ground, recently nominating new candidates to contest the St Thomas and St Joseph constituencies, replacing long-serving members of Parliament who have indicated they will not seek re-election at the next general election.