Legal system: English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) is a
hereditary monarch, represented by Acting Governor General Denys
WILLIAMS (since 21 December 1995) who was appointed by the queen
head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6
September 1994) was appointed by the governor general; Deputy Prime
Minister Billie MILLER (since 6 September 1994)
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on advice of
the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate: consists of a 21-member body appointed by the governor
general
House of Assembly: election last held 6 September 1994 (next to be
held by January 1999); results - percentage vote by party NA; seats
- (28 total) BLP 19, DLP 8,NDP 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature, judges are appointed
by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Service
Political parties and leaders: Democratic Labor Party (DLP), David
THOMPSON; Barbados Labor Party (BLP), Owen ARTHUR; National
Democratic Party (NDP), Richard HAYNES
Other political or pressure groups: Barbados Workers Union, Leroy
TROTMAN; People's Progressive Movement, Eric SEALY; Workers' Party
of Barbados, Dr. George BELLE; Clement Payne Labor Union, David
COMMISSIONG
International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
LAES, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Courtney N. BLACKMAN
chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9218, 9219
FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
consulate(s): Los Angeles
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanette W. HYDE
embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street,
Bridgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; FPO AA 34055
telephone: [1] (809) 436-4950
FAX: [1] (809) 429-5246