Freedom in the World 1998 - Barbados

1998 Scores

Status: Free
Freedom Rating: 1.0
Civil Liberties: 1
Political Rights: 1

Overview

Relations with the United States and Britain dominated the Barbadian political debate in 1998. In December, a government-appointed constitutional commission recommended that the country change from a monarchy to a republic and remove the Queen of England as the official head of state. Earlier, the island nation announced that it would replace the British Privy Council with a regional court of last resort. Prime Minister Owen Arthur, the architect of plans to diversify the island nation's economy, suggested to parliament that Caribbean island nations not renew their anti-drug maritime agreements with the United States until the dispute over the U.S. trade position on bananas was resolved.

A member of the British Commonwealth, Barbados achieved independence in 1966. The British monarchy is represented by a governor-general. The government is a parliamentary democracy with a bicameral legislature and a party system based on universal adult suffrage. The Senate is comprised of 21 members, all of whom are appointed by the governor-general. Twelve are appointed on the advice of the prime minister, two on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and the remaining seven at the discretion of the governor-general. A 28-member House of Assembly is elected for a five-year term. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister, who is the leader of the political party commanding a majority in the House.

Since independence, power has alternated between two centrist parties, the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) under Errol Barrow and the Barbados Labor Party (BLP) under Tom Adams. Adams led the BLP from 1976 until his death in 1985. Adams was succeeded by Bernard St. John, but the BLP was defeated. This returned Barrow to power in 1986. Barrow died in 1987 and was succeeded by Erskine Sandiford, who led the DLP to victory in the 1991 elections.

Under Sandiford, Barbados suffered a prolonged economic recession as revenues from sugar and tourism declined. In 1994, Sandiford lost a no-confidence vote in parliament. The DLP elected David Thompson, the government's young finance minister, to replace him. In the 1994 election campaign, Owen Arthur, an economist elected in 1993 to head the BLP, promised to build a "modern, technologically dynamic economy," create jobs, and restore investor confidence. The BLP won 19 seats, while the DLP won eight. The New Democratic Party (NDP), a disaffected DLP offshoot formed in 1989, won one seat.

Arthur has combined a technocratic approach to revitalizing the economy with savvy politics. He has appointed a number of promising young cabinet officials. By mid-1995, unemployment had decreased to 20.5 percent, the lowest level since 1990. It has remained approximately at that level since then.

Political Rights and Civil Liberties

Citizens can change their government through democratic elections. Constitutional guarantees regarding freedom of religion and the right to organize political parties, labor unions, and civic organizations are respected.

The judicial system is independent and includes a Supreme Court that encompasses a High Court and a Court of Appeal. Lower court officials are appointed on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission. The government provides free legal aid to the indigent. In 1992, the Court of Appeals outlawed the public flogging of criminals. The prison system is antiquated and overcrowded, with more than 800 inmates held in a building built for 350.

In 1999, Barbados is expected to become a charter member of the Caribbean Court of Justice, which will replace the British Privy Council as the region's court of last resort. The English court has come under increasing criticism for seeking to regulate capital punishment. In early 1998, Barbados Attorney General David Simmons charged that it had "bound regional governments hand and foot" and had imposed "Eurocentric notions and values totally at variance with the notions of the [Caribbean] people."

Human rights organizations operate freely. The high crime rate, fueled by an increase in drug abuse and trafficking, has given rise to human rights concerns. On occasion, the police allegedly use excessive force during arrests and interrogation. A counternarcotics agreement signed between the United States and Barbados in late 1996 will provide funding for the Barbados police force, the coast guard, customs, and other ministries for a broad array of programs to combat drug-related crimes. Barbados has also entered into an updated extradition treaty and a maritime law enforcement agreement with the United States.

Freedom of expression is fully respected. Public opinion expressed through the news media, which are free of censorship and government control, has a powerful influence on policy. Newspapers are privately owned, and there are two major dailies. Private and government radio stations operate. The single television station, operated by the government-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, presents a wide range of political viewpoints.

In 1992, a domestic violence law was passed to give police and judges greater powers to protect women. Women constitute approximately half of the workforce. There are two major labor unions and various smaller ones that are politically active.